Piecemeal Privatization of Arts and Music in Public Schools
So you think you saw the Easter Bunny this morning? But you’re not sure.
The current status of the arts and music are like that in our public schools. One might think these subjects are returning, they’re back…or, not really. Just like the hippity-hoppity bunny that moves in lightning speed, privatization of public schools is sneaky that way.
The April issue of Phi Delta Kappan (PDK) is titled Arts & Music in School. I couldn’t wait to read my copy. But my hopes were dashed. Every article leads to partnerships—not school funding directly for arts and music classes. The issue is also about integrating these subjects into other classes and alludes to a technology takeover (no surprise there).
There’s no mention of bringing back qualified arts and music teachers. There’s little talk of reviving these classes as subjects, without integrating them into math or language arts, to make the school curriculum whole again.
First, Destruction
It was catastrophic to defund the arts and music in schools. Mostly, under NCLB, these Piecemeal Privatization of Arts and Music in Public Schools:
