Creativity part I – Where’s it going?

A post by Dr. James Ramsey, PAA Executive Director.

From the 1980’s to present, American education has seen a continuing decline in funding support for music and arts in the classroom. In spite of all the written evidence of surveys, reports, and studies, creative outlets for the student are simply eroding to basic levels or disappearing because of lack of vision, funding, federal mandates (NCLB) or even community awareness. The overall “creative industry” as a whole is trying to find a successful identity in a consumerism driven for-profit culture. Unfortunately, the most valuable aspect of creativity for a student’s development is threatened simply because it is either intangible or immeasurable and apparently difficult to communicate quantifiable results.

Robert Shaw, one of the most famous musicians and musical advocates of the 20th Century, once said, “In a world of political, economic and personal disintegration, music is not a luxury but a
necessity, not simply because it is therapeutic nor because it is the “universal language,” but because it is the persistent focus of mankind’s intelligence, aspiration, and good will.”

I will offer this question to ponder until next week’s blog – What are we prepared to do about the direction of the creative arts in our community for ourselves and our children and why do we need it?