Klarinet Archive - Posting 000063.txt from 1996/02

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <mcheramy@-----.CA>
Subj: Mr. Holland: Insidious Propaganda
Date: Sat, 3 Feb 1996 08:30:18 -0500

My wife and I saw "Mr. Holland's Opus" last night and we're really mad.
I've heard indirectly from many band teachers who thought it was wonderful,
so maybe it's just my prejudices coming out, but I thought the message of
the movie extremely damaging to arts education. If I overstate my case, and
my rhetoric seems inflammatory, please forgive me- I'm open to any and all
replies and reasonable debate.

So what was the message of this movie? Mr. Holland is a band teacher for
thirty years, unwilling at first, but almost immediately becoming dedicated
and devoted to his students and his program. After thirty years his job is
axed, along with the entire arts program of the school. His former
students, one of whom is now the governor of the state, band together (pun
intended)(the rest of them have obviously been working in LA studio
orchestras since graduation) for a big farewell concert, bringing tears to
everyone's eyes, they all go home and live happily ever after.

Hello? Did anyone notice that they still axed the entire arts program? The
VP points out that it's not just music, it's art and drama too, just to
show how fair he's being. Message: the arts are not an integral part of
education, just an optional extra. Music is equal to art or drama, but not
to math or phys ed. The governor of the state came to play clarinet in his
symphony. Did she speak up for him, for the value of music in education,
for the arts? For him personally, yes- everyone acknowledged what a great
person he was, how he influenced hundreds of lives. Did anyone say that
maybe arts education is an important part of the education system?

Mr. Holland remarks to his friend the football coach that if they ever cut
the football program that would be the end of Western civilization as we
know it. Does Mr Football ever speak out against arts cuts? Offer to take a
reduction in his budget? Message: Mr. Holland made a clever remark, but
football still gets precedence.

Earlier in the movie Mr. H remarks to the VP (after VP's comment that if he
has to choose between Mozart et al and reading and writing and long
division, he'll take long division) "Pretty soon these kids won't have
anything to read and write about". Does this statement change anything? He
wins his fight to keep the school music production that year when Mr.
Football comes up with a plan to make a profit on it. Message: The arts are
nice, but if they can't support themselves then tough.

Mr. Holland gets his chance to speak to a committee (near the end of the
movie, after they've announced that they're cutting his program). He gets
cut off, by one of his former students no less, who has obviously evaluated
the influence of music education on his life and found that it didn't
matter. Not worth the money. Budget 1: art 0. Where are the rest of his
former students? They're busy rehearsing for his Goodbye concert,
presumably...

And what is Mr. Holland going to do with his forced retirement? "Hang out a
shingle and teach some piano lessons." Fight arts cuts? Make speeches to
school boards, to student advocates, gather testimonials from students, do
research to show the value of arts education? Nope. Just lie down and take
it, and fade away, knowing at least his former students loved him. They
just didn't believe in what he was doing enough to stand up to the budget
slashers. Message: we love the arts, but they really are just a frill. When
we "can't afford them", we cut them. Nothing you can do about it. Go away
and don't bother us any more.

To all you band teachers who haven't seen this movie yet because you're too
busy, I recommend you see it. The message is, you'll soon have lots of time
to go to the movies, but you may not be able to afford popcorn.