Klarinet Archive - Posting 000759.txt from 2004/03

From: "DWH" <dhatfield------.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] Education (was: Adult learners)
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 00:01:37 -0500

I can tell you that the instrumental programs in this state (WV) have
suffered at the hands of this process and its resultant way of thinking, and
the other related arts are close behind. Vocal music seems to hold its own
very well. But I can tell that the dozen or so schools (high schools
primarily, and three or four middle schools) around this state who continue
to succeed in providing great music education and producing great musical
groups (and better-educated students in all areas of learning as well as
music) are schools with affluent parents and boosters who contribute money
where the state government and state board of education have failed
miserably...just ask our own Rebecca Brennan sometime. There are too many
talented and eager-to-learn student musicians here that never get the chance
to have the instruction they deserve. I started playing clarinet here at age
9, in fourth grade. (In 1966) The local jr. high director was also the
itinerant in our school, and as a result I had the same teacher for six
years. Now the kids here can't start instrumental music until sixth grade
unless they do so outside school, privately.

Meanwhile, athletics thrive thanks to the plethora of former coaches/jocks
who end up in power in our school system administration. Out of eight high
schools and twenty middle schools in my county, ONE school has a female
principal, and all the rest...you got it. Honest.

Go get 'em, Rebecca. Say hello to your alto clarinet.

Don Hatfield

> >As nuts as this may be, one of our local schools spent $3 million last
> >year to rebuild it's stage & auditorium and sound+light systems, and
> >then this year, the school district was forced by budget cutbacks to
> >cancel *ALL* music classes --- including even chorus, which doesn't need
> >instruments --- for lack of funding.
>
> The silly thing about school funding is that buildings are often paid for
> out of a different pocket than salaries and operating expenses. The
school
> district where my wife teaches passed a millage and built additions (just
> opened this year) onto several buildings, but they are looking at laying
> off teachers for next year. And one of my school band director customers
> told me the other day that her district is considering cancelling both
> music AND art next year!
>
>
> Bill Hausmann
>
> If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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