Depending on how much you follow social media in the music education world, you may have stumbled across an interesting little debate online. It was rather short-lived, but it’s important to be sure that music educators know and understand that it happened, and what the response was.
The Music Education Debate that Started the Real Debate
It started with a “harmless” little educational newspaper that Scholastic releases by the title “Should Kids Learn Music In School?” It might be hard to find the article now. After the backlash it received, they have been trying to remove the evidence. You can view it HERE on our facebook page. Sadly, the little section at the bottom is the most compelling, because it’s told through the mouths of the students themselves. This means that students are still being taught that music is not as important, even though in the last few decades, much investment has gone into shaping programs, raising the expectations and standards, bringing technology into the music classroom and hiring more personnel to add more to school music programs. Those deciding to put money into it obviously thought it was worth it. But some children still do not.
It didn’t take long for the outrage to hit in music education facebook groups as music teachers across the country blasted Scholastic, saying over and over music is not a topic for debate, that it continues to diminish music teachers’ professions, and that music is often the only way to reach and connect with some students. The anger in these groups was raw and rehashed the issues that music teachers often face with colleagues, administration and parents on the value of their time, decisions and budget.
The Real Music Education Debate that Occurred
Within a few days came more official responses. Two of the first to respond were NAfME and NYSSMA. Their responses, listed HERE, were beautifully written, full of class and professionalism. A compelling piece of evidence to support their responses is the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2016, which helps to make music education federally protected in the schools, and defines a “Well-Rounded Education” as including music and other arts programs. Here is a NAfME-issued article discussing the Act.
Shortly after, Scholastic issued a response to our educational community, stating that it was “insensitive” and “not the right editorial choice.” They are working to remove it from their online publication, yet it is already too late for the classrooms, usually general education classrooms filled with impressionable young students, that have reviewed the paper copy. The damage has already been done.
So What Can We Learn From This?
It isn’t smart to debate an entire school subject that accounts for tens of thousands of teachers that have devoted their lives to this profession. Especially one where the teachers are constantly defending themselves anyway.
Professional organizations exist to help with instances like this. It’s reassuring to see the quick and effective responses that NAfME and NYSSMA provided on behalf of the entire music education community. If there were other organizations that provided letters published online, they were not as apparent in a search, so apologies if they weren’t included here.
Music teachers know how to stand together. We can have a voice, and it can be heard. The debate that really took place as a result of this went viral on social media, bringing more awareness to the struggle that music teachers often face.
The fight isn’t over. This wasn’t a win or a loss to music education, but a little of both. How many people feel more positive about music education and how many now feel more negative? That statistic would be the only one that demonstrates what the real effect of such an article had on our students.
Infographic by the Artistic Rebuttal Project and Emerging Arts Leaders: Philadelphia.
At the end of the day, the fight is another day older (cue the chorus). The efforts in music education advocacy will continue and no one must lose sight of it. Budgets will continue to be compromised and technology will continue to broadcast (even if illegally) the victories of our children’s skills and opportunities to study and perform music. We must continue to stay focused on why we put in this effort every day, because every soul that we can touch with the magic of music and the performing arts, the closer we get to a universally understood idea that music/performing arts instruction is critical for every child.
Each and every music teacher can continue to be focused on our own excellence as instructors. Adopting growth mindset, helping to instill it in our students, and seeking out relevant professional development of ourselves, like the vision of Uplevel U: Music, are all ways we can continue to do this every day. Our actions will also speak for themselves. Never forget that.
This article was written by Music Room/Uplevel U: Music's owner and creator, Karen (Kay) Janiszewski.
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