[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 62 (Thursday, May 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  RECOGNIZING BENEFITS AND IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION

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                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2004

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 380, to acknowledge the great benefits and the importance of 
music in our Nation's schools.
  We know music education helps young minds to develop creativity and 
expression of emotions. Studies show that early music training can 
enhance a child's ability to reason and think critically, that children 
exposed to music at a young age learn better in other subjects, and 
that children trained in music score significantly higher on reading 
tests than those who were not. Unfortunately, these programs are being 
cut from more and more schools with the majority of students attending 
public schools in inner city neighborhoods having virtually no access 
to music education, which places them at a disadvantage compared to 
their peers in other communities.
  Although studies show the great outcomes of having music education, 
local budget cuts are depriving approximately 30,000,000 students of an 
education that includes music. It is not only at the local level that 
is forcing schools to abandon music education but the lack of federal 
funding as well. As our schools struggle to meet No Child Left Behind 
guidelines without full funding, provide education to all students 
without full funding for IDEA, schools are faced with making the 
decisions to cut music, art, after school activities or being labeled a 
failing school. We need to not only recognize the benefits and 
importance of music education, but embrace it, realize the need for it 
and other art education programs in all of our nation's schools and 
most importantly save music education from becoming extinct. Without 
music education so many of our great musicians that we admire today--
would be doing something else. But the school music program was there 
for them and we need to have it there for the next generation of 
musicians.

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