Whenever a school board needs more money the first place they want to cut the funding is in what they consider extracurricular activities that are not sports related. Instead of cutting down on the number of useless administrative and office workers they want to cut art and music.

For many children school is the only place they can have the opportunity to learn and play music; but with the programs constantly being cut fewer children have that opportunity. With the current economy and no help of it getting better in sight the line of have and have not is increasing and the have nots are growing exponentially. If there is no money for the basic - rent, food, and utilities - there certainly is no money for something like music lessons.

If children are not exposed to the arts while they are young then there is a good chance that they will not learn to appreciate those same arts as adults. In the past the arts were considered only for the cultured which was another way of saying rich. Unfortunately it is getting to be that way again thanks to the school boards who see no benefit in teaching the arts.

Children who are involved in the music do better in mathematics. These same children are less likely to get into trouble because they have something constructive to occupy their time. Learning music also sparks an interest in music. While a vast majority of the children who learn music in school will never make it as a professional, playing music, unlike playing sports, is an activity that will last a lifetime.

Teaching music in some form even if it is nothing more than a music appreciation class where the child is introduced to various musical styles, should be a mandatory class in all schools and not thrown out with the rubbish when it suits a school board superintendent.

Learn more about this author, Sherrill Fulghum.
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