Liz Greenbaum
Longfellow
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
REMINDERS:Jon, Most people are not bothered that art and music are taught in schools. What most people worry about is the " serious lack of emphasis on Math and Science". They worry that the children of Minneapolis are not getting the basic foundation to acquire other knowledge and novel stimulation. You assert that that poster had failed to convince anyone, and possibly you are correct when you say so, because many people already share that opinion if not one that art and music are over emphasized. Jon, you state, "You have also failed to show why it is that math and science ought to be of greater prominence". This is clearly not the case when people are writing on the subject from as far away as Tampa.
You ask for a listing of priority for education. It is simple from your list. Literacy and Math may allow anyone with a desire do so to acquire the others and without them the others mean little. You can not acquire science without math, you can not acquire critical thinking without a lot of personal teaching or the ability to read well. With a foundation of the building blocks of language, and the "language" of math, at anytime in ones life one may become a scientist, may become a philosopher, may become a designer who creates beautiful museums, or a music or art critique if not possessing talent themselves. May become an actor or a poet. Such basic skills allow a social psychologist to become a contractor building those buildings, a computer expert, a farmer, a doctor, a lawyer or even more exalted professions such as an auto mechanic or plumber. Without them a person is doomed to the knowledge that can be acquired from a personal teacher. Most children now can know more in a year than any scientist of the 19th century, if they desire and they have those skills. Without them, only the truly gifted succeed in much, they are rooted to a mundane life of few choices.
Sure our children need music and art in their lives, but they need literacy and math to build those lives. I do not, and I do not think anyone is bothered by art and music in schools. IF the children can read well and do math well. But do not tell me that children without those skills are just as well prepared for life with an art and music emphasis. It just is not true. With skills in math and literacy one has choice without them they do not.
Jim Graham, Ventura Village
"There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into
babies and revolution into young minds."
REMINDERS:
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.
For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
