The Music in Schools Argument

We are forever trying to boost the opinions of the arts in our schools. As I was rereading the Woodford text, I came across the section in Chapter Four that talks about the New Right hijacking the public sphere and its institutions. The quote talks about music and arts being the "soft" subjects.

"By 'soft' subjects I am referring to the nineteenth century notion of 'formal discipline' or the belief that general mental faculties were like muscles that could be strengthened through application to certain difficult or 'hard' subjects such as Latin or Mathematics. Today's 'hard' subjects are language, mathematics, and the sciences-- the one that are most susceptible to quantitative assessment and that are deemed useful in business and the workforce. To many peoples utilitarian way of thinking today, and particularly that of the New Right, subjects such as music and philosophy are not sufficiently 'concrete' to be of much use to anyone." (Pg. 60)

This argument for music in our schools will go on forever until we either get knocked out all together or we get more recognition for what music can accomplish. What is deemed useful in the work place can be learned in a music classroom just as well as any other place. The subject matter may not be of much use, but thinking critically and creatively are great assets to any workplace. Employers look for people who can think outside the box and who can come up with solutions that both work well and are imaginative. This creativity can be learned in a music classroom just as well as it can be learned in another setting. I'll take a step out and say that creativity is associated more with music and the arts than it is with math or science.

Another thing that I wanted to point out is that the New Right deems music and philosophy as not much use to anyone. In fact they are of very good use. Philosophy helps us to think critically and look at things in new and different ways. By learning about the different ways of thinking it moves us to challenge and question all the things that have come before us and that in a way is teaching us how to live in a democratic society.