When I was in 6th grade we had a school orchestra (7th through 12th, too). Learning to play a musical instrument was considered part of a well-rounded education. When Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California (proving the state was not totally inhabited by far-left radical Socialists), he defunded many of the non-3R's (readin', ritin', 'rithmatic) school programs. This coming from a Hollywood "B" actor, one who enjoyed the fruits of the arts, or in his case more accurately the entertainment business.
Public schools are just for producing good little worker bees, right Ronnie?