Submitted by Erin (not verified) on January 29, 2008 - 14:28.
I agree with your comment about using the arts throughout the school setting. My students, elementary aged, sometimes wonder why they are supposed to come to music class. They think it doesn't count. I always counteract with a few questions. I ask them, do you watch TV? Do you listen to the radio in the car? Do you play video games? What they don't realize is that music is in their everyday lives all the time. If they took away the music, they might find these everday activities boring. I know that a long car ride without music would feel like it lasted even longer.
I know of teachers in my school that allow students to listen to music during activities. I believe that music is calming, no matter what you like to listen to. I always feel better if I have music to listen to and I know that I work better with that in the background.
It is very sad that students aren't taking the arts more seriously. They are just as important as their other subjects. They get to learn history in our classes to add to what they're already learning in their everyday subjects.
I read an article called "Brain Research and Education: Fad or Foundation?" by Pat Wolfe, Ph.D. In this article he discusses how the outside world shapes our brain (Wolfe, 2003). Take away the arts and it seems that our brain is void of that shape. We need to allow students to have a well-rounded education so that they can experience all types of learning and lessons.
Music in other settings
Submitted by Erin (not verified) on January 29, 2008 - 14:28.
I agree with your comment about using the arts throughout the school setting. My students, elementary aged, sometimes wonder why they are supposed to come to music class. They think it doesn't count. I always counteract with a few questions. I ask them, do you watch TV? Do you listen to the radio in the car? Do you play video games? What they don't realize is that music is in their everyday lives all the time. If they took away the music, they might find these everday activities boring. I know that a long car ride without music would feel like it lasted even longer.
I know of teachers in my school that allow students to listen to music during activities. I believe that music is calming, no matter what you like to listen to. I always feel better if I have music to listen to and I know that I work better with that in the background.
It is very sad that students aren't taking the arts more seriously. They are just as important as their other subjects. They get to learn history in our classes to add to what they're already learning in their everyday subjects.
I read an article called "Brain Research and Education: Fad or Foundation?" by Pat Wolfe, Ph.D. In this article he discusses how the outside world shapes our brain (Wolfe, 2003). Take away the arts and it seems that our brain is void of that shape. We need to allow students to have a well-rounded education so that they can experience all types of learning and lessons.