It seems in this so-called Conceptual Age, the arts are still poor stepchildren to the 3 Rs....
Instead of electives such as art, music and shop, northern California students are taking two or three language-arts classes and math classes, and struggling students may miss out on social studies and science as well. "It's like saying all you need is water, you don't need food," said Jason Ebner, who taught middle-school history until it was virtually eliminated. Read more at by Shirley Dang in her article "Schools pile on English, math classes".
Some schools, intent on meeting those "academic left brain standards" are willing to cut worthy programs that arguably will have enormous payoff in the Conceptual Age.
Don't get me wrong, I love math (not so good at English and you can probably tell you verbal-types), and I believe strongly in the value of fun-damentals in education. Yet, educating the Whole Child is something we are so quick to dismiss when pressed by the almightly test scores!
Artichoke reminds me as well...Sir Ken Robinson has just excited NZ educators with his presentation on this very same theme at the NZ Principal's Conference in Auckland, New Zealand. See my previous post of Ken Robinson talk at TED.
HERE, TAKE THIS YOU LEFT BRAINERS!....
Sir Ken Robinson has just excited NZ educators with his presentation on this very same theme at the NZ Principals's conference in Auckland, New Zealand - you check out his ideas on TED talks or http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
Posted by: Artichoke | 2007.05.22 at 02:49