To: Professor Bird and the UTC Community
From: Lucien Ellington
Subject: Multiple Intelligences and the Arts

Professor Bird made a statement in his comments on my multiple
intelligences post yesterday that I would like to elaborate upon.  My
original comment and Professor Bird's rejoinder are below.

Ellington-MI theory in many public schools is now being used as an excuse
to demand less academic (verbal/linguistic intelligences to use Gardner's
phrase)
>>work from students.  We should be very sceptical about the "lessons" of MI.
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>Bird-This statement betrays your point of view all too well.  The traditional
>"academic" subjects (math, science, english) are elevated to a higher
>plane, and non-traditional "academic" subjects (music, physical education,
>foreign languages, art, drama, etc.) are relegated to "electives."

Professor E.D. Hirsch, who happens to be our convocation speaker next week,
is one of the most articulate critics of Multiple Intelligence Theory in
the country and has debated Howard Gardner on NPR and in the New York
Times.  Hirsch is also responsible for starting over 900 Core Knowledge
Elementary Schools throughout the country (three in the Chattanooga area)
where students learn a rudimentary liberal arts curriculum.  One of the
reasons I am attracted to Hirsch and his Core Knowledge Schools is that
MUSIC and ART are considered basic subjects and in order to become a Core
Knowledge School, teachers and administrators must teach an extensive and
specific music and art curriculum in all eight grades.  While Hirsch and
his people don't include PE and Foreign Language in their required
elementary core, they recommend that Core Knowledge Schools teach these
subjects as electives.

My point is there is no inconsistency in criticizing a psychological theory
such as MI that has little supporting evidence and championing such basic
subjects as art and music.

Cordially, (and everyone come to convocation!)
Lucien Ellington
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Lucien Ellington, Editor
Education About Asia
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
105A Hunter Hall
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-755-5375
423-755-5381 (fax)