Recognizing Benefits and Importance of School-Based Music Education
RECOGNIZING BENEFITS AND IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 06, 2004)
SPEECH OF
HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2004
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 380, to acknowledge the great benefits and the importance of music in our Nation's schools.
We know music education helps young minds to develop creativity and expression of emotions. Studies show that early music training can enhance a child's ability to reason and think critically, that children exposed to music at a young age learn better in other subjects, and that children trained in music score significantly higher on reading tests than those who were not. Unfortunately, these programs are being cut from more and more schools with the majority of students attending public schools in inner city neighborhoods having virtually no access to music education, which places them at a disadvantage compared to their peers in other communities.
Although studies show the great outcomes of having music education, local budget cuts are depriving approximately 30,000,000 students of an education that includes music. It is not only at the local level that is forcing schools to abandon music education but the lack of federal funding as well. As our schools struggle to meet No Child Left Behind guidelines without full funding, provide education to all students without full funding for IDEA, schools are faced with making the decisions to cut music, art, after school activities or being labeled a failing school. We need to not only recognize the benefits and importance of music education, but embrace it, realize the need for it and other art education programs in all of our nation's schools and most importantly save music education from becoming extinct. Without music education so many of our great musicians that we admire today-would be doing something else. But the school music program was there for them and we need to have it there for the next generation of musicians.
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