Music a vital part of education
March is "Music in Our Schools Month."
Music education everywhere across the nation is in danger of extinction.
March has been named "Music in Our Schools Month" to promote advocacy to save the programs. Music education is a very vital part of every child's education.
It has been proven time and time again that students who read and play musical scores have increased function in major areas of their brain.
Because of this advantage, student standardized test scores in subjects like mathematics and reading have increased.
In data collected on more than 25,000 secondary school students, the U.S. Department of Education found that students who report consistent high levels of involvement in instrumental music over the middle and high school years show "significantly higher levels of mathematics proficiency by grade 12."
Music also teaches many life skills that students will need when they grow into the work force. It encourages self-discipline, promotes good work habits and encourages teamwork thus increasing student's self-confidence. These are many of the reasons why music education should be a part of every child's required general education.
It promotes great habits and all in all, is just a fantastic, fun way for children to learn and connect with the community.
JESSICA McCULLOUGH
Brighton, Tenn.
School schedules hard on children
It's been proven time and time again by doctors worldwide children up to 18 years old need at least nine hours of sleep each night for their developing brain and to meet the challenge to focus on good education.
Here in Red Bank, I hear children leave on their bus for school at 6 a.m. When I was young, I did not have to be at school until 8:30 a.m.
We cry and moan about some failing schools, rezoning jeopardizing our child's quality school capability and location with teachers who need stress tests. Yet we send our kids to school half asleep. And this has been proven to be a real problem by the experts. How stupid is this? You would have to put your child to bed at 8 o'clock every night just to barely keep up with current conditions. We are shooting ourselves in both feet.
Will someone tell me how a child in the seventh grade can determine what sex they want to be with this immature, uninformed and undeveloped mind plus not enough sleep? It is happening every day. Think...
ROBERT D. HENRY
Red Bank
Earlier letter makes the case
I want to thank Joy Sturtevant for the letter in the "Letters to the Editors" in the March 19 paper. The only way we differ is that I am Catholic and Republican.
KATHLEEN DOHERTY
Hixson