Comments on: Art and music haven't vanished http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mike in Texas http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47674 Mike in Texas Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:39:29 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47674 Joanne, Your posting mentions polling of middle school administrators and the article claims kids aren't being shortchanged in the arts. I'm asking the question then, were elementary school principals questioned? Joanne,

Your posting mentions polling of middle school administrators and the article claims kids aren’t being shortchanged in the arts. I’m asking the question then, were elementary school principals questioned?

]]> By: Joanne Jacobs http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47673 Joanne Jacobs Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:43:05 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47673 Mike, NAEP tests only eighth-grade students in music and visual arts. Mike, NAEP tests only eighth-grade students in music and visual arts.

]]> By: Tracy W http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47672 Tracy W Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:41:09 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47672 <i>But the ability to identify a musical instrument isn’t key to appreciation of that music.</i> But the test wasn't about appreciation, it was about knowledge. To quote from the linked article: <blockquote>In the past decade or so, middle-schoolers have made little progress in how much they <b>know</b> about music and visual arts.</blockquote>[Emphasis mine] And I don't think schools should be held responsible for teaching students to appreciate music and art in the sense of enjoying it. After all, I know that if my schools had tried to force me to enjoy a particular piece of music and art that I didn't like, I would have ripped off a page of mindless praising adjectives and internally been even more confirmed in my dislike of it. Faking knowledge of music or art is far harder. But the ability to identify a musical instrument isn’t key to appreciation of that music.

But the test wasn’t about appreciation, it was about knowledge. To quote from the linked article:

In the past decade or so, middle-schoolers have made little progress in how much they know about music and visual arts.

[Emphasis mine]

And I don’t think schools should be held responsible for teaching students to appreciate music and art in the sense of enjoying it. After all, I know that if my schools had tried to force me to enjoy a particular piece of music and art that I didn’t like, I would have ripped off a page of mindless praising adjectives and internally been even more confirmed in my dislike of it. Faking knowledge of music or art is far harder.

]]> By: Mike in Texas http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47671 Mike in Texas Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:00:39 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47671 Notice elementary schools were carefully left out of this posting and the USA article. Notice elementary schools were carefully left out of this posting and the USA article.

]]> By: greifer http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47670 greifer Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:00:48 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47670 but is it because Language Arts class now has an arts and crafts project rather than a book report? but is it because Language Arts class now has an arts and crafts project rather than a book report?

]]> By: Kate http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47669 Kate Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:44:30 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47669 But the ability to identify a musical instrument isn't key to appreciation of that music. These tests are sort of stupid. Appreciating a painting is possible without studying art history. And creating your own is different again. But the ability to identify a musical instrument isn’t key to appreciation of that music. These tests are sort of stupid. Appreciating a painting is possible without studying art history. And creating your own is different again.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47668 Lauren Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:16:37 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47668 So interesting...definitely would not have guessed that. So interesting…definitely would not have guessed that.

]]> By: Margo/Mom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2009/06/art-and-music-havent-vanished/#comment-47667 Margo/Mom Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:43:07 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/?p=9807#comment-47667 There's a lot of stuff circulated about NCLB that ain't gospel. There’s a lot of stuff circulated about NCLB that ain’t gospel.

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