THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9506280006
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
In 1993, I graduated from Salem High School with a grade-point average of 3.6 and a strong background in the arts.
It appalls me that the state Board of Education recently ratified many reforms in education. Sweeping changes in the subjects of math, science and English have been approved, yet the things I truly fear will suffer from this are the arts and humanities. And I don't just mean the school band. I also mean the chorus, art and drama programs. The shift of emphasis toward the basic ideas of learning will result in funding for some arts programs being cut, or even worse, eliminated.
I was stunned by the statement by Norfolk School Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr., ``The public will forgive us if we fail to teach a kid to play a musical instrument or to paint watercolors, but the public will never forgive us if we fail to teach them to read or to do basic math calculations.'' Sure, the second half of his statement may be true, but he doesn't understand that the arts serve as a conduit of sorts to better performance and better grades in the classroom. Participants in arts programs such as chorus, drama, art and band usually have a high grade-point average. These participants work hard at all they do, not just in chorus or band.
Programs in the arts and humanities are an integral part of any school's curriculum. They should not be taken away from the curriculum just because of sweeping changes in a school agenda, a shift in emphasis and so forth.
The arts and humanities are not just the right of those with money, power or talent. They are the privilege and right of all students.
JEREMY SORIA
Virginia Beach, June 24, 1995
jesoria(AT)infi.net by CNB