Education Historically Focused on Music, Math and History

Recently, along with my research on successful programs for students being done at Children of the City, I started researching the history of education in other parts of the world. In China, for example, formal education can be traced back to around the 16th century B.C. At that time, education was a privilege for the elite, and basically for the purpose of producing government officials. The studies included what was known as the “Six Arts”: Rites, Music, Archery, Chariot-Riding, History, and Mathematics.

I am sure glad that today’s gym teachers don’t have to worry about teaching chariot-riding!

But what I do find very interesting is that the basics are still the same – given music, history and math. These topics are to this day still quite challenging for some students, and why our Children of the City after school program called Create Success has been such a success. Many of the kids in Brooklyn come from ethnic families who do not speak English at home. One little Asian boy who started studying in the COC program is now reading books way above the standard level for a second grader. He sounds out the harder Latin based words with ease.

Create Success is an after school and summer program focusing on each student’s academic success with intense tutoring and daily personal help with homework. The program has shown dramatic results, increasing many students’ reading and math skill levels, and encouraging healthy study habits, communications, along with improved peer relationships.

By personally connecting with each child in their environment, Children of the City volunteers and staff are able to reach the children at home, at school, on the streets and playgrounds, and in their facilities. This builds strong relationships and from there we are able to teach, inform and counsel on various life issues and skills.