Wicked Problem

Here are the facts:

• Music is a core subject under the Every Child Achieves Act passed in 2015 (NAfME, 2015).
• The population of the United States of America is incredibly diverse, including its students.
• Some religions include beliefs that ask its followers to not participate in some or all musical activities.
• The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” (U.S. Const. amend. I.).

If this is our reality, why are students with religious exemptions to music not addressed in government or my district’s policies? I decided this would be my wicked problem.

My next step was to learn more about the religions of students who have music exemptions and how other schools have handled the issue.

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References:

National Association for Music Educators. (2015, July 16). Senate Passes Every Child Achieves Act, with Music and Arts as Core Subjects, Intact [Press release]. Retreived from https://nafme.org/senate-passes-every-child-achieves-act-with-music-and-arts-as-core-subjects-in-tact/

U.S. Const. amend. I.

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