Brian Roemmele, a self-described modern Renaissance man, is known for his keen observations on the state of society and culture. In a recent social media post, Roemmele took a moment to reminisce about a time when music education was a cornerstone of American schools, lamenting its disappearance from today’s curricula.
“Once upon a time in America, we had music teachers in every school, and it was a requirement to attend music classes,” he wrote. This nostalgic sentiment echoes a broader concern about the declining emphasis on arts and humanities in education. For Roemmele, music classes were more than just extracurricular activities—they were essential for nurturing creativity and understanding the human experience.
He suggests that the removal of music and arts programs was a short-sighted decision, driven by a misclassification of these disciplines as non-essential. “Someone centrally deemed that music and arts are not STEM,” Roemmele observed, “and they have been canceled.” The irony, as he points out, lies in the fact that these subjects have been instrumental to human progress and emotional well-being.
A prolific thinker and doer, Roemmele’s reflections often challenge readers to reconsider the value of what society has sidelined. In the case of music education, his words speak to those who believe the arts are as critical to human development as science, technology, engineering, and math.
As America continues to grapple with how best to prepare future generations, voices like Roemmele’s serve as a reminder of the treasures we risk losing—and the ones we might yet reclaim.
