EDITORIAL & OPINION

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Ukraine’s Profile in Courage

The situation in Ukraine is your classic David-and-Goliath story and, at this moment, it looks as though David may be winning. Or at least holding his own. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who first came to our attention as a key actor in former President Trump’s first impeachment drama, has now stepped into the breach — and spotlight — showing us all what true courage and leadership look like. The Russian blitzkrieg has so far been no match for the Ukrainian hearts-and-minds campaign he has almost singlehandedly waged in personal appearances, social media, selfievideos and patriotic messaging that exhort every citizen to rise up and resist the invasion. As an MSNBC reporter said on Sunday, Zelenskyy is the embodiment of that old English phrase (some attribute to Shakespeare): “Cometh the hour, cometh the man.”

To his people, he says, “We are here.” To U.S. authorities who offered to fly him to safety, he responds, “We need ammunition, not a lift.” To the Russians, he speaks over the head of their leader, and urges them to protest their own government’s actions. Which, amazingly and in great force, they have.

Do you think Americans could summon the same fortitude and unity to come together like this for the common good? Recent evidence — pro-Putin statements from people who should know better than to put cult before country — suggest not.

The Importance of Arts Education

Nowadays, we hear a lot about the importance of a STEM -- or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math -- education. Some schools have added an “A” to this formula to represent the arts, nicknaming the effort “STEAM.”

While adding an A for arts to the other areas of study is welcome, many times that A stands for arts like graphic design. Frequently, creative arts like music, dance and performance are left out of education entirely

in our nation’s schools. This is often because many schools are underfunded and just simply unable to add the arts to their curriculum. But it’s also due to an unfortunate shift in priorities.

The arts teach students so many lessons. According to Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading arts education nonprofit, some of those lessons are “practice makes perfect, small differences can have large effects and collaboration leads to creativity.” They’re not wrong. I have had the opportunity to teach piano lessons to around 40 children and adults over the last eight years. Every spring, I hold a piano recital and it brings me such great joy to see the students perform songs they spend months practicing. The pride and excitement the students have is infectious!

Despite the many benefits of arts education, however, not every student has access to the arts. Keeping arts in public schools allows students to continue to develop their language and social skills, decision-making and risktaking and creativity. If art is incorporated with other subjects, students who may not always be engaged become more interested (trust me, it works — in seventh grade History we studied the Revolutionary War. For the end-of-unit project I wrote a play and got my class to play the parts).

Students who may have behaviorial issues also benefit from the arts. According to a 2010 study of Missouri public schools, greater arts education led to fewer disciplinary infractions and higher attendance, graduation rates and test scores.

Back to the concept of STEM or STEAM — perhaps it’s crucial to keep the A in the acronym. Why? Think about how many notable figures from the sciences were also musicians! Albert Einstein played the piano and violin. Thomas Edison played the piano. Neil Armstrong played the baritone horn. Mae Jameson studied modern dance. The list goes on and on. The point is music and the arts are an important part of teaching skills needed to make excellent scientists and inventors.

If we don’t continue to teach the arts in schools, we won’t have the opportunity to hear beautiful music, watch incredible dance shows or laugh with a new musical of the moment from the next generation.

STEM vs. STEAM

Portrait Ukrainian American Alla Rogers by renowned Ukrainian painter Alexander Pogrebinsky

Ukrainian Georgetowner Appeals for Help, Understanding

The Georgetowner recently received this letter from a Ukrainian and longtime Georgetown resident Alla Rogers appealing for help in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine:

How can the average American help? Support relief efforts, pray sincerely for Peace in Ukraine, learn more about Ukraine, visit our local Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox churches. Support the Ukrainian Caucus in Congress.

I am a resident of Georgetown and came here in 1968. I conducted a successful art business here for 30 years. My late husband, Warren Rogers, was a distinguished journalist.

I share a story with millions of Ukrainians living in the U.S.A. and Canada. I was born in 1947 to Ukrainian parents in newly liberated Germany. They survived life in the USSR until captured as slave labor by the Nazi occupiers of Ukraine in 1942.

The most noble of their many achievements was to live in freedom as citizens of the U.S.A. Today, the Ukrainian nation is building a country aspiring toward its own ideals with a foundation deeply rooted in freedom, democracy, dignity and its proud identity with its culture as a single people going back a thousand years.

Ukrainians have revealed themselves to the world in the last few days especially, as fiercely freedom loving, faithful people who will fight together as patriots until their last breath. They are also tender, generous, good humored and very hard working. I hope everyone in world gets to know the real Ukraine, not Putin’s delusional propagandafilled ravings and lies.

Learn more about its history and culture, its food, its music its art. If possible, someday visit Ukraine. You will find friends there and a great and noble nation.

Pray for peace and the end to this dangerous and senseless war.

To help the people of Ukraine, please consider giving to one of these organizations: International Rescue Committee https:// rescue.org/Ukraine Americares https://secure.americares.org/ Global Giving https://www.globalgiving.org/ projects/ukraine-crisis-relief-fund/ Save the Children https://www. savethechildren.org/ World Central Kitchen https://donate.wck. org/

Fundraiser for Medical Supplies to Ukraine

Front Lines https://www.facebook.com/dona te/1790857681112387/3106356842966057/

St Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral

https://www.standrewuoc.org/

Ukraine Emergency Fund by the Jewish

Federation of Greater Washington: https:// connect.shalomdc.org/ukraine-emergencyfund