Javilk wrote:
> There was just a piece on a debate, showing that some kinds of music
> boost kid's IQ's at least temporarily. The schools are debating whether
> this suggests we ought to teach music in school or not. Many say that
> there isn't the time, nor the money to do so in this increasingly complex
> society, that we must concentrate in teaching facts to the children.
> Music or computers? Which would you have them learn?
Both. There is no difference here (read "Godel, Escher, Bach" for a
lengthy and worthwhile explanation).
Whoever came up with the idea that subject-based learning in discrete
categories was best needs to be kicked in the butt. Schools aren't
assembly lines.
I remember by 6th grade teacher being fired. Why? Because for one hour
each week he insisted on showing us National Geographic films for 1/2 of
the "civics class". We learned about other cultures. We learned about
complex problems. We learned how to fix the damn projector.
In "music class", instead of being force fed piano lessons and taught
how to sing horribly out of tune, we learned about jazz influences,
african drums and how they evolved from communication systems, the
physics of why glasses of water resonate at different frequencies.
The single-most memorable and thought-provoking teacher I had. At my 15
year high school reunion, we had a long talk about him. Everyone who
shared that class till thinks of him. I *still* remember things he
taught me almost verbatim.
What did we "give up" form the normal curriculum? Nothing. Each and
every one of us voluntarily read the full expected assignment and
coordinated our own class quizzes every friday so we could make time for
this type of thing.
He was let go for "consistent deviation from school board approved
lesson plans."
Thanks to him, I'm also now a strong believer in the principle that
whatever you want to learn about, don't study it :) 'Study' the larger
subjects that guide the field, and 'memorize' the skills . . .
B
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