The Co-workers of Tomorrow

These lyrics from a Sondheim song popped into my head when I read this article, Top 10 Skills Children Learn from the Arts
Careful the things you say / Children will listen
Careful the things you do / Children will see and learn.
I parent two children and the current school system feels extremely focused on testing/measurements and the arts feel like an afterthought. Luckily, my kids have a dedicated music teacher who shows up at zero hour and hosts a choir. I have experienced so many people in a working (and volunteer) environment that have learned none of the valuable skills the article speaks of: creativity, confidence, problem solving, perseverance, focus, non-verbal communication, receiving constructive feedback, collaboration, dedication and accountability. I want my children to be great friends, co-workers and citizens. So I will always strive to keep them involved in the arts by encouraging their creative endeavors and signing them up for classes that interested them.