A quality education creates a person who:
a.
Is curious about the world around them
b.
Is forever learning
c.
Has a wide and deep knowledge about many, varied
subjects
d.
Can use this knowledge acquired to support and
better themselves during their lifetime
The question is, are American schools
today providing the kind of education students need to compete in this global
market? There are many factors that go into this answer: Different schools will have different requirements for graduation, different courses may be available in some schools and not in others, and of course the best school won’t make a difference to a student who isn’t motivated to learn and there is little that can be done to change this type of student’s attitude. There are certain subjects, according to Castiglione’s The Courtier, that are essential for a well-rounded, educated person.
Some qualities that are essential
to have are:
-
Eloquent, yet understandable public speaking and
address
-
Studied in the Classics (Greek and Roman
literature) and humanities (reading and
writing)
-
Experience with the fine arts (musical
instruments, dance, and visual arts)
-
Athletic ability/ physical fitness
All of these qualities are goals of standard curriculums
today. However with budget cuts affecting our schools, music and art are often
the first to go, after all, who needs art and music???
As Queen of the world, if I were to
ever hold such a title, I would ensure that music and art are never lost to a
humanity that is obsessed with doing too many things in too little time with no
appreciation of life and all of its abundance. We as a culture need art
and music in society. Without the
freedom to express ourselves, we lose a part of our humanity. We need to be
able to be creative and expressive, and that’s a lot easier done through art
and music than math itself. Music
teaches math: every note has a value, and their sums need to be correct for the
music to sound good. Music also teaches
students to listen and to be sensitive to how the music sounds, to make
adjustments to blend with the group, and to appreciate how the music affects
the listener. Music can communicate without words. There are many languages in
the world, but only music can be understood by everyone. Math, science, and reading are very important topics in education; however music and art are just as important. Take away these, and students will know how to solve a math problem and read a novel, however they will be like robots, lacking creativity and expression. Teach a child to solve a problem, and they will do just that, but nothing more. Teach a child to create and they will never run out of things to do.
