Klarinet Archive - Posting 000229.txt from 2002/09

From: "Forest E. Aten Jr." <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Music/Academics studies?
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 2002 09:24:27 -0400

Aimee,

"statistically proven to improve academic scores"

Many studies come to this claim by association. I have yet to see a top
notch study that proves this assumption. From my observations (30 years of
teaching music), this "improve academic scores" claim is not the case. As a
matter of fact, the kids grades, in the Richardson, Texas, ISD, suffer
dramatically during the fall marching season. My oldest daughter is a fine
young musician and when she was in high school band the marching time
commitment was so out of control...she quit....as did 90 of her peers during
her sophomore year. These kids were the best and brightest on the
campus....and the best and brightest in the band program. All lost to the
excess. I should say....the kids lost out to the excess. I observed more
indoctrination that education in the RISD. These kids were smart and would
not fall victim as they knew the difference between a very abusive kind of
indoctrination vs. education.

Perhaps a bit of "truth" vs. what music programs, (hoping to survive), would
like people to believe.

Don't get me wrong. I think a music education can provide young
children/adults with many positive experiences and lessons.

Just this week in the Dallas Morning News, front page, top left hand corner,
we had an article about time abuse in the public school marching band
programs. Enough parents and kids are now up in arms about the excessive
marching band time commitment (abusive), that both the UIL (University
Scholastic League), the TEA (Texas Education Agency) and the TMEA (Texas
Music Educators Association) have been force to review policy. Something
that has needed to be done for many years. This issue also made the 10 pm
nightly news cast in Dallas/Ft. Worth. All I can say is...it's about time.
Hopefully the new review committee will also address the exclusionary
policies most schools have put into place (regarding kids who don't want to
march)....but do want to pursue a public school education.

Forest Aten

----- Original Message -----
From: "Aimee Cheers" <cheers@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Re: Music/Academics studies?

> Jim,
>
> You definitely need studies and numbers to convince an administrator. I
> quick look about the MENC website turned up these articles. I think if
you
> start here you should find what you are looking for:
>
> http://www.menc.org/information/infoserv/info.htm
>
>
> Aimee Cheers
> www.pamusicteachers.org
> Ask me about Winds 'n Jazz in June!
>
> Jim wrote:
> As background, our superintendent has decided that to provide more time
for
> academics, they're going to phase out the instrumental music program in
the
> middle schools. (This is one more hairbrained scheme that has proven this
> man is an idiot, IMO.) They're only going to allow beginning band in the
> 9th grade, by the end of the phase out, and the band will essentially
> function only as a football pep band.
>
> One of our top family physicians told the board that they were making a
> serious mistake; that they were trying to dump the one program that
actually
> was statistically proven to improve academic scores.
>
> Does anyone know where such a (legitimate) study is that we could show to
> the school board? Any help is appreciated. They've already dropped the
6th
> grade program this year.
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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