Mimi Ezust wrote:

>I blame it on the absence of music instruction in the public school.
>When school-children do not learn how to read music, play musical
>instruments, play in ensembles, they remain ignorant of the beauties
>and pleasures of classical music.
>
>Unfortunately, in the USA music is not the only subject falling by the
>wayside.  If we continue along this discouraging road, soon there will
>be no science articles, no technical columns, and nothing left in print
>or on television that makes our children want to do anything that requires
>thought.

My flip response used to be to attribute the decline in the educational
system to the introduction of "show and tell."

For me, the question is, why isn't music (and writing, etc.) part of the
public school education...I guess because it isn't seen to be important?
If not, who says it isn't important and why do they say that?

Is it because they haven't experience music and didn't find it important
in their lives?  Sometimes I think the "problem" with music, is that it
is difficult to quantify within the context of the educational system.

Other thoughts?

Karl