Jazz and Folk Music

Should music educators be experts in jazz or American folk music?

What American songs should all students know? 

A music educator should take courses in jazz history and do their best to learn as much about both genres as possible. However, we do not need to be experts. Jazz and American folk music are both influenced by European/Western music. By being an expert in Western music theory, a classically trained music educator is able to understand. appreciate, and teach students what is happening in jazz and folk music from a compositional standpoint. 

It is simply impossible to be an expert at everything. Musicians spend hours each day practicing their primary instrument, and at least an additional hour for every instrument that they double. Classically trained musicians should have a strong working knowledge of jazz, but to ask them to become true "experts" in the area is unrealistic.

All American students should know patriotic songs, like the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. The pieces teach them about our history and there are plenty of quality arrangements to choose from. Many children's songs, like the alphabet song and The Itsy Bitsy Spider are educational or promote the development of fine and gross motor skills. We should be teaching students folk songs that encourage physical and intellectual development, and teach our local and national history.