You Are an Administrator in a School System Charged with Designing

question 32

Essay

You are an administrator in a school system charged with designing a new high school curriculum. You are under pressure, for economic reasons, to include only "essential" subjects in the curriculum. You're aware that most of your colleagues believe that "essential" subjects are limited to math, science, reading, writing, and history-but not art. In light of this, you decide to write a letter, in the form of an essay to your colleagues, that defends the inclusion of art classes and art appreciation in the curriculum, because of the essential educational value of art. Your essay should include the views of Confucius, Schiller, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche, although you are not limited to these points of view. If you've had a personal experience of the educational power of art, share that as well. Be specific about how educational values are linked to aesthetic values Also be specific about what "arts" and "art appreciation" you would include-formal art, and/or popular art?

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Definitions:

2001 Recession

A brief economic downturn that occurred in the United States in 2001, marked by a decrease in GDP and triggered by the burst of the dot-com bubble.

Federal Government

The national government of a federated state, which is responsible for certain functions such as defense and monetary policy.

Inflation

The growth rate in the general cost of goods and services, causing a downturn in the power to make purchases.

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A global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations, including all of the great powers.