to Must because it's in there, buried beneath everything else that we should and shouldn't be thinking
about.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) has been a big push for a while now and
some folks argue that by adding the “A” (arts), we are doing a disservice to teaching those other
4 areas. What do you think? In your experience, what role do the arts play in the STEM fields?
I'll tell you one of my favorite little stories by Joseph Campbell:
The man killed the bird
And with the bird, he killed the song
And with the song, himself.
That's what we're doing right now all over our planet. We're killing the song. Maybe it's why we have so
much conflict and hate and war and destruction of natural resources. Without the song, we just won't
make it. The song is why we are here.
You’re a keynote presenter at this summer’s online Arts Integration and STEAM conference. Can
you give us a sneak peek at what you’ll be sharing?
I will publicly be sharing a list of my own Shoulds! One of which is: You should never
talk about your Shoulds! Can't wait!
If you could give one piece of advice to educators, what would it be?
You all rock. Seriously. You have one of the hardest jobs I can think of. And you're
growing our littlest people emotionally, mentally, spiritually. You are heroes. Thank you
for doing what you're doing. Thank you for moving our world forward.
** As told to director of eLearning Brianne Gidcumb on June 7, 2016
STEAMed Magazine
24
April 2016 Edition