 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: affrettando
Date: 2012-12-01 19:32
I would like to be able to participate in Maryland All-State Band and Orchestra. Currently, however, only public and private schooled students are eligible to participate. Since I'm homeschooled, I am not permitted to participate.
I'm copying and pasting a flyer I and others have been passing out with more info. Please send an email to the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) urging them to update this policy to include homeschoolers in activities such as the All-State ensembles and Solo & Ensemble Festival. The MMEA email addresses can be found at a link near the bottom.
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When MMEA was founded in 1941, homeschooling was illegal. 70 years later, homeschooling has been legalized in all 50 states, and the Maryland State Department of Education has said NO legal reason prevents MMEA from including homeschoolers. MMEA’s outdated policy does not allow homeschoolers, even when they meet the same requirements that private schoolers meet. Please help us urge MMEA to update this policy to include homeschoolers in activities such as the All-State ensembles and Solo & Ensemble Festival.
Why should MMEA include homeschoolers?
The MMEA mission is to “provide enriched musical opportunities for students, encourage student participation in music, and improve the quality of music instruction.” Some MMEA members direct homeschool ensembles: allowing the students in these ensembles to participate in MMEA events would support MMEA members. Other states already allow homeschoolers to participate in state-wide MEA activities. See Virginia’s VMEA site for their progressive, inclusive policy: http://www.vmea.com/index.php/overview.html
What can YOU do?
Email the MMEA board and ask them to change their policy to include homeschoolers in MMEA activities.
More info?
Homeschool music videos and MMEA email addresses can be found here: http://goo.gl/TJ94J Feel free to ask any questions at homeschoolmusicians@gmail.com
Post Edited (2012-12-01 20:05)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2012-12-01 20:22
Sorry, I can't support your cause.
To be eligible for All State consideration (in New York) ALL students must participate in their school performing ensemble, fulfilling the "50% rule"
"..."Participation is defined as a minimum of 50% attendance and practice at in-school rehearsals, where such rehearsals are offered and at all concert performances with this same organization..." (NYSSMA manual - eligibility)
If you do not meet the requirement you are not eligible for All State consideration.
...GBK
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-12-01 20:43
I'm in agreement with GBK. I don't doubt your dedication and love of music -- but All-State in Virginia functions solely by the energy, organization, and dedication of the band/orchestra directors.
Homeschoolers who don't participate regularly in a public school ensembles shouldn't seek recognition through the apparatus of the public schools: All State band and orchestra.
I see the VMEA citation you provided: do you meet the VMEA definition to participate? Are you a regular member of a homeschool band or orchestra (almost certainly directed by a member of MMEA)?
James
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2012-12-01 20:49)
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2012-12-01 21:35
You're an hour from Baltimore, 40 minutes from DC. I would guess that there are a number of youth orchestras and community bands in which you could play, if you're good enough, that are not school-affiliated and therefore would have no problem accepting you. I think the points above are well made.
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Author: affrettando
Date: 2012-12-01 22:21
GBK and Tobin,
Yes, I play in a homeschool band. Yes, I also play in a local youth orchestra. Yes, some of the directors are MMEA members (and ALL, if I'm not mistaken, previously or currently teach in the public schools). Yes, I meet the Virginia eligibility requirements.
"Homeschoolers who don't participate regularly in a public school ensembles shouldn't seek recognition through the apparatus of the public schools: All State band and orchestra." Homeschoolers in MD are not permitted to take part in public school courses or extracurricular activities (though there's been some legislation floating about -- this may well be changed in the next few years). This exclusion includes public school band and orchestra. Hence, playing in a public school ensemble is not an option, as it is in some other states. But private schooled students can participate in a private school ensemble to fulfill that requirement, so it seems like homeschooled students should be able to participate in a homeschool ensemble to fulfill the requirement of supporting music teachers (which, I suppose, is the purpose of requiring students to play in their school ensembles).
Knowing this, will you please ask MMEA to allow me to participate?
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-12-01 22:32
"Homeschoolers in MD are not permitted to take part in public school courses or extracurricular activities...Hence, playing in a public school ensemble is not an option, as it is in some other states."
I think that you have a legitimate issue in that respect. However -- you and your friends will be much better received if you focus on that issue (alone or in conjunction with) your All State aspirations.
GBK -- how does that function in NY? Some VA schools will allow you to participate JUST in band, others ask that you do one or two academic classes in addition to be part of the system.
If you made public school participation the soul or your argument, you might be able to persuade me.
In the meantime: what youth orchestras in the area (within 60 miles) would allow you to compete in their concerto competitions? That would be an excellent goal to occupy you musically while you campaign politically.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: affrettando
Date: 2012-12-02 00:46
Tobin -- by the time I get a legal change made (if indeed I could make an impact beyond the ongoing efforts) I'd probably be out of high school. Comparatively, it's a fairly minor change for MMEA to allow homeschoolers to participate in its activities as private schooled students do. That's why I'm hoping that MMEA can change its policy to something like VMEA's.
I'm participating in a bunch of competitions and ensembles -- I am well occupied musically. I would just like to be able to participate in All-State too.
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2012-12-02 03:12
Judging by your writing, Affrettando, your home school education has been excellent, so I would expect you to be able to play devil's advocate. Is there another side to this?
Personally, I'm not sold on the idea that campaigning for the inclusion of home schoolers in public school bands is the way to go. As a public school parent, I think that either you commit to a school and grab a paddle, or you don't. A family not wanting anything to do with the English, Math, Science departments and not wanting to work to make them better, but wanting access to the Music department, is off-putting. But if private schools are not excluded, I'm not sure what the logic is for not accrediting ensembles in which home schoolers can play. Maybe you have too much time to practice? : )
Actually, I have a friend whose daughter was a ballerina. Apparently many ballerinas are home schooled because there is no other way to fit in the training.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2012-12-02 04:21
I recall there being homeschoolers in the Virginia all-state groups, although this is from memory more than 10 years ago. And never once do I recall them being deficient or not able to play in a group. If they can handle it and get through the audition I don't see what the big deal is.
Personally, I liken homeschooling to private education - as someone who went to a Catholic high school and was permitted to participate in the Virginia all-state and district ensembles, I find it odd that Maryland wouldn't allow home-schoolers to participate. I didn't participate in the public school thing (hence, didn't get my "paddle" and help row) but our band program still paid into VBODA and did all the things a public school might. I see both sides of the argument but I tend to agree with affrettando. Why would we want to limit the opportunities of our children over a technicality?
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Author: affrettando
Date: 2012-12-02 05:05
JHowell -- Here comes the other side BUT these reasons are based on my discussions with music teachers and students, not from MMEA.
I believe there is a fear of homeschoolers held by teachers. I say this coming from a family of public school music teachers. I believe they see homeschoolers as a threat to their jobs. Strong teachers' unions in MD are responsible, I believe, in keeping homeschoolers out of public school activities -- they desperately want to discourage homeschooling. I think this is the same fear that is working in the minds of the leaders of MMEA.
I do think there is some level of legitimacy to this argument -- especially because in the digital age, it IS getting easier to homeschool. I am taking a math course where my teacher is on a MP4. This year, I am taking online AP Chemistry, AP US History, and AP English. While I also take some classes at a community college and other physical locations, technology has facilitated my homeschool education. But the loss of some jobs due to technological advances is inevitable. Nobody can fix that.
Really, though, I have two main counterarguments for this jobs fallacy. Firstly, something is missed in this logic. Many homeschoolers are homeschooling for religious reasons or they think there is some problem with the default public school. Even in my family, religion played a role, though perhaps not as great, in my homeschool education You're not going to discourage those from homeschooling who are doing it for mostly religious reasons by excluding them from public school activities. Then you have those who are homeschooling for a better education. True, you might have some in this bucket who are truly discouraged by exclusion from public school activities. But seriously, you're not likely to exclude many. There are homeschool co-ops and classes filling the public school's role, negating the impact of this exclusion. The public school teachers would gain many of these students in their classes by allowing students to participate in one class at a time. I think those who are discouraged from homeschooling and end up staying in the public schools are more than outweighed by the number of additional students lost by forcing them to take all or none.
I can speak firsthand that the exclusion has no impact on my decision to homeschool. I can also say that I would have probably taken several classes at my local schools had I been allowed to do so.
Secondly and more importantly, this attitude of excluding homeschoolers doesn't make any sense. Moving out of a fear of "keep our jobs" -- which I just showed was largely unfounded, and indeed, perhaps even counterproductive -- my parents are paying taxes to pay public school teachers. If my parents are helping pay for 10 teachers, does it not make sense that my parents and I should be allowed to make use of 3 of them when we need them? Doesn't that seem a bit ridiculous?
But I need to move from the reasons for the exclusion policy of the schools to the reasons for the exclusion policy of MMEA. As an association of teachers, MMEA holds many of the same fears that are responsible for homeschoolers being excluded from public school courses and activities. I think these fears are why MMEA does not wish to allow homeschoolers to participate in its activities. Really, though, All-State is not going to be the difference between attending a public school and homeschooling. More importantly, MMEA is missing out on supporting homeschool music teachers jobs* AND music in homeschool settings. If they are truly worried about their jobs, they should be worried about the music education in all environments -- that is what will determine their future jobs more than anything else. I can say that several kids have dropped band who would have still been doing band had they had the experiences of All-State and Solo and Ensemble Festival. (of course, none of them stopped homeschooling, they just stopped their instruments -- a prime example of how this policy is counterproductive)
*I put a star, because in many cases, the jobs pay little or it is purely volunteer work. But, private school jobs don't pay much either... so why pick on homeschoolers?
I think I've explained the general rationale behind the "exclude homeschoolers" logic. I hope you also see how it doesn't achieve its goals. From talking with music teachers, I believe there is another reason to why the policy isn't changed. I have been told that there is a certain influential person who is against it, and until s/he gives up, retires, moves, etc, homeschoolers will not be allowed in. Of course, that's just rumor! I do think it's safe to say that there are definitely politics involved, and that more emails to MMEA are needed.
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2012-12-02 13:43
Interesting. Are you going into music? Where are you auditioning?
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2012-12-02 14:00
Assuming that affretando's parents pay taxes that support public schools (as do the parents of private school students) I think he should be able to participate. As a teacher, I believe that the interest of the student is the number one consideration-not the interests of the teachers, the teacher union, or the schools administration.
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Author: affrettando
Date: 2012-12-03 02:19
Those of you who said MMEA should include homeschoolers, could you please send an email to MMEA? Or am I missing some piece of forum etiquette by continuing to ask? Not trying to be a pest
JHowell -- I do not plan on going into music. I will be auditioning this year for several local competitions and the National Trumpet Competition (clarinet is not my primary instrument).
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2012-12-03 03:47
I'm surprised this hasn't spiraled into a political debate like all the orchestra strike threads out there. Pleasantly surprised. There's a lot of present and past music teachers on here that I'm sure have strong opinions on this - I'm very interested in hearing what they have to say.
It might be more to your benefit to get a coalition of local homeschooled musicians and building a petition that way rather than the MMEA getting a bunch of random e-mails from out of state clarinetists who don't have a vested interest in MMEA's programs.
I would petition MMEA with a sizable group of signatures and if they don't want to hear your plight go up the chain (state board of education, superintendent, leaders of the homeschool coalition or whatever the governing body who authorizes homeschooling, etc.). Do it the proper way (whatever that is) - your more likely to get a willing ear that way.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2012-12-03 16:01
Here in North Idaho, the Festival At Sandpoint, a not-for-profit group that sponsors the 2-week music fest by the same name forms an outreach orchestra that tours all of the fifth grade classrooms to recruit participants in the 6th grade music program. The players are reimbursed for travel expenses, and the pieces demonstrated are taken from the Spokane Symphony performance at the Festival.
The program is fantastically successful. Typically 85 to 95% of the fifth grade students elect to start public school music lessons in their sixth year. This high "take rate" is also enabled by the Festival because they underwrite the cost of instrument rental for the sixth grade academic year.
(Unfortunately, participation drops dramatically in the seventh grade because so many of us can't afford to provide our kids with an instrument once the Festival sponsorship expires.)
Coincidentally, I played in a pit orchestra for a local production that ran just after the Outreach Orchestra. A home-schooled 5th grader approached me expressing an interest in my clarinet. After a short talk, I suggested that she sign up for the 6th grade music program and try playing clarinet for a while. She broke out in tear saying that she was home schooled and was denied access to the program.
I was saddened by this because her parent's motivations to keep here out of the public school system was going to end up denying her the opportunity, in the short term, to play an instrument --and to play in an ensemble.
Emotionally, I'm with affrettando. I don't think he should be denied public support because of his parental rebellion against our terribly flawed US public education system.
Bob Phillips
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Author: affrettando
Date: 2012-12-04 04:18
clarinetist04 -- I've done practically all I can through the "proper way" but it hasn't gotten anywhere. When I talked with the MMEA executive director a few weeks ago, she said that the MMEA probably didn't want homeschoolers involved... which means petition time! So I've sent thousands of emails to music teachers, talked with hundreds of people, passed out hundreds of flyers, etc. And other homeschooled musicians are doing the same.
Nobody here is a random clarinetist. All of you have the interest and time to explore this clarinet forum, and you've had the interest to read a topic entitled "Maryland Music Educators Association." Additionally, some of you have likely participated in a different state MEA activities, or are teachers, or even live in MD.
Bob Phillips -- I have some friends who were unable to afford even a car. They tried getting instruments from their local school, but were told they could not have them. They're paying taxes for those instruments... Really, if someone decides to homeschool, they're being LESS of a burden on the public schools, so they should get some of their taxes back or something -- not exclusion from public school resources!
BUT! You said "his parental rebellion."
Almost all my extended family are Maryland public school music teachers. My family is NOT against public schools. I just happen to live in a really bad default school district (nobody in my neighborhood attends the default school) and think I can get a better education at home.
I do not want this to go into "us vs. them." Nobody wants to support someone who's against them. Instead, I want to help MMEA realize not including homeschoolers is keeping them from fully achieving their mission of music advancement. I do not want to blame them for the issue of public schools excluding homeschoolers, rather, I want them to see a policy change as necessary to keep up with the times.
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