| I am a retired, relatively young grandmother (50 | | | | It breaks my heart to know that, not only my |
| years old),- who has traveled almost all over the | | | | grandchildren.,- but all other children as well,- will |
| world. My true love is "ART", and I even own an | | | | never be able to enjoy the beauty of an Opera, |
| Art Gallery in Italy,- Where I presently reside.- (I | | | | the ecstasy of watching a Ballet, the emotion of |
| am a U.S. Citizen born and raised in the U.S.).- I | | | | hearing and seing a Concert by Carreras, Placido |
| am also a writer.- | | | | DOmingo, or a Pavarotti singing "Nesum Dorma" |
| One of my main concerns has always been the | | | | from Tosca- that can fill your eyes with tears. |
| lack of "ART" education for the children in U.S. | | | | Visiting the "Musee Du Louvre" in Paris, with more |
| schools. | | | | that 65,000 pieces of art, amomg them The |
| My grandchildren, ages 12 and 15, DO NOT have | | | | Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, The |
| the slightest idea of what is a Museum, a great | | | | Vitruvian Man,-- would take a visitor more than |
| painting, a Ballet, An Opera, A Classical Concerto, | | | | five weeks to be able to truly appreciate all of it's |
| etc., neither are they interested in learning.- | | | | glory.- This is why it is called the most famous art |
| In Europe, specially England, France, Spain, Italy,- | | | | museum in the world. But this is an experience |
| "ART" is considered one of the mayor subjects in | | | | that will never be forgotten.-!!! |
| grade school.- | | | | There are also thousands of other Museums |
| Children, starting from the third grade in elemental | | | | allover the world. |
| schools, are regularly taken to Museums, Operas, | | | | To me, this is like robbing these children, which will |
| Ballets.- They must be able to recognize and write | | | | be our next generation, of the most beautiful |
| book reports about famous painters, writers, | | | | things in life. |
| Operas, ballets, etc. | | | | The appreciation of "True Art" has to be taught |
| The level of education in these European | | | | to children, they are not born with this knowledge. |
| Countries is much higher.- considering that a six | | | | Once they experience this and acquire a taste for |
| grader in England, has the level of education ofa | | | | it, it will be passed to the next generation.- |
| High School Senior in the U.S.A.- | | | | But this can not be accomplished unless schools |
| I have known of High School students here, | | | | and parents take an important role of teaching |
| thatcan hardly "Spell", let alone READ.-!!! Most of | | | | them something that will enrich their lives forever |
| them have never read a great novel or seen a | | | | !!! |
| true work of ART.- Of course, this does not | | | | E. de la Torriente |
| representall of the U.S. students.- | | | | Jan. |