| Author | Message | ||
     Ros |
If one believes the News Record, it looks as if a proposal to eliminate the elementary instrumental music program is being given serious consideration by the BOE:it certainly seems to have the support of Dr. Horoshak. These are tight times, of course, but the cost of the program(3 teachers essentially) is relatively small.The 25-30 minute weekly pullout that concerns some Board members and Dr. Horoshak has been going on for at least 45 years(I know one 1950's Seth Boyden Grad) Cutting this program would have dire effect on a wonderful system wide program that culminates with an award winnig band at Columbia, and would be great disservice to the many kids who would participate in band. A social worker at one of the schools tells me band is a vital lifeline for kids at risk:there have been studies linking participation in a band program with positive academic performance. The 5th graders give up a recess period to rehearse once a week. Don't you think these are the type of motivated kids we want to support? If you share these concerns, please spread the word and/or talk with members of the BOE. | ||
| Melidere |
I am appalled at this news. Basically we are turning everything but reading, writing and 'rithmatic into pay-per-use taxes. Want your child to get some basic education in art, music or phys ed? (all of which i consider vital to a well-rounded existence on this planet) Then you better have the money to send him/her to the y, val's or a private tutor, not to mention the live-in with a car to ferry them around to all these appointments. This is obscene. | ||
| Nohero |
So then what will the musically-multiply intelligent children do? Use combs and tissue paper? Seriously, if the superintendent intends to dismantle something which has been a hallmark of this district for decades, he better have more than the lame excuses which have been reported so far. | ||
| Kathy |
I agree with all of you. However, the district is facing a $4 million gap for next year between what they would spend on continuing programs and what they are allowed to raise under the state budget cap. Something has to give. | ||
| Tom |
Well, if something has to give, music ain't it. For centuries knowing how to play an instrument was the hallmark of an educated person. And as a long-time musician, I can tell you that, yes, the music program IS an important lifeline. During my years in school I saw many, many kids who would have just dissolved into a haze of pot smoke kept afloat by the purpose music gave them. So when I see my friend who's on the board at church this weekend, I plan to give her an earful! I'd like to suggest--not that I'm suggesting we throw in the towel on funding-- that the program be kept alive with volunteers from town if necessary. There are plenty of us who feel strongly enough, and have the know-how, to run it. I'll take the brass players. | ||
| Melidere |
I'll join you with the brass, tom. i agree with you a thousand percent. | ||
| Ros |
Kathy, you are right-something does have to give. But this program, by the Board's own figures, costs just 129,000, a relative drop in the bucket. I think we've been getting off cheaply these past few years. The return on this investment has been great. | ||
| Malone |
Why don't all of you who are scheduled to get a tax DECEASE from the revaluation kick in with the money to keep the music program intact. You were getting by at the old tax level, so it shouldn't hurt you. | ||
| Spw784 |
As far as I know, there are just 3 teachers covering EVERY elementary school in the district(that has grades 4-5, which would be 4 schools). Because of individual schools scheduling, this often means that just one day a week is designated for Lessons, and every 4th and 5th grader must be seen on that day. With various ability levels and instruments, (you can't group violins with percussion; and "never touched an instrument" kids with "took piano lessons for five years kids); it makes for a scheduling nightmare. Lessons often take place in a hallway, stairwell, auditorium, stage, cafeteria, empty classroom, or whereever space can be found. Unfortunately, if the entire program is cut, many (as previously stated by another poster) at risk kids could be lost. | ||
| Tracks |
This is one of the problems that is a by-product of people paying attention to the stupid rankings by NJ Magazine. The BOE wants all the money to go to teaching towards the standardized tests. They do not get it. Keep the music program. Let them give up football at Coumbia or how about giving up one assistant principal at Columbia and keeping our music program. | ||
| Sac |
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand as the parent of a participating 4th grader who will be "cut off" after already starting, I mourn the loss of the program. However, I believe that it may exceed what we can reasonably expect to be provided as part of a publicly-funded education program. I have also seen the conflict of the "pull-out" situation, although I think that there may be some other logistical solutions to that issue. I think that there are some compromise options possible, however. Perhaps they could start with 5th grade rather than 4th grade. Perhaps a modest fee could be charged (which would be waived for free-lunch or other qualified families). Perhaps it could be converted to an after school program available onsite at the schools. I'm sure that there might be some other ideas. I would hate to see participation in instrumental music become limited to only those students whose families have the financial and schedule freedom to provide private lessons for their children. | ||
| Nohero |
Tracks - You can't be serious! Give up football at Columbia? What would the crowd watch before and after the Saturday afternoon band performances?  The players tried to take the field The marching band refused to yield Do you recall what was revealed The day the music died? | ||
| Chris |
So, if we eliminate music and art (art could be next) from the public schools, the only kids that will be exposed to these things will be those whose parents can afford it? That doesn't seem right. This is particularly disturbing coming on the heels of the news of the 0% increase South Orange/Maplewood schools will receive from the State of NJ. A lot of folks have spent a lot of time screaming at Jerry and Vic, but I think it is time to take the fight a little higher. Is Maplewood getting our "fair share" of state funds? Who is looking out for us in this? This is a terrible situation ... There is more to an education that the "Three R's". Where do I sign the petition? | ||
| Tom |
sac, I've got to disagree that instrumental music education is more than we can reasonably expect from the schools. Once we start lowering our sights, where are we going to end up? I'm worried already that our schools are becoming test mills. Malone, my daughter is a 4th-grade instrumental student at Clinton. Trust me, I'm personally better qualified than her teacher to teach her instrument; but I'm trying to avoid a tom-centric view of the universe. This is something ALL students need to be exposed to , whether or not their parents can afford it, or are even interested. | ||
| Musicme |
Being a music lover and player myself, I hate to sound cynical, but how many petitions will there be floating around? A Bus petition, a Headstart petition, a special needs petition? Look at the whole list. I agree that cutting music, or art, or staff, or lunch etc, will be a drag for someone. We have all these programs because they fulfill someone's needs. Fringe and the 3 R's crew have been jawing us for months about the accountability that needs to be in place. Guess what, it costs money too. Diversity does not just mean race. It also means a diverse learning environment, additional programming to enhance a standard educational experience. Give something up? Everybody has a pet program that they hate, that doesn't impact their kid. Something that the community needs to remember is that the schools are not only teaching reedin' rightin' and addin', they are forming the future citizens of our town. How about cutting out the Drama productions? Of course not! What about the tutoring programs? No, there are too many children that need it. Remember, just because it's a public school does not entitle everyone to everything. I'm sorry to sound so fed up about all this, but watching how the town has handled the whole re-val thing, watching so much crabbing and nastiness, I sometimes lose the faith. | ||
| Chris |
Musicme, don't let the cynics and the naysayers get you down. Don't lose the faith, brother! Music and art and drama and poetry and dance and athletics are the stuff that makes life worth living. This is the color that gets injected to this gray old world. It's worth fighting for! | ||
| Nohero |
This is what really concerns me. Whenever I respond to someone who writes that "the schools are lousy", or "the test scores stink", or "it's 'Maple-hood' High School", I always point out that there are so many good kids, who are good students, who have great musical, artistic, and athletic talents. If programs as successful and desirable as elementary instrumental education can simply be tossed out on short notice, in a last-minute budget rush, with little or no consideration of the impact on the education of the children, that is a cause for concern. As someone wrote above, if the entire educational program is reduced to test-taking drills (in the hope of raising the average of the standardized test scores) it would not be the type of education that this community really wants. One has to start to question whether the Superintendent, or the BOE, have a vision for this community which truly embraces the diversity of interests and talents of its residents. By the way, if you really want to see an example of a racially and ethnically diverse group of kids working together, check out the music performance groups in the schools. We could lose a lot more than just the sound of screechy violins and squeaky saxophones, if we start to give up on elementary school music education. | ||
| Sac |
>>sac, I've got to disagree that instrumental music education is more than we can reasonably expect from the schools Tom - We are probably more in agreement than disagreement on this. I absolutely agree that instrumental music education is important. I just question whether we can expect the level of it that we have now, completely free to all, regardless of ability to pay, semi-private instruction, starting as young as 4th grade. I would like to keep it the way it is, but if that is not possible given the budget constraints, I'd like the BOE to look at compromise approaches, such as the ideas I mentioned or others of equal merit, rather than cutting it out completely. It seems like there is a lot of "all or nothing" going on around here and when we are faced with having to make cuts it would be nice to look for some approaches to preserve as much as possible. | ||
| Spw784 |
Can someone get a breakdown , by grade and school, if possible, of the numbers of kids that are in the program? (For example, Tuscan - Grade 4 - X number of kids in grade 4, and Y are in the program) | ||
| Spw784 |
Found this article on the National Music Educators site. Mentions studies, and statistics about how music education improves TEST SCORES!!! http://www.menc.org/publication/press/menc.html |
