unity

Today, we watched an historic event, the inauguration of Barack Obama.

What captured my attention most about the proceedings was the inclusion of the arts every step of the way. High school students marched in the parade, children sang, poetry was read. There was an especially moving piece performed by Yo Yo Ma and his pals, in freezing temperatures! After Barack took office, we all gathered together and listened to our National Anthem. I don't know if you sang along with the choir, but I did, in the privacy of my car while driving out to NNU! Tonight, there will be dancing and more music as the nation celebrates.

The arts provide unity in a way few other things can. Those of you who have made the arts a career choice know this better than anyone else. But even those of you who have enjoyed the arts through listening to the radio, singing in your school's 3rd grade choir, or dancing as Mouse #4 in The Nutcracker, have experienced this commonality of spirit. We strive for a common goal. As Christians, our common goal has the additional purpose of worship to God.

I believe the primary function of arts education in America is to provide people with this necessary outlet of togetherness and teamwork. If we cannot learn to work together to create something beautiful, how can we ever work together to help those in need, to share God's love, to fight injustice? We felt it today as citizens of the United States. We have access to this unity on a daily basis, if we so desire.

As a teacher, I work with students who are striving to achieve this goal. While they may not go on to pursue a career as artists, they have learned to pursue excellence, work together (often with people they don't get along with!) and delay gratification. They learn to lift up the members of their team who need extra help, and to share the spotlight when success finds them.

Arts education is for everyone. In a perfect educational world, every child would receive arts education and physical education. A sharp,caring mind is little good in an unhealthy body. These classes are not 'frills', they are life.