Opinion
Education Funding Letter to the Editor

A Plea for Music Education and Its ‘Essential’ Benefit

September 08, 2015 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

Too many American school districts are dissolving their music education programs and neglecting the needs of students by redirecting their attention to other academic areas. There is no greater disservice to the millions of musically gifted students across this nation.

I am entering my senior year of high school in Florida, and as someone who plays five instruments, I am very concerned about this trend. Many public schools in my area have done away with their programs, and I hear constant stories of disappointment about this from parents and my friends who are musicians and go to these schools.

Despite my uncertainty over whether to pursue music professionally, my school’s program has taught me very valuable life lessons and has made me a better person overall. I hate to think that children are being denied this opportunity because of budget cuts and a lack of attention from policymakers and school administrations.

In an educational institution, music programs act not only as a gateway to the world of the arts, but as an opportunity to invest passion in an activity and produce quality results that reward students with pride and a sense of accomplishment. School music programs boost students’ self-esteem, cooperative abilities, leadership traits, and open-mindedness, making them well-rounded human beings. Coincidentally, being well-rounded is a major advantage in college admissions, and dedicated musicians are often accepted into high-ranking colleges and universities, even if they choose not to pursue music as a profession.

There has also been a push recently to mold students into “technical” workers, through an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in schools. It’s no secret that engineering is a job in demand. But that’s no reason to stop funding other people’s passions and talents. While STEM education is not a negative thing, programs like music, art, and the humanities as a whole are being looked down upon, and have become victims to the heavy investment in other academic areas. Music is just as essential to the nation’s future as engineering, math, athletics, or other “common core” concerns.

The neglect of music in our schools has gone on far too long. Unless change is made, children will grow up in a world that fails to ignite their talent and imagination and reach their full potential. That is a world none of us wishes to live in. It is dry. It is boring. Above all, it is silent.

Aaron Finkel

Gulliver Preparatory School

Miami, Fla.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the September 09, 2015 edition of Education Week as A Plea for Music Education and Its ‘Essential’ Benefit

Events

Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
Ed-Tech Policy Webinar Artificial Intelligence in Practice: Building a Roadmap for AI Use in Schools
AI in education: game-changer or classroom chaos? Join our webinar & learn how to navigate this evolving tech responsibly.
Education Webinar Developing and Executing Impactful Research Campaigns to Fuel Your Ed Marketing Strategy 
Develop impactful research campaigns to fuel your marketing. Join the EdWeek Research Center for a webinar with actionable take-aways for companies who sell to K-12 districts.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Funding How States Are Rethinking Where School Funding Should Go
There's constant debate over the best way to allocate state money to schools. Here are some ways states are reworking their school funding.
7 min read
Conceptual illustration of tiny people is planning the personal budget, accounting, analysis.
Muhamad Chabibalwi/iStock/Getty
Education Funding A Court Ordered Billions for Education. Why Schools Might Not Get It Now
The North Carolina Supreme Court is considering arguments for overturning a statewide order for more school funding.
6 min read
A blue maze with a money bag at the end of the maze.
iStock/Getty
Education Funding Schools Want More Time to Spend COVID-19 Aid for Homeless Students
Senators want to give districts more time to spend COVID relief funds for students experiencing homelessness.
4 min read
New canvas school bags hanging on the backs of empty classroom student chairs in a large modern classroom
iStock/Getty Images
Education Funding ESSER Isn't the Only School Funding Relief That's Disappearing Soon
Federal relief aid, policies to prevent schools from losing enrollment-based funding, and support for vulnerable families are expiring soon.
10 min read
Vector illustration of a businessman's hand holding a slowly vanishing dollar sign.
iStock/Getty