“Music: A Community of Song”

“Education Issues and Trends”

By: Mary Neeley Stevens

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No Child Left Behind Act was written with the intention of creating an educational community that produces young adults capable of innovative thought, problem-solvers and successful, contributing members of society.  However, the educational community still is allowing students to become insignificant and slip through the cracks.  Students drop out of school.  Educators do not understand and do not address the issues directly influencing the families serviced by public school education.

Teaching reading, writing, arithmetic is not enough. Arts education is essential, as well as, cultural awareness, support of individual talent, and, providing purpose and direction to children.  When teachers work together in the campus community connecting language to music, logic to mathematics, spatial awareness to kinesthetic movement, personal relationships to a sense of self, then students learn to value the worth of the individual, as well as, understand and respect the diversity of all.  Our children will graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful and fulfilling lives.  By providing all children with a complete set of tools they need to become contributing members of society, and, by providing a sense of community and belonging, we will not leave any child behind.  

I have found through my years of teaching that my greatest reward is simply singing with children in the community of music.  The little world created in the music classroom with my students is ours.  If someone enters our room, they are immediately invited to join our community.  We are part of an ancient rite.  There is nothing more simple.  There is nothing more beautiful.  There is nothing more powerful.  There is nothing more meaningful.  It is civilization in its purest form.

I suggest we bring the sense of community to every classroom.  The most successful educators I have known throughout the years have done just that.  Their classroom management styles reflect great structure of a functioning society.  The environment is safe and nurturing.  Communication flourishes from classroom community to classroom community.  The entire campus community has a sense of working together toward a common goal.  With the support of the community, each student approaches learning tasks with confidence.  Upon completion of the tasks, each student receives recognition, gains the desire to achieve greatness, and graciously acknowledges the benevolent community.  Most importantly, the campus community is comprised of active participants with responsibilities to each individual student.

This description of the educational culture may sound rather euphoric, but it is the exact uniqueness of this great nation.  Our nation was built on the grand principles by founding fathers for all people to gain significance, worth and pursue happiness.  It is our responsibility to continue the work that has been put before us and pass whatever knowledge and experience we have gained onto each generation.  We are all part of a community.  Every culture has a system for educating their young.  Every culture has a moment when the child becomes an adult.  At that moment of accomplishment there is great celebration.  Within the culture there is always great value placed on the quality of that celebration.  It is a celebration for the entire community.

As a child, I was part of the magic circle of song.  Have you ever sat around a campfire and joined in singing?  Your eyes gaze at the flames, the sparks float into the darkness and disappear, the faces across the circle form the same words as your own, the faint smell of smoke, the coolness of your back and the warmth of your knees, the intermittent crackles of boiling sap.  If I asked right now for a song for all of us to sing, would you join in, or not?  If you ask children to sing their favorite song, the hands would be waving with utter exuberance.  Their skin would be tingling with excitement.  That is the power of music and the strength of community.  That is what the educational community needs.  All of us anxiously await the magnificent performance of future generations, because, all of us have a place in the choir.

An excerpt from Region 4 Teacher of the Year application

by Mary Neeley Stevens, Aldine ISD 2007 Elementary Teacher of the Year

KET Secretary