We speak with Dr. Anne Smith, longtime music teacher in Northern Virginia, about accommodating cultural differences. Dr. Smith created an alternate curriculum for students whose traditions don’t allow secular music-making. We discuss the extent to which parents should be able to influence what their students learn. We also talk about why music and art are treated as lesser (“special”) subjects.
Overview
00:00-00:35 Intros
00:35-07:57 A parent asks to opt her daughter out of music
07:57-09:48 Finding a balance in a class with culturally and linguistically diverse children and families
09:48-12:02 Importance of conversation between professionals and families
12:02-14:15 Are parental objections to music different from objections to literature and science?
14:15-16:39 Teachers need to articulate why they are teaching what they are teaching; importance of teaching music
16:39-19:03 Music should be part of everyone’s life—a loss if parents opt out
19:03-20:30 Importance of music foundation before children go on specific tracks
20:30-24:30 Teachers’ responses to Va. governor’s push for parents to object to aspects of education he doesn’t like
24:30-27:01 “Old Black Joe”
27:01-29:15 Using the arts to educate and promote equity
29:15-32:22 Why schools treat art and music as dispensable
32:22-36:16 Treating the arts seriously as subjects
36:16- Outro
Transcript
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Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
*Episode originally published on November 3rd, 2022