Recession 101

I'm not old. I swear I'm not.

I will admit, however, that I'm experienced. I grew up in the time of typewriters, cassette tapes, the newly revealed Apple IIe, and corporal punishment in the public schools. I remember when it was cool to own a walkman, but a luxury to own the kind that had the little switch that reversed the tape for you so you didn't have to take it out and turn it over to side B. I grew up knowing full well who Reagan was and too young to understand what Carter was.

I did not, though, grow up in a time before airplanes, automobiles, and the Great Depression. My dad did, although a baby. And I have never yet once believed that we are now going through a new depression era.

Nevertheless, times are depressing. Greatly!

Today, I was told that the school district I grew up in, the flagship of large school districts with thriving music programs, has cut 51 art positions in various high schools and junior high schools! 51! It is believed that the number will climb as time goes on unless our state governor and legislature finds new sources of income.

No doubt, I am biased. Completely. My livelihood depends on the income I receive by teaching the arts.

Regardless, THE ARTS ARE CRUCIAL!!! I scream it with passion. I weep for my colleagues. I reminisce the blessings of my life and my family as I recall how we are impacted by art. Some call the arts a luxury. True. And it is also a necessity. Remove the entertainment industry -- film, television, museums, concerts, symphonies, bands, parades, technology, graphic artists, marketing, et al, and what are you left with? What, then, is the point of this journey called life? Is it not to be enjoyed?

The Jews knew how important the arts were to culture when their morale was slashed. The Mormons completely understood that impact that singing, dancing, and entertainment had in their journey to the West. In fact, every prosperous society has tasted the sweet fruit of artistic creativity.

It sickens me, completely sickens me, that a small percentage of people have wielded their power in successfully crushing the morale of a large number of citizens. These individuals with meager souls enjoy meeting in the building designed by an art student, decorated by an art student, sitting in furniture designed and decorated by art students, at a desk designed by art students, to discuss how to eliminate art from public schools. They undoubtedly enjoy watching movings, like "Waiting for Superman," that was directed and produced by a theatre student, with music composed by a music student, and packaged in a DVD case designed by an art student.

Ladies and gentlemen, if any of you can hear me, do what you can to stop the insanity. When a school closes its arts programs -- band, choir, orchestra, theatre, art, etc. -- it closes the very heart of its community. What need is there to be a prosperous nation if all our creativity has no outlet, no guidance nor direction, and no place at all?

Seriously -- save the arts, save the world!