Klarinet Archive - Posting 000381.txt from 1996/02

From: "Gregory T. Wright" <103147.1471@-----.COM>
Subj: school-owned instruments
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 1996 23:40:19 -0500

Pardon my brimstone... but I'm an elementary music teacher, and I can se
e
the possible effects of school-owned instruments first-hand.
In my district, a student leaves $5.00 in the school office in September
,
and can have it back if everything works in June. If repairs cost more than
$5.00, theoretically the student is billed. The problem with this is fairly
simple, and is related to SupplyNDemand in a way. People value things which cost
them dearly. I started doing homework in college (rather than slide through on
test scores, as in HS), because I had to PAY for each class I took. FREE
things are not IMPORTANT things. PRICEY things ARE. WItness the desire for an
education among American youth, and compare it to the reaction of youth where
education is NOT universal.
Because of the low deposit, children who otherwise could not afford it
get to learn instrumental music. They will also (can this be an "ALWAYS"
coming???? <gasp>)take playing less seriously than if the instrument was THEIRS,
and if some hardship was required for ownership to occur. Parents will be more
likely to enforce home practice time if they had to give up steak for a while.
If there is a financial investment in a new student's instrument, the student
will likely play for a longer time (more years) than if the instrument is free.
"If I quit, how much $$$ do I lose?" (Acquiring "culture" is typically not seen
as a high priority at this age, in my experience.)
Should poor people be excluded ??? Absolutely not. Somehow, the goal of
a shiny instrument to take home (owned or rented) should be made difficult, but
attainable. Raise the deposit? They *SHOULD* get that all back, so it is not a
net change; getting more dinero in the same place and leaving it tied up may be
the challenge needed. I don't know.
One thing I know helped me (as well as nearly all of my fellow students)
back in 5th grade is really fairly easy: Have more advanced groups play for
beginners, to give them a model. A stage band performance will give players a
new goal. There MUST be "Billions and Billions" of other ways, too.

Gregory T. Wright
GTWright@-----.com

   
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