What’s the result if kids don’t learn them—what bad could come of it?

Researchers believe that these songs are an important part of childhood. Without the connections and bonds so effortlessly created by these little kids’ songs, it is felt that children will grow up less connected to others in their communities and nation. This manifests itself in many ways. People will be less tolerant, unforgiving, even able to be cruel to others in their communities, with no concern for the needs or problems of others. The more connected you feel, the more slack you give people, and the kinder and more pleasant you are. If a person grows up not perceiving that he is an integral and vital part of his nation, he will tend to be unpatriotic, and willing to work against his nation and community. Patriotic songs unify and draw people together. They remind people of important events, values, and ideals. They inspire people to support great and noble causes, and to make sacrifices in order to achieve something truly worthwhile. Children need the bonds and connections to develop a foundational sense that they are an integral and valuable part of their communities and society. A lack of a foundational perspective on your value to your community and society would contribute to poor emotional health and a more negative outlook on failure and problems. Children’s songs are taught in the formative years as children are figuring out how they fit in. The emotional and attitudinal power of these little songs cannot be underestimated in the lives of our children. Negative, destructive perceptions regarding a child’s relationship to others and his society persist through adulthood and can hinder a person’s ability to weather hard times and bounce back from failure and disappointment.

Because a number of songs (e.g., Ring Around the Rosies) make light of traumatic and terrible events, they help children develop resilience and look on the bright side of life. We can see evidence of a lack of resilience throughout our society today. Today, when problems hit, too many people throw up their hands and quit, blaming others for failure and problems, ultimately relinquishing control over their lives to the government or people/forces over whom they have no control.

Learning American history and important events will not be as easy and students will not be able to remember the material as long as they would have if they had learned the children’s folk songs of their heritage, e.g., Old Chisholm Trail, Erie Canal.

Removing these songs and replacing them with popular music will tear away much of the innocence and carefree nature so wonderfully characteristic of childhood. This will set up children for emotional problems later in life. Music is powerful, and it has the ability to dramatically affect emotions, attitudes, and perspectives, either positively or negatively.