Throughout my entire educational experience as a student of the Los Angeles Public Schools, I was the beneficiary of a great system that included a rigorous arts curriculum. However, for more than two generations, there has been a steady deterioration of arts programs and a decline in how our young people are taught about the creative process.

What happened? How did we lose this valuable aspect of education? Clearly social and economic factors came into play. As we raced to get to the moon, we slowed down in regard to the culture. Today many young people would be challenged to name just three great composers, painters, architects or poets. We now exist in a highly visual age, one in which the value of the listening experience gets tied into what we see.

I ask you to consider how we might change the current thinking and implement true change in our educational institutions. Please submit any questions or comments.