PE and Music for Higher Test Scores

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I can not belive this, this is amazing!

Jamie of WI 3:23PM May 25, 2011

IXhpuX

Clrhigxy of MI 6:07AM July 14, 2009

Our school doesn't really give our music program any money. Those who are in the music programs are affraid that they will get rid of it next year or soon! Music does help us learn but why does our school not find music as important as sports if they give the same test scores?

Ayla L.J. Besinger of IN 3:05PM January 29, 2009

This comment is for Nancy Shute-
As a P.E. teacher in New York City I didn't appreciate your comment about lobbying for more dodgeball. When is the last time you spent time in any P.E class? We may not teach in a typial classroom but our subject is very important. We deal alot with character education, teaching children social skills which a lot of children struggle with today. We also work very hard at getting the children to understand how important health and fitness are for life; we also integrate math, vocabulary, spelling.etc into our lessons. The children are having fun, getting exercise and learning at the same time which is what we aim to do in our classes. So its no longer the class where someone just rolls out a ball!!
Justine Clifford-Stack

Justine Clifford-Stack of NY 12:13PM June 27, 2008

My daughter takes private cello and piano lessons. She is in the orchestra at school. She is great at math. She was recommended for a gifted math program, which she will test for in May of 2008.
I teach music as well and find that students do excel in their academics. They are involved in leadership roles and seek out extra-curricular activities.
At my daughter's school they still involve the students in the President's Physical Education Program. My daughters has received a certificate since third grade. I don't see that in the elementary schools anymore. It was a big deal when I was growing up. I was delighted to see that at her school.

Val Smith of MO 10:32AM April 14, 2008

As a music teacher I am amazed at the abilities of our students - They are usually more involved with other "extra" activities, such as sports and drama and can balance those and school work, with high achievement in all. I feel that musical and P.E. training utilize more of the brain making it easier to latch on to new concepts.
Upper level studendts could use recess also!

Golda Burke of MO 9:26AM April 11, 2008

I am glad this is being studied by neuroscientists, but I am surprised that this is "news"! I went to a tradtional college prep school (on scholarship), the kind of school that gets 25 percent or more of the graduating class into Ivy League schools. ALL of these schools have extensive music, arts, theater, sports, and fitness programs and always have. If cutting extracurriculars and packing the kids' days with maximum academic time was effective, these elite schools would be doing it.
As an adult, I have seen the curriculum planning documents for the school I attended: Foundational methods for, say, the middle-school science lessons, are built into the art program for the Pre-K. This is no secret. for I honestly find it hard to believe that professional educators in less "elite" schools don't know this. Nor do I believe that money stands in the way of implementing thse methods. I think it's a political and/or cultural matter.

Barbara Saunders of CA 2:26PM March 21, 2008