 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Erin :)
Date: 2000-04-22 05:02
Hi again... I am a music student at the University of Georgia, and some fellow music students have been talking about the state of Georgia recently deciding to cut all (or most) funding for music education (maybe all arts ed.) in the state's public schools. One student told me that current music teachers in the state have been guaranteed one more year of employment, maybe two, but beyond that is pretty much a no. I find this a bit upsetting, and so I was wondering if anyone out there had heard anything about this, or knows where I could find out about this. I am trying to verify this information since I have only heard it from a few students here, but I have not found anything yet. Thanks for your info!
Erin
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2000-04-22 15:49
The Newt must have convinced everyone down there that arts ed dept's are a rats nest of Commie liberals.
Will this affect marching bands, too?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: brian
Date: 2000-04-22 18:25
The Texas Legislature has tried to kill music in public schools more than a few times in the past twenty years. If this is indeed the case in Georgia, somebody might want to get in contact with the TMEA (Texas Muscic Educators' Association" @ www.tmea.org to find out how they helped to successfully defeat those proposals.
It really pisses me off to hear that kind of stuff. We somehow have enough money to pay for a dozen football coaches for the varsity team at most large high schools in Texas which doesn't seem to bother anyone and yet invariably it's the music programs operating on a shoestring budget anyway that get put on the chopping block.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-04-22 18:32
Hold on! This has all the markings of an "Urban Myth". Someone needs to get to the truth before all sorts of rumors go further. No further posting on this subject until there's some facts.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kim
Date: 2000-04-22 20:30
I do know from my Intro to Music Ed class that English, Math, etc are of a higher priority than the music programs are. When it comes time for the budget, some music educators have to fight and PROVE why their program should be continued for another year! Sound fair? I don't think so. Unfortunately, it's a reality that all music teachers face. I have been told from my music ed professor that in the 1980's, many music programs were cut because of how poorly Americans were doing academically in Reading, 'Rriting, and 'Rithmetic. Guess what was cut? You got it! The music programs, theather, and arts. It seems as though that anything that requires expression from students is the first to be cut! But how much thinking is required for playing an instrument vs writing an essay? Which is more enjoyable? How many of you out there go to school during the day just for band? I am currently a music major and is far more enjoyable than those boring general ed classes, as you can imagine!
The administration doesn't understand how important music is in our schools, however, that is being worked on. Governors and Senators are speaking in favor of music. In the last National Music Educators Conference, there was a book published with all of their feelings on music. All of the Gov. and Sen. feel very strongly about music in the schools; I saw the book.
But small kinks, like budget cuts will still happen because these things happen. Budget cuts don't last forever either. I live in Bethel, CT and in 1988, they cut the entire music department in the middle school and high school. There was a two year hiatus and so when I was in fourth grade, I was fortunate enough to learn the instrument I fondly love today--the clarinet! But all through school, there was threat after threat to cut the program. :( The theather and music students even petitioned the bd. of ed. to keep their programs. But, still no budget cuts.
Now, in Bethel the happiest thing is happening. A string program has been started, there is a fabulous marching band, and the instrumental program is growing. Don't be sad about budget cuts, it could be a threat that never happens. I've always heard, "They will cut the music program." from students. You know something--they never did! Keep your hopes up!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Erin :)
Date: 2000-04-22 21:46
I don't see why you want no more posting on this... In my post, I clearly said that I was trying to verify what I had heard from other students; therefore, I am NOT spreading rumors, I am looking for truthful information on the subject to either prove or disprove what I had heard. I included details about what I had been told simply to help clarify what it was I wanted to know about. Please read more carefully before you accuse others of spreading "urban myths".
Erin
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Erin :)
Date: 2000-04-22 21:59
Thanks for your upside approach to my post. But, I am not worried about music being cut at the university level (UGA get rid of the Redcoat Band? Are you kidding?? ) , I was thinking of all of the Music Ed. majors (including me...) that will graduate college certified to teach a music program, but will have no where in the home state to teach.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kim
Date: 2000-04-22 23:04
Oh, I wouldn't worry about not having a place to teach. With how many baby boomers will be retiring, there will be oodles and oodles of job openings elsewhere.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-04-22 23:47
The best thing to do is call one of your state legislators. They will have access to *accurate* information. Asking on a bulletin board like this is unlikely to result in definitive information on this type of subject unless one of your representatives happens to participate in this forum. When you post a question in a forum that doesn't have access to the information necessary to answer the question, the actual result is to further propagate the rumor.
Regardless of the subject, always ask yourself what source will have hard data to verify the answer it gives. Then go to that source with your question. This is a good principle to apply to life in general.
This might have been the point that Mark intended. i.e. Asking the question here merely results in more rumors and no valid answer.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-04-23 00:16
Dee wrote:
-------------------------------
Asking the question here merely results in more rumors and no valid answer.
------
Exactly my point. If after finding out what if anything is really happening then discussing it here is perfectly valid. I try & eliminate the "I heard from my friend that ..." kind of thing, <b>especially</b> on very controversial subjects. Calling your legislator about things like this should be the <b>first</b> thing you do, not the last.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: HTW
Date: 2000-04-23 02:00
Well, coming from someone IN high school right now, I can say that you don't have to ask any legislator for proof. Now it's not so bad, but about 3 years back the arts program in my school was really coming under the knife. Strikes, threats of more strikes and work to rule programs were everywhere. That's bad enough for any school, but my school is a speciallized audition-only arts school, where we study double periods of our particular art-either drama, dance, visual, literary, or music- every day on top of our regular classes. We love it, it's the best thing that's happened to any person in then program, teacher or student. Cut our arts program? You'd be destroying the lifeblood of 1200 students and many dedicated staff also. Right now there isn't any problems that directly affect us, but everyday we hear about threats to cut our program.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-04-23 03:34
HTW wrote:
-------------------------------
That's bad enough for any school, but my school is a speciallized audition-only arts school, where we study double periods of our particular art-either drama, dance, visual, literary, or music- every day on top of our regular classes.
-----
The problem that many people see in public schools such as yours (if it is public) is that they appear elitist; indeed, an audition-only school by definition <b>is</b> elitist. Those parents without the financial wherewithall to send their children to private lessons before high school stand a very slim chance of their children getting in. It's a real problem, and I don't know of a good solution. If there were a lot of public fine-arts high-schools it would still be an issue (who gets into the <i>best</i> one?) Is it fair to use public tax dollars to fund such a specialized education, especially when the chances of getting a job other than teaching when you're through are slim? Ask the general public about the costs ... a good piano will set you back $65K, yet teachers in most places have to use their own money to buy supplies! If the parents of a young performer can't afford a good violin, where's the $10K for a reasonable instrument going to come from? While I'm a firm believer in the importance of the arts, I'm not sure how they should be financed at the local level. It's much more complicated than it may seem at first. Music programs are very, very expensive, and don't have the crowd appeal of sports; if anything, classical music has the reputation of "snob appeal".
I was financially able to send my one of my children to a private fine-arts high school, but it was very expensive. Luckily the next kid down is aiming to be a mathematician rather than a musician (even though he does fine in music) ... it's a <b>lot</b> easier to get AP courses in math in a public high school than it is to get advanced music courses!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-04-25 18:25
Your state and county have web sites and your school will almost certainly have the e-addresses for them. These web sites will include synopses and probably the full texts of any bills actually presented to your state and local legislature. Once you know for sure that a proposed funding cut is real and not just some rumor, maybe you can pressure your local government and influence other people to comment, too. Public opinion does sway legislators! Look on the web site for a street address, since a typed letter sent through the mail will get more attention than an e-mail.
If I see something going on that I want to support or oppose, I write to my representatives and tell them what I think. I also write letters to magazines and newspapers. It's best to get right to the point and write in plain, simple English, because employees who process hundreds of letters at a time read them quickly and carelessly. For the "body count," I make sure the first sentence of my letter tells the basic information: "I support Bill #0101" or "I oppose Bill #0101." In my experience, letters to the editor have the best chance of getting published if they're very short, preferably no longer than this message. Often it's also possible for citizens to sign up to speak at hearings for proposed legislation.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-04-25 20:49
I agree wholeheartedly with lelia's hints, and one more, if you <b>really</b> want to get noticed (I got a personal phone call from a legistlator when I used this one):
Send a short telegram.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
