A New Frontier

ty-five hundred years ago, but it is still a debated issue in our society today. It is clear that we must address this issue if we are to truly educate our youth. I am convinced that it is essential for aU students to participate in a discipline-based arts curriculum. One reason, based on the ideals of American education, is that it is important for students to appreciate the historical and cultural perspective of their past. A more practical reason is that the arts promote critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity, which are basic in our technological society. The academic bureaucracy contends that arts education for all of our youth is too expensive, that it is not relevant, and that it is inappropriate for minority and disadvantaged students. As principal of a small rural high school, removed from cultural centers, I can attest that the arts can thrive and students can excel in them. The key to excellence in the arts is a partnership between the school and the