Education more than testing

There is not much recognition or discussion in the United States about artists and poets. In France, Great Britain and Germany they name streets after their poets and artists; it seems that Americans have streets named after generals and politicians.

When you think of Melville, Whitman, Emerson and Mark Twain, you will find very little about them in the public domain. You might wonder what this reflects. It reflects a businessman’s mentality. That’s what is running (and has run) and made this country.

The United States is curiously an unartistic country in its common character, and yet it has produced some of the greatest artists and poets. But they are not recognized publicly. Present day individuals like Peyton Manning or Kobe Bryant receive far more recognition.

Recently the United States came out with a stamp honoring a great American poet, Robinson Jeffers, but nobody knows him. His poetry is truly wonderful. Check it out and find what you are missing.

The reason that nobody knows Robinson Jeffers is that the mass media really does not support it. You might find it being offered on C-Span, but that is it. Most of the channels focus on the likes of Michael Jackson. Look what you receive after looking at Michael Jackson close up. The mass media is driven by ratings and money.

Another example of how artists and poets are neglected is in our schools. Even music and physical education have never received the appropriate scheduling time. However, in recent times, it has become worse. With increasing global competition, the business community has asked the state legislature to put increased pressure on schools. The rationale was that more accountability on the schools to perform. In the short term, I am positive that test results will show improvement. However, in the long term, I believe who the children have as parents, and the community in which they live, has the more dramatic impact.

It is my sincere belief that more testing is not the panacea for student achievement. It is a false illusion and will be proven that it is a phony solution by historians. The history of mankind is littered with solutions to improve the human condition.

We need to have less government interference and more control by the local community in making decisions in what is best for children.

It is my belief that art, music, physical education and even recess have far more value than the general public realizes. It should be noted that most experts like Jean Piaget have stated that art, music, poetry and fairy tales like “Jack and the Beanstalk” are at the basis for healthy, creative children. Children need more creativity and not testing; even recess matters.

Dr. Robert L. Lake

Portland[[In-content Ad]]