New Survey Finds Americans Overwhelmingly Support Teaching National
Anthem in Schools and Agree Music Education Impacts Success in Other
Subjects
WASHINGTON, June 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the nation recognizes
Flag Day, more than 1,000 school children from across the country sing "The
Star-Spangled Banner," standing at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial near the
U.S. Capitol building and joined by the Cactus Cuties and the United States
Marine Band, kicking off a weekend of performances celebrating the national
anthem and the importance of music education.
Created by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the
"National Anthem Project: Restoring America's Voice" is celebrating a
national education initiative to re-teach Americans "The Star-Spangled
Banner" after a Harris Interactive Survey showed that two out of three
Americans don't know the words to the national anthem.
In the era of "No Child Left Behind," access to music education has
decreased 20%. "With cut backs in music education, our children no longer
are learning the music of their heritage," said Barbara Geer, a choral
director and president-elect of MENC. "As America grows more diverse,
learning the music of our history and our country is an important way to
bind us all together as Americans. We're hoping events like today's bring
attention not only to the national anthem, but to music education in our
schools nationwide."
Americans Support Teaching of National Anthem and Agree Music Education
Impacts Success in Other Subjects
A June survey conducted by Harris Interactive for MENC shows knowledge
of the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" up slightly from 2004 when the
survey was last taken.
Americans overwhelming support the teaching of the national anthem in
our schools. Eighty-five (85%) percent feel "The Star-Spangled Banner"
should be taught in schools with two-thirds (67%) saying they feel strongly
about it.
Eighty-four (84%) percent of those surveyed also feel music education
teaches valuable skills that help with other subjects. According to a
University of Kansas study, students in top quality music programs scored
22% higher in English and 20% higher in math on standardized tests mandated
by the "No Child Left Behind Act." In November 2007, Harris Interactive
released a Harris Poll which showed a positive association of music with
lifelong educational attainment and higher income. Nearly nine in ten
people (88 percent) with post graduate degrees participated in music
education. Further, 83 percent of those with incomes higher than $150,000
or more participated in music.
"Not knowing the national anthem is a symptom of a larger problem in
our school systems," said Dr. John Mahlmann, Executive Director, MENC.
"Research shows music education at an early age greatly increases the
likelihood a child will grow up to seek higher education, earn a higher
salary and feel more personally fulfilled. Music education teaches people
how to think and work with others -- skills that are the foundation to
success in our society today. We know as a result of The National Anthem
Project, more teachers are teaching children 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'
That's the good news. The bad news is music teachers have less time and
fewer resources to work with our children. Our country and our children
will be poorer for it."
GREAT VISUALS:
-- 1,000 school children, dressed in red National Anthem Project shirts,
the Cactus Cuties, the President's Own United States Marine Band,
and Members of Congress at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, with the
Capitol Building in the background
-- Children singing the "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Additional National Anthem Project Performances
Friday, June 13
Mosinee High School Cantabile Wisconsin Sylvan Theater 10:00
Muldrow High School Band Oklahoma Jefferson Memorial 10:00
Whitney Point High School Aquila
Chorus New York Sylvan Theater 10:45
El Rancho Middle Charter School
Theater Choir California Sylvan Theater 11:30
Nash Central High School Band North Carolina Jefferson Memorial 11:30
Sam Houston High School Mariachi
Tejana Texas Sylvan Theater 1:00
Wilbur L. Cross School African
Drum Circle Connecticut Jefferson Memorial 1:00
Buckhannon Upshur Middle School
Choir West Virginia Sylvan Theater 1:45
Harrison High School Band Arkansas Jefferson Memorial 1:45
Boston College High School Chorus Massachusetts Sylvan Theater 2:30
Kammerer Middle School Choir Kentucky Sylvan Theater 3:15
Saturday, June 14
New Canaan High School Band Connecticut Jefferson Memorial 10:00
MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest
arts education organization, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only
association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than
130,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate
school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access
to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music
instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources
have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a
profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral
part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National
Standards for Arts Education.
Harris Interactive conducted the study for the MENC online within the
United States between June 2 and 4, 2008 among 2,035 adults ages 18 and
over. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated;
complete poll results with methodology can be found at:
http://www.menc.org/documents/temp/NationalAnthemMemo.pdf
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a
long and rich history in multimodal research that is powered by our science
and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris
Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European
and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For
more information, please visit http://www.harrisinteractive.com.
See Also
