Klarinet Archive - Posting 001026.txt from 1999/10

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: playing the Clarinet from behind the student
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1999 20:02:01 -0500

Tony Pay wrote:

> On Sun, 31 Oct 1999 14:37:58 -0800, kevinfay@-----.com said:
>
> [snip all of what I accept as undoubtedly true]
>
> The thing is, that I am not against the legal process. That, in various
> ways, and in various countries, has evolved to do the best that it can.
>
> The point is that the system, designed to do its best in difficult
> circumstances, fails, like any system, when society turns its attention
> on how to manipulate it.
>
> How could I make any difference to the legal system? I couldn't. What
> I might more effectively do (and, very incidentally I might add, how I
> might influence people like you), is to argue that certain *uses* of the
> legal system in society are counterproductive.
>
> I can only argue this where I have a voice.
>
> *That* might make parents a little less likely to take at face value
> what is on offer as a case against a teacher; and contra that, might
> make parents a little more likely to take, not at face value, but after
> investigation, *even more seriously* what is on offer as a case against
> a teacher.
>
> What is plausible is not necessarily true; but equally what is true is
> not necessarily plausible.
>
> I didn't want to make you as lawyers culpable; but I didn't want to make
> you innocent either, as you seemed to suggest.
>
> We *all* need to work for this.
>
> Tony

Dear Tony
I've been following this thread with great interest since I am a band
teacher at 6 elementary schools in Vancouver, Canada. My students range in
age from 9-12. We here in Canada have always had less of an inclination to
sue others or head for the judiciary upon perceived injustice than might be
found in the United States. I therefore agree with you that 'reason' in our
actions rather than heated 'reaction' is an ideal to work towards.

Having said that, there is another aspect here which no one related to this
thread has touched on. Over the last several years, people in North America
have become far more aware of how extremely vulnerable children are
everywhere in our society. We have come to realize that we, as adults, are
responsible for the safety of all children, not just our own. Our awareness
has been amplified by news media coverage of horrid things happening to some
of our children, not the least of which is child molestation. Parents are
right, and in fact have a duty to be vigilant for the safety of their
children. But, as has been mentioned, it is a very sad day indeed when a
teacher cannot express warmth towards a child in an innocent gesture. Maybe
I'm naive, but I believe that I am more 'protected' from litigation because
my work is always in front of witnesses, ie. other band students, and
because as soon as I'm finished teaching, I race off to another school. But
it's sad that teachers even have to think that way.

Someone mentioned Italian customs. Clearly there is a cultural difference
in the way both societies perceive physical contact. I think it's sad that
we have come to a point where we consider physical contact to be
suspicious. It makes me wish I were Italian.

Cheers

Audrey

>
> --
> _________ Tony Pay
> |ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
> | |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN family artist: www.gmn.com
> tel/fax 01865 553339
>
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