People trying to stop school music programs cuts are using patriotism in their quest, saying the programs are needed to teach U.S. students the national anthem.
The National Association for Music Education, in events Thursday on Capitol Hill, launched "The National Anthem Project; Restoring America's Voice." The association cited data from a Harris Poll indicting two-thirds of U.S. adult respondents did not know to the words to the national anthem, so they combined two causes.
"The National Association for Music Education wants all Americans to know our National Anthem and take pride in singing it together -- and wants all Americans to have access to music in school!" the group said on its Web site.
The group organized a signing of the anthem Thursday at the Capitol to draw attention to the song and that schools have been cutting music programs.
"Music is one of the easy things to eliminate because of cuts but it's important to give kids the avenue to express themselves," Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, told the Washington Times. "We need to get kids singing about our history again."
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