Presents responses to the policy recommendations issued by the National Endowment for the Arts in "Toward Civilization: A Report on Arts Education." Samuel Hope places this report in an historical context, Kevin Mulcahy points out the dangers of viewing art education as a pedagogical frill, and James Hutchens addresses issues of…

Defines liberal education as liberation from prejudice through depth of inquiry and a cultural nurturing through breadth of experience in history and literature. Discusses the inherent tension between the democratic polity and the liberal arts institution where all opinions cannot be equal. Sees better citizens emerging from a liberal education.…

Describes elements in the Philosophy for Children program that have relevance for aesthetic education. Outlines some of the main philosophical themes associated with aesthetic education. Discusses both materials and methods, paying particular attention to the text "Suki." Reviews ways in which the program holds students' attention and…

Offers strategies for introducing world music into the school instrumental music program. Suggests steps toward creating a more multicultural band or orchestra, including choosing multicultural musical literature, analyzing world music, and maintaining a diverse music library. Argues that culturally diverse music programs are better equipped to…

Describes a U.S.-Soviet mural project where citizens from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and citizens from Leningrad created two peace murals--one in the United States and the other in the Soviet Union. The murals were exchanged. Participants made their own clay using dry clay and water before creating their impressions of peace and friendship. (KM)

Recommends commissioning new works as a challenging and motivating learning experience for high school and college bands. Includes several guidelines for negotiating costs and performance rights with the composer, as well as other technical details. Discusses specific problems arising from this arrangement and possible solutions. (MJP)

Although music education's quality is outstanding, it faces serious problems that teachers and administrators should work to rectify by clearly stating goals and claims, adopting student achievement standards, and avoiding emphasizing music as entertainment--if something essential to civilization is to survive. (KS)

Examines the origin and nature of kitsch and its prominence in contemporary U.S. culture. Discusses how kitsch can be used in the arts curriculum to teach cultural and aesthetic lessons. (KM)

Profiles Alfred A. Knopf, his wife Blanche, and the publishing empire they created. Beginning in 1915, Knopf Inc. established a reputation for intellectual integrity, eventually including the works of 35 Pulitzer Prize winners and 18 Nobel laureates. Knopf often led the publishing industry in book design and literary tastes. (MJP)

Suggests an alternative approach for a popular culture course--an exploration of the culture of the students' parents, or "unpopular" culture. Possible activities for a unit include: interviews (on entertainment preferences, for example), observations (dress codes for social gatherings, parental food and drink habits, etc.), or an attic…

Asserts that holidays offer excellent opportunities to teach about cultural diversity and enrich the social studies curriculum. Provides five activities for teaching about holidays in elementary schools. Includes three charts keyed to the activities. (CFR)

Describes children's art education at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Art from 1928-1975. Discusses how the educational philosophy was influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Dewey, and Franz Cizek, stating that the goal of art education was to build character, transmit culture, promote healthy competition, and develop moral values and…

Discusses the furor created when Walt Disney Studios announced plans to develop a "historic amusement park" near the Manassas (Virginia) National Battlefield Park. Maintains that the public debate over the popular understanding of history reflects an ongoing tension between academic historians and the purveyors of popular history. (CFR)

Describes the efforts of various teachers and educational and community groups to promote community singing in the United States. Recounts some specific activities employed by teachers. Includes the words and music to "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." (MJP)

Maintains that efforts to link the arts for educational purposes have been made since the 1960s. Proposes three approaches to link visual art, dance, music and other aesthetic endeavors into one course. Concludes that, although integrating the arts is more work, the motivation for doing so rests on improved student learning. (CFR)