[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 31 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E454-E455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MUSIC EDUCATION: NEBRASKA LEADS THE WAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL BARRETT

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 1997

  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I've been asked by the Nebraska 
Music Educators Association to share some important news with my 
colleagues.
  According to the association, Nebraska is implementing national 
standards in the visual and performing arts through the design and 
implementation of the Nebraska K-12 curriculum frameworks in the visual 
and performing arts, a project funded by the Secretary of Education's 
education innovation fund.
  It is important our youth have a good understanding of the arts and 
music. I well remember growing up in Lexington, NE, where my music 
teachers helped instill in me a fond appreciation for music. Because of 
their tutelage and my parents insistence, I was able to turn my piano 
and trombone lessons into a job with a jazz band that helped pay my way 
through college. Because of music, I have developed lifelong friends 
and savor the memories of events on the road with the band.
  There is one particular event that comes to mind. One day our jazz 
band was traveling in southern Kansas and we stopped to have lunch at a 
roadside diner. The owner of the diner informed us he wouldn't serve a 
black member of our band. We walked out of the diner in protest. This 
was my first experience in seeing racial discrimination in practice, 
and it made me realize that a vast segment of our population was being 
treated as second-class citizens. It was heartening to see later that 
same day people coming to the nightclub who didn't care if a member of 
our band was black. The music broke through racial prejudices.
  Ideally, music appreciation should start at an early age and ought to 
be encouraged by parents. I'm pleased to see that Nebraska music and 
art educators are working hard to provide our youth with opportunities 
to learn--not just about musical scores and art technics,

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but about how life should be enjoyed. I'm pleased Nebraska is leading 
the way once again.

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