Klarinet Archive - Posting 001163.txt from 1997/10

From: benevolent1@-----.com
Subj: The education system, music, and politics. What a combo.
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 15:49:19 -0500

Amy,
Much of what you have written in past days has been helpful. I enjoyed
checking me e-mail at 5:30 this morning and finding 72 messages.
Unfortunately, some of the comments you have made have struck me as a
little "off the wall." Please realize that I do respect your right to an
opinion. i am not castigating you for an opinion that does not coincide
with mine, but merely letting you know that others have opinions too.
>From Amy:
"Well, I don't think my education has been "screwed up"! I also don't
think it's fair to label certain students "dumb"."
I don't think that putting kids in classes according to strengths is
slapping a label on their head. Many band programs in high schools
across the country divide their bands into a wind symphony and a concert
band (other names are common as well), according to proficiency on their
instrument. Is this labeling the kids in the lower bands "dumb" or
"untalented?" The reason that band directors do that is so every child
can get the music education that is the bast for them. I would not have
fun if I was in an ensemble that was so far ahead of me that I had to
practice 12 hours a day to keep up. I don't think that the experience
would benefit me at all. Last year, my school decided that the
requirements for honors and AP classes would be done away with. Before,
you had to qualify to get into those classes by 1) making an A average in
the subject the year before, 2) Pass a proficiency exam, or 3) writing a
paper to be judged by a group of area professionals for entrance. The AP
and honors students were the most prestigious body of kids in the school.
Then, we were in classes with people who had consistent 70s or low 80s.
It did not benefit me, it held me back. We protested and petitioned to
the school board, but more importantly, we supplemented our learning
experience with theme parties. A core group of students, (all being in
the top 3% of our class, merely by chance, not by design) sponsored
parities at a different person's house every month. We were encouraged
to learn all about the subject of the party, and it became a relaxing
experience. We talked politics, music, history, and science, and we had
a lot of fun. [One month it was the American Revolution, and we all came
as leaders of the revolt. Another time it was a salute to the 50s, and
the subject was the communist "witch hunts" complete with our own pumpkin
patch. (It was October)]. But it was a shame that we had to go out of
our way to do something the school was responsible for. We sing the
praises of the school in its outstanding special ed. classes, but when
the top students get messed up, no one is there to be an advocate.
Fortunately, the policy changed this year because the school board
decided that what they did wasn't working. So, there are ways to deal
with the cards you are handed without blaming the teachers or the
administration.
Later, Amy wrote:
It's embarrassing to have your teacher recognize you as intelligent,
especially if you're female."
I would like to know where you are. Where I am, there is a lot of
pressure to improve your intelligence. I think that it is more
embarrassing to be called on and give a wrong answer than to be the only
one in the room with the right one. If you have a strong structure of
friends and family, it is easy to feel comfortable with your gift. With
my group of friends, we try to help each other if we know there is a
problem. This includes school, if there is a subject or concept we know
someone is struggling with, we all try to help each other out. Relating
to music, there was one girl in the bassoon section that was really
worried about being the only girl in the Youth Orchestra. It made her
really uncomfortable, so we found a lady who was a very good bassoonist
in the area, and gave her the girl's phone number. They talked about it,
and our friend was a little more comfortable about the situation. I
don't think that it is any more or less difficult for a female to be
recognized as intelligent. So it shouldn't; be any more embarrassing to
be smart. Gender, in my opinion, has nothing to do with it at all.
Amy goes on:
"And, are you a phonix, oh excuse me, fonix advocate, because that is in
a word a pathetic way to teach the English language. We can't teach the
leaders of the future with yesterday's techniques."

Where are you getting the facts from? Phonics is extremely valuable as a
method for teaching children to read. I just did a debate on this
subject and have literally dozens of studies by reputable institutions
proving that phonics is far superior to any of the new techniques being
used today. In fact, hundreds of schools are moving back to the phonics
method each year because it has proven itself better in the long run. It
works better than the "New Jersey method", and is a million times more
effective than the new "whole language" approach. I would prefer to
teach the leaders of the future with techniques that are superior to
anything we have now than changing just for the sake of "modernization."

Amy later:
"Also, politicians are not the brightest students, rather, they are
the best liers, hey, if ya wanna be musical, liars."
Well, in some cases they are not the brightest students. However, many
politicians are exceptionally smart. I think that used car salesmen have
the distinction of being the best liars. If you don't like the political
arena, when you are old enough, change it. Run for school board if that
is your passion. The job description for an elected official does not
include the words "you have to lie real good" (It does only if the
person writing the description was a whole-language advocate, but that is
better left alone.) I take offense to the stereotype. Politics and
music are the two passions in my life, but I consider myself to be an
honest person. i don't think that you can make beautiful music without
being honest with yourself. It is impossible.

I am sorry that this message was so long. Amy, you brought some very
good points to the table.

Have fun,

Sarah
benevolent1@-----.com

"Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough,
and I will move the world." -Archimedes

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment
a single man contemplates it, bearing within him
the image of a cathedral." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery