Gulfport High School

Dear Parents:

      Is it really important that your child score a 36 on the ACT?  I realize that's a surprising question for a teacher to ask.  My response may be even more surprising.  The answer is a resounding, "No".  If I asked you to tell me what you most want your children to achieve as adults, our conversation would probably quickly leave test scores and move to topics like, being able to maintain a job that allows them to afford supporting their family, being happy, being healthy and having the communication skills to be a good parent and spouse. 

      As your child is being prepared for life as an adult in the 21st century, they will need skills that we are only beginning to imagine. They most definitely will need to know how to read and write well, as well as perform math skills.  Even more than that, they will need the ability to adjust and adapt to new technologies and social changes we have only begun to recognize.  No longer will memorizing basic facts be enough to qualify for better paying jobs.  As our economy changes, our children must be able to change with it. According to experts, they need to  be capable of working well in teams. They need to be effective communicators who have confidence.  They must develop problem solving skills that allow them to overcome adversities.  In short, they need to be educated in how to face new problems rather than just the "Three R's".

Choir is an excellent place to learn these skills.  Each rehearsal offers new challenges.  Each situation presents new opportunities for discovery and gaining self-confidence. 

      The more we learn about the benefits of studying music, the more we realize that children who grow up in the arts become healthier, happier adults who possess the marketable skills necessary to become successful in the 21st century.   We also find out that they tend to be more likely to score that 36 on the ACT, too!  

Sincerely,

David M. Chavers

www.musicfriends.org

www.supportmusic.com