Yankee ingenuity is couched in the perception that Americans have been a creative people­an essential ingredient of democracy. But that creativeness is disappearing from our culture. Can society and the school community afford to ignore this alarming trend?
      The teachers of the arts are critical in each school. Paul Harvey said in his Veteran’s Day news report heard on Armed Forces Network: America’s schools are not providing music classes as they should, which is affecting the moral, emotional and musical education of our nation’s children. And a recent report to the nation from the Council on Civil Society has called for the return of arts education to our nation’s schools as part of a national agenda to bring civility to the lives of our children.
      The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, (1994), became the first federal legislation to declare the arts a “core” subject. This was followed by the joining of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Department of Education which developed Goals 2000: Arts Education Partnership. For most of you, this is not new information. But it is both an accomplishment and milestone that America’s society acknowledges the significant role that the arts play in the nurturing of our children and the preservation of our cultural heritage. These are significant first steps in promoting creativity and appreciation of the arts.
Supporting music, and all the arts, in our schools is everyone’s job and so I look at how I can do my share to promote the arts. Here are a few things that will make a difference at the school level.

• Above all, promote the notion that the arts are an essential element of human nature. The arts bring an element of humanity to each person as no other subject can. Much of what we call humanity is defined through the arts. Encourage all members of the school community to become familiar with the nature of art and how and why it should be considered an important element of the school curriculum. 
• Encourage and promote the integration of the arts by classroom teachers in subjects such as social studies, science, math, language arts, etc. Provide resources to help classroom teachers use the arts to support the curriculum.
• Provide a teaching environment that includes updated materials and equipment in good condition; adequate space to allow movement and creative grouping; and, appropriate storage for accessibility and security of required equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Make the arts a visible part of the school environment. Encourage the display of visual arts throughout the school. Promote the development and sharing of the performing arts from classroom puppet shows to school assemblies along with evening community performances to celebrate children’s accomplishments.
• Be an advocate for qualified personnel. Take time to discuss the training and experiences of potential candidates. Ask critical questions to obtain a clear understanding of the candidate’s educational philosophy and how they use the arts in their teaching. Look for indications that candidates value the arts. Encourage educators to involve themselves in the arts.