The Case for Compulsory Music Education in U.S. K-12 Schools: A Path to Fostering Cultural Identity and Inclusivity
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This paper investigates the possible advantages of having music education as a required part of the U.S. K-12 curricula, particularly relating to how it can help develop cultural identities and encourage social cohesion. Music education helps develop cultural identity in that it creates shared experiences, preserves heritage, and encourages intercultural understanding. Questions of practical implementation—equity disparities, curricular prejudices, and lack of finances—fall into place as some of these challenges. It is contended in the paper that compulsory music education, far from these challenges, has rich cultural and educational rewards and for that matter prescribes remediating through legislative advocacy and public-private partnerships, and culturally responsive teaching practices.
DOI: 10.54097/gw81ck12
Author: Hengyi Chen
Language: English
Subfield: Music
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4404210862