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This series was inspired originally by a key article by Thomas Gagnon in The Atlantic - "Why Study History"
and by the John Adams quote below. The series started with the outstanding work by Thomas Panter and his early arts
integration classes with the unit "Why Study History?"
Why Study History? more.....
- "I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought
to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture,
in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."
- John Adams
John Adams might have it backwards. The arts are vital to our quality of life, and education in the
arts is vital. There is also a strong role for the use of the arts in learning and understanding other academic disciplines,
and in interdisciplinary / transdisciplinary learning.
Perhaps John Adams might better have thought
about starting with understanding and appreciating the lessons of
the arts.... (He also needed to give some thought to daughters, as Abigail famously reminded him
"I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will
be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be
more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors." )
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