Klarinet Archive - Posting 000903.txt from 2004/03
From: "Thomas" <thomas@------.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: not just the music deparment
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 18:57:54 -0500
Gary: >>This kind of cruel exageration is responsible for the silent
gutting of programs that are the
only thing that most parents of disabled student have to deal with the needs
of their children.<<
Thank you, Gary. We parents of "special" children are used to the ignorant
comments. So much so that we gotta teach 'em, LOL. If we put up with it,
it only gets worse.
IDEA has nothing to do with it. Although if they'd fund NCLB, it might
actually work to a point, but it still needs revamping. What NCLB does is
give schools the incentive to shove our kids into "special" schools, even
though those schools may not be appropriate, because they don't have the
money to develop programs in their own schools. And I don't know about your
state, but PA is WAAAAAY behind (something like $50 million?) in their
payments to state approved private schools.
No, the ignorant comments have nothing to do with IDEA or NCLB. Some of
what was mentioned has to do with music programs being no more than a
publicity machine, so the only important thing is marching band, to hell
with legitimate music. The POPularity of music, shall we say? That
schools must "entertain" children in order to teach them? "Entertainment"
goes for everything, not just music, for that matter.
Let me show you what one of those "special" children CAN do with music.
Turn the volume down, he is louder than heck.
www.thethomaspages.com/bugmusic.html This is from my digital camera, so
please pardon the sound quality. The kid has a really nice cornet tone, you
wouldn't know it from the camera. @@ He's not Maurice Andre (yet), but
he's no slacker.
My son has to work his ass off for every little thing he gets, he is
practicing now as I type this (yes, it's hard to type, LOL), just does a
half hour a day. I am into low-stress; children with AS tend to have a lot
of anxiety.
We have to beg or threaten the school with lawsuits just to get him a half
hour of speech every week. And most of the time the teachers we get aren't
trained to work with him. Most of the time the teachers let the bullies in
the classes beat up (verbally is the worst) on these children, they never do
squat about it. There is one that keeps calling him "evil". But when it
comes to band, they all step back when he walks in the room. The other kids
are still playing Come to Jesus in whole notes.
My son is 11, and in a normal 5th grade class, although he is a year and a
half behind in reading (words, not notes). We started him on trumpet when
he was just out of second grade, taught him by ear for about 6 months, so he
could focus on his breathing. Then we figured we didn't want him to end up
sounding like a clarinet player playing trumpet, so we got him a teacher.
And another. And another. NONE of them knew how to work with him, one
flaked out on him because he was "weird." (I am not kidding.)
The principal trumpet of a youth symphony in a nearby city last year was the
principal trumpet in PA All-State Orchestra. So I went and asked him who
his teacher was - and That is who he is studying with now, I guess it's been
a year. He's a retired public school teacher who is excellent with
children. Bug has been through the first two Accent books (the third one
sucks), both Breeze Easy books (it's hard to get 9-10 yos interested in
Arbans so we did both series), and is now well into Arban's. He also
auditioned for that youth symphony's junior orchestra (for kids grade 4-8)
and he is 4th chair, behind three 8th graders - even beat some 8th graders.
LOL
Music is the one thing he does in school that makes him feel like he's GOOD
at something (well, he is). He can't play on the sports teams, he doesn't
have the reaction time, it takes him a while to process things. Although
he swings a mean golf club, they don't do those things in elementary school.
But music lets him Accomplish something.
BTW Gifted don't always get everything either. My friend has three
daughters, All of whom are first in their classes with straight As, no
exaggeration; I teach the two younger ones. The oldest one is going to be a
horn/piano major next year. When she was in 10th grade, the guidance
counselor said to her "why don't you do VO TECH THIS YEAR????" I am Not
kidding. They won't let the youngest sign up for AP courses next year!
And Our school district is considered "average" by the state - and we PASS
the AYP for NCLB!!! We are what Shrub and his cronies consider is a GREAT
school!!! ROFL......BTW they SPLIT the same period between high school
chorus & band, one goes every other day.........
Just goes to show ya, the government knows squat about education and they
need to stay out of it. Of course, those who made up NCLB are all a bunch
of lawyers.....
Lynn
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