Beliefs About the Purpose of Education

Music is The Solution, Not the Problem - Part 2thing in common. They all have a proven ability to
Why do we keep rolling music back and out ofthink.
the way in favor of more fashionable educational2. As China, Japan and eastern countries continue
fancies for our kids? Is this a temporary orto ascend and become our economic adversaries
permanent trend? So many of us have varyingand move ever closer to supremacy, we see a
beliefs about the purpose of education that it ishuge percentage of their children guided by their
hard to come up with a consensus about whatparents towards the study of music and playing
we should do as a society and a culture.musical instruments.
Some say that that we are now "modern" andDo they know something that we have
music is not as important for our kid's educationforgotten? They know that their kids will have a
as it used to be. After all, now we have all thismuch better chance becoming successful in their
stuff; computers, media, internet, television adlives with music, than without it. In the United
infinitum. They say, to teach music to our kids isStates, we used to know that. Unfortunately, we
passe.have over the past several decades been
This trend is evidenced by declarations from ourunlearning these truths.
politicians about how we need more and moreAre Our Children Learning To Become Complete
computers and access to internet in the schools.Human Beings?
More often than not we hear how we need toOur purpose as parents should be to help our kids
get more money and funding to boost thesegain more than the "primary skills" so they can
capabilities. We hear no such declarations in favorgrow into more complete human beings! There is
of funding music in education.tons of research that verifies the value of music
The Purpose of a College or Public Educationas part of a college and public education. When
What is the purpose of a college or a publicour kids learn to play a musical instrument they
education if not to teach us how to use ourgain reading, memory, hand - eye coordination,
brains so we can think? Whatever the focus ofconcentration, self evaluation, poise, developing
our academic efforts, it is essential that we helplistening capabilities, greater inner awareness and
our children learn how to think in a dynamic andmuch more. For some music is a gateway
creative fashion. If our education doesn'ttowards spirituality and beyond.
accomplish that, then we will come up short timeWhen we bestow upon our young people the gift
after time.and opportunity to play an instrument and to
The study of music is one of the most naturalexplore music, we support and enhance their very
and powerful ways that we can strengthen theability to think, to contemplate and to gain the
minds of our children. You don't have to take myvalues they so badly need to become successful
word for this. All you have to do is look atcomplete people and contributing citizens of our
statistics and facts that are already in place.society.
Consider the following:Most importantly we gift them, as our ancestors
gifted themselves, the ability and foundation to
1. A large percentage of scientists,answer their most fundamental questions about
mathematicians and medical doctors are musicians.the meaning and purpose of their lives and their
Do they have something in common? Do theyvery existence. As sure as we breathe, think and
know something that our politicians don't know?hope for a future worth living is as sure as we will
The answer is yes, they all have a very specificneed music more than ever, going forward.