Sunday, April 02, 2006
Huckabee Writes Letter To The New York Times
We spend a lot of time here talking about Mike Huckabee's leadership in the areas of wellness and health care policy, his stance against abortion, his record as governor of Arkansas, and his progress down the long road toward his eventual nomination by the Republican party. As part of our descussions about his record, we have touched on his highly successful education reforms in Arkansas, but we have not talked specifically about one area of education that he is particularly passionate about -- the arts.
Governor Huckabee is, in fact, currently the chairman of the Education Commission of the States.
Today, we are reminded about his committment to continuing arts education in the public schools by a letter he wrote to The New York Times, published today. You can check it out HERE.
Because these links have a way of disappearing over time, we provide the text of the letter below:
The writer is the governor of Arkansas and chairman of both the Education Commission of the States and the National Governors Association.
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Governor Huckabee is, in fact, currently the chairman of the Education Commission of the States.
Today, we are reminded about his committment to continuing arts education in the public schools by a letter he wrote to The New York Times, published today. You can check it out HERE.
Because these links have a way of disappearing over time, we provide the text of the letter below:
April 2, 2006
Schools Need the Arts
To the Editor:
Re "Schools Cut Back Subjects to Push Reading and Math" (front page,
March 26):
Across the nation, schools are trimming back financing for music and
the arts in the name of "efficiency" and "core subjects." This is beyond
short-sighted. It's stupid.
In the name of No Child Left Behind, we are going to leave some of our
brightest students totally behind by never touching their talents to sing,
paint, act, dance or play an instrument. While experts and futurists warn that
the future economy will be driven by the "creative class," there are determined
efforts to diminish the value of the arts.
Numerous studies affirm that a student schooled in music improves his
or her SAT and ACT scores in math, foreign language or creative writing.
Creative students are better problem solvers; that is a trait the business world
begs for in its work force.
While the No Child Left Behind standards mandate arts as part of the
core curriculum (which is an admirable first at the federal level), many school
districts see the arts as expendable, extraneous or extracurricular. They are
essential.
Nine out of 10 parents surveyed opposed cuts to the arts in our
schools, yet many policy makers seem tone-deaf to this critical part of
educating our children. In my state, we by law now insist that every child
receive music and art instruction by a certified teacher. It's time that America
force the issue and finance it fully. No child should be left behind!
Mike Huckabee
Little Rock, Ark., March 31, 2006
The writer is the governor of Arkansas and chairman of both the Education Commission of the States and the National Governors Association.
