[Mpls] Arts & Music

[Michael Atherton]

List Manager wrote:

> Hi folks - the thread's pretty general now. I think it's time 
> to move on to more Minneapolis-specific topics, educational or 
> otherwise.

I'll bring this back to Minneapolis because I'm just amazed at
the irrational responses generated by this topic and I'm 
interesting in knowing how representative they are.  That's
why I started this thread.  Other than one private school in
Minneapolis, I have not met anyone in this city who truly supports 
a strong emphasis for math and science.  

Liz Greenbaum wrote:

> Yeah - and how many people has science destroyed - think 
> Hiroshima. We could go on but let's not. 

I agree that Ms. Greenbaum and I will find no common ground.
I am offended by someone who would claim that empirical 
evidence supports their position and then would fail to provide
a reference for a single study.

> Not to offend, but I feel sorry for your kids for you not 
> wanting to give them that exposure. 

I am greatly offended by someone who would not take the time to
understand my statements and yet would make false public 
assumptions about my family.  You seem to hear or believe only
what would make me a smaller person than yourself.  It also
does not appear that the Arts have not make you more open 
minded or accepting of a diversity range of thought.

My grandfather was an architect, my grandmother was
an interior designer, my mother was an artists' agent.
My step-grandfather was one of the most famous archeologists
in Israel and my step-mother a painter. I studied modern 
dance in college and have worked in clay, textiles, 
wood, jewelry, stained glass, and have written poetry (although
not very good poetry).  My children, both of whom are under
the age of four, have already had one dance class and are 
currently taking a music class at MacPhail; not to mention
the emphasis on Arts over Literacy at their daycare.

I have never stated that the Arts are not a positive aspect 
of human culture or that they should not be included in the 
curriculum of the MPS.  What I have said, repeatedly, is that 
there appears to be an overemphasis on Arts and a serious 
lack of emphasis on Math and Science.  Am I to assume that 
you are opposed to Math and Science receiving at least equal 
treatment in our public schools?

I have also argued that literacy is more important than the 
Arts and given that the MPS cannot seem to provide an even 
basic level of literacy for all of its students, that an emphasis 
on Arts is misplaced.  So, I would like to ask list members to rank
the following on their importance to public education in Minneapolis:

1. Literacy
2. Critical Thinking 
3. Math
4. Science
5. Arts

Assume that this is a forced choice survey and you cannot
rank topics on the same level.  Please feel free to send
your response to me offline.  The ordering above is obviously
my own ranking.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park

PS: Just a moment ago I check the list and found two new posts.
One, from Gary Hoover about the wonderful sense of self that
he derives from this children learning art and community; and
another from Donald Greeley titled, "3 More Murdered in
Minneapolis: Who's to Blame?"  Doesn't anyone see the irony
in an educational system emphasizing art that produces so many
dropouts and criminals?  Is what we need more art or 
literacy and job skills?