Klarinet Archive - Posting 000099.txt from 1996/02

From: Marie McDonough <mm46@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Mr. Holland: Insidious Propaganda
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 1996 13:06:37 -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.

Lorne--

This is pretty typical of American films about schools in general. They are
often warm and fuzzy, and pit one "excellent" teacher against an uncaring
administration and a flood of incompetent and uncaring teachers. If you want an
eye-opening experience, rent, in rapid succession, the following films with
their own uplifting messages:

Dead Poets' Society: Teach your students to love the arts and stand up for
their beliefs, then watch as one of them kills himself and you lose your job.

Fame: If you want to be a serious artist, go to a special school, since that's
the only way to become a REAL artist.

Lean on Me: Music in schools is valuable insofar as it promotes school spirit;
it has no intrinsic worth.

I could rant and rave for pages on this topic, but I won't. As I ask my
students, which programs get cut as nonessential in schools? Arts and athletics.
And where does America put its discretionary dollars? Entertainment and
sporting events. It makes you wonder . . .

Marie

Marie McDonough
School of Education
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN