What about compiling a comprehensive song list that includes pop/rock/the whole American picture? Or maybe something like E.D. Hirsch has done? Is this the idea for teachers?

Regarding the desirability of compiling a list of popular/folk/rock/etc. music that "All Americans should be expected to know ....I don't necessarily think it's a great idea. Songs that stand the test of time will be placed in the core repertory of the American heritage in a few generations. Songs that have not been passed down for 5-8 generations are still young. I think it’s better if you pass your favorite songs along to your children, and on and on, and then we just see which ones win the natural way, instead of trying to force a result, e.g., by adding songs like the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” to the list now.

But I do have a great deal of respect for the "Dictionary of Cultural Literacy" edited by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. and works by Joseph Kett, and James Trefil that attempt to bring together a core body of information every American should know. These are important, and they help people figure out and remediate gaps in their education. Public school standards have been lowered so that even the lowest student is able to score well, leaving everyone with no sense of what his actual educational achievement level is. These works help people figure that out, and determine what they need to work on.

The idea of a more comprehensive song repertoire list is definitely not something we would want to hand music teachers and require that they teach, though. In the classroom, teachers need the flexibility to supplement their core curriculum with whatever they're good at and interested in. This has been taken by some to mean that they should throw out the core curriculum and teach only pop music, or what they're interested in, or what's already in the books they have and thus, already prepared for them. That's not the idea, either. Just like in every subject, there are core concepts we need to teach. Part of those core things include a core repertoire of American children's folk songs, songs that have been passed down for generations in America, and help children bond and form connections with their communities and nation. The songs you're thinking of, maybe a couple Beatles hits, etc., will enter this list with time. They need to be passed down for several more generations. For right now, your kids will learn your favorite songs, and others; and other people's kids will do the same. In a few generations, a lot of songs will pass away, but some will remain. After about 5 generations, they'll be indelibly imprinted in the American folk heritage. No need to rush it. Just by playing your favorite songs a lot, your kids will learn them--whether they admit to liking them now or not :-)

When I was speaking of the list of songs all elementary school teachers should teach, I only meant the American children's folk songs. Teachers will, and must teach other songs. They have to in order to have dynamic programs. Making the list more inclusive will make it too large and oppressive. Yes, teachers need a core curriculum of songs to teach, and they need to teach the songs of our American children's heritage. They also need to be free to choose supplementary music that fits them in order to make their programs exciting and fresh.