NAMM Supports National Poll Exploring Attitudes About the Way Schools Approach the Development of Imagination

Stifling Imagination in Schools Underlies Innovation and Skills Deficit; New poll reveals evidence of swing voters committed to keeping America competitive with music and the arts for all students.

A new group of American swing voters is poised to support policies to restore imagination and innovation as key outcomes of learning, according to a recent national poll released by Lake Research Partners. Public backing to keep music and the arts in schools is critical during this election year to empower decision makers on national, regional and local levels to make arts education a priority. Recent studies reveal that current educational approaches stifle both students and educators by focusing on a definition of “the basics” and ignoring competencies demanded by modern life.

“Americans are concerned that we are falling behind as a nation and that imagination, innovation and creativity have been the foundation that moved the United States into a world leadership role,” said John Wilson, executive director of the National Education Association.

In an effort to support this need for creativity in schools, NAMM is working with the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) and several other arts organizations to help develop national research in defense of music and arts education. There is now strong evidence that the American public has awakened to these challenges and is demanding that schools act to ignite the imagination of young people as the essential origin for attaining these competencies, skills and values, and that the arts in school is vital to meeting this goal.

The new national survey of 1,000 likely voters reveals that 30 percent of American voters are not only dissatisfied with public education’s narrow focus but that they also believe developing the imagination is a critical, but missing, ingredient to student success. In addition, a reported 56 percent say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports these views, and 91 percent believe arts education supports a context for imagination in schools.

“These are surprising results that indicate [that] a strong set of shared public values are not being detected by public leaders,” said Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners.

“A significant number of voters believe that today’s educational approaches are outdated, impair critical capacities of the imagination, and stifle teachers and students alike, blocking potential for innovation.” According to Mary Luehrsen, NAMM’s director of public affairs and government relations, “Our music education students of today are the music makers, innovators and leaders of tomorrow, and NAMM is committed to this very important effort.”

For additional resources and more information on the poll, visit www.theimaginenation.net.