Editor:

"Keep music education strong" and "music for all" are cries that should be resounding from parents all over Natrona County as the superintendent goes into a divide-and-conquer mode with the 11 "Coffee with (Joel) Dvorak" meetings, planned to give bad news about fourth- and fifth-grade music to parents.

By making access to music more difficult in the middle years, leaders are effectively cutting music programs to the upper grades. Music is a vital resource that teaches 21st century work force skills. It is shown that can be a driving force behind all learning, nourishing integrated sensory, attention, cognitive, emotional and motor capacities. It develops critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and team work and is key in significantly lowering drug use and contributes to higher graduation rates in schools.

A letter from Education Secretary Arne Duncan, dated August 2009, reminds school and education community leaders that "the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) defines the arts as a core subject, and the arts play a significant role in children's development and learning process."

Leaders are reminded of the four funding sources that already exist for the arts in education in Title I, Part A of ESEA, and Title II of ESEA for arts teachers' professional development and cultural/arts partnerships. In addition, the Arts in Education program supports grants for model program development and professional development for arts educators. Districts can also use funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Arts.

In fact, Arts in Education is deemed so important that this fall, the Department of Education's National Center for Education Studies will start a survey to assess the condition of arts education in grades K-12 throughout the nation. We should be alarmed that NCSD wants to restrict music access to some students and continue to reduce its importance in the curriculum. NCSD needs to develop an expanded view of music education and its power to change lives and community. Where is the commitment to excellence for all?

JUDY JACQUOT, Casper