Do not eliminate the arts in our schools

To the editor:

On May 9, the Iowa Large Group Music Festival was held at various sites across the state. The festival features the curricular music ensembles of Iowa schools in an assessment setting. The music ensembles are assessed by music education professionals.

If the music performed at the Linn-Mar site is any indication of what performance was like across our state, what our children are getting through Iowa school music programs is amazing. This must be protected as state government threatens funding for our schools. The arts must be protected if we want the best education for Iowa children. Please, Gov. Terry Branstad and the Iowa Legislature, do not destroy what is good for the state of Iowa.

I am so proud of the value the Linn-Mar School District places on the importance of the arts for our children. I am humbled by the excellence of the teaching staff in music education throughout our district. Yes, our groups earned high ratings. But far beyond that they assimilated and applied all of their education through collaborative learning and artistic performance. They could not be more prepared for any future schooling, employment or life. That is what the arts does for our students. Yes, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are important for our students and their future. But without the arts, future generations will not have the STEAM to accomplish real collaborative progress as a society. Do not minimize and attempt to eliminate the critical importance of the arts in education.

Bob Anderson

Cedar Rapids