 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarienet
Date: 2010-05-18 18:07
The school district I'm in, is resorting to maybe cutting music, art, PE, etc... What should I do? I'm a freshman in high school, I love my music, and its all I want to do... If they cut it, then school just won't be worth it anymore... Band is one step closer to getting ready for college auditions, to start off on a music career... Any tips on a way we can all fight it?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-05-18 18:18
Write a letter to whomever is responsible for the budget cutting. In my opinion, if each and everyone affected by such cuts writes something, it has more weight than a demo with some banners and an angry mob. Don't forget to suggest how to make up for expenses in that field. That politician needs to see a benefit of keeping the programme alive.
Then, organize a petition with the signatures of whoever's of distinction in the art and eductation business. Plan for some fundraising, some benefit concerts, whatever, just to demonstrate you don't simply sit there with the metaphorical IV drip in your arm. Sell it as a school project re "applied democracy".
So much to do, so little time. But good luck!
--
Ben
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Author: GBK
Date: 2010-05-18 18:39
As a retired music teacher, unfortunately this topic comes up every school budget voting year.
I've found that the best way to get your point across is to present facts and figures to the school board.
Find out the number of students participating in the football program, which is ALWAYS the largest budget item of the sports budget.
Divide the cost by the # of students.
Do the same with the band program.
Undoubtedly you'll now have some hard evidence to present to the Board of Education, IN PERSON, at their next budget hearing, to show how little the music program costs in relation to just ONE sport.
Make sure, all the band parents attend when you make your presentation.
...GBK
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2010-05-18 18:54
It may be an unpopular choice, but you may want to suggest adopting a "pay to play" system where the students who want to participate in the band are required to pay an activity fee. This is what all of the sports programs do in the public schools in my area but I've never heard of a music program doing it despite the fact that we always hear about music programs being in danger of being cut. I know when I was in high school I had to pay to be on the sports teams but I never had to pay anything to be in the band. Offering to hold fundraisers might not be a bad idea either.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2010-05-18 19:38
Well, comparisons to football aren't going to earn you any allies.
Honestly, the reason football programs thrive is because of two things:
1. A culture that reveres the kind of competition that the sport embodies and convinces young people that it builds character.
2. The income that football games, training, and outreach bring in to the school.
I've taught in both public and private school programs (band and orchestra) and regardless of the school, it all comes down to priorities for funding. Math, science, and language always takes precedence over everything else. Football and other popular sports don't worry because they raise enough funding on their own to continue. Since they are self-sufficient, I don't see a problem with it.
In order to keep a music program alive in the face of budget cuts, we need to be realistic about the things we do to keep it going. That means that a participation fee is probably necessary. In any sport you generally have to pay to obtain and maintain your own equipment. Visual art classes require consumable supplies, science excursions involve an activity fee, etc. With that, reasonable methods of fund-raising that don't require students to sell junk door-to-door need to be devised.
Finally, a strong booster organization is a MUST...parents who are involved in the program and believe in what it does for their kids are the foundation of any effort to keep it alive and thriving. It is a community of people who believe in an idea that can make a difference through individual and business contributions towards the costs of a program.
Post Edited (2010-05-18 19:43)
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2010-05-18 19:44
I think you had better get a grip on your attitude that music is all you want to do or school will not be worth it anymore.
After saying that..this is a difficult battle to fight and win. I get into the middle schools around here and the number of students participating in band is declining and has been for some time. That is a compelling arguement for those wanting to make cuts.
My kids went to different high schools. One to a public school that embraced the arts and the other to a private school that had little in the budget for music. They both did well in music. They both had good teachers and participated in local univeristy programs. My son in private school had a liitle more difficult time finding a way into the state solo and ensemble competition and the state groups, but a simple letter and from from the school explained the music situation and it was not a problem.
Good luck to you.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-05-18 21:50
It is a shame that school systems through out our country are cutting music and art when they have to cut their budgets. They really don't realize how important these subjects are to so many students. It gives many of them discipline, a sense of importance, pride, self esteem and something to look forward to. In many case it helps improve their grades because of the things I just listed. They take away the ability for students to use their imagination and talents. It's stupid but it's in the world we live in.
As far as your concerned, you need to organize as many parents as possible and take your case to the board. Music is important but don't bank on making a living from it, that's a very long shot. Play your heart out but have a plan B. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2010-05-18 23:47
I doubt that your school district will cut music completely. Districts love to have school bands for a number of reasons--local parades, graduation ceremonies, assemblies, etc. It's all about appearances. Furthermore, a music program is helpful to a school for accreditation purposes.
Having said this, I understand your concerns. I was a band teacher for many years, but my school district (a very large and troubled one) slowly phased out music programs, leaving only a few token ones in place. If I had to guess what your district would do, I'd predict that they might eliminate things like elementary band and strings. They might also cut some music teacher positions and consolidate groups. Many high schools have three bands, but it's possible the number could be cut to two or even one. If there's an orchestra program, that might be cut. The quality of the musical ensembles might suffer, but administration will say, "Don't blame us! We were under very severe budget constraints, but we saved the music program."
There's another factor that nobody has mentioned--No School Left Standing--oops, I mean No Child Left Behind. As far as many administrators and school boards are concerned, music programs are very nice. However, music isn't tested on any major standardized test (which means it has no role in determining if a school shows Adequate Yearly Progress or not), and it isn't all that high on their list of important priorities.
Here's something that you can do which might help. In your regular academic classes, what is the average enrollment? I'm going to guess it's about 25 to 30 students per class. See if you can find out the average enrollment in the middle and high school band classes. I'm guessing that the numbers are higher.
Now, a little math. Let's assume that Mr. High School English Teacher teaches five classes daily, and that he sees about 135 students in an average day. Let's assume that Mrs. Band Teacher also teaches five classes, but most of her classes are larger than Mr. English Teacher's. It's very possible that she teaches 160 or more students daily. If Mrs. Band Teacher's job is cut, the district will have to hire another teacher plus a part time teacher to handle all of Mrs. Band Teacher's former students. In other words, cutting Mrs.
Band Teacher will end up costing the district more money!
Good luck with your efforts. Cutbacks seem to be hitting music teachers everywhere.
Post Edited (2010-05-18 23:50)
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2010-05-19 06:50
What it really comes down to is what the budget goes to. I'm sure they could squeeze in a band program if they wanted to. It's all about what the money goes into. Your goal is to make sure it goes into band and not something stupid...oh I actually have an interesting story about that.
A few days ago I was visiting my old high school to see my band director and some of my old teachers. Guess what I saw that was different...
1. I saw over 100 brand new computer monitors.
2. I saw an ELMO (new fancy thing like a video recorder attached to a video projector that works on regular paper which retails at around 750, after teacher discount maybe 500 at least) in every single classroom! Some teachers kept their ELMO in the closet!!! Seriously what happenned to good old projectors?
3. And as if the ELMO wasn't enough, I saw in every class a brand new projector mounted to the ceiling!!! Those were I can say at least 200-300 each.
So multiply that by the number of teachers (around 50) and bam we have 15000 on fancy projectors and 25000 on ELMOs. Plus another 20000 on computer monitors. Yet, America with all their fancy tech is lagging behind countries in education who have say a projecter per school! And that sum of 60000 dollars is for one school.
Maybe the American government needs to rethink their stimulus spendings....
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-05-19 15:55
The de-emphasis on education in America is just appalling. During the discussions about fluffing up our economy a few years ago, the "education industry" was one candidate for additional funding; and tax cuts were another.
I found a very interesting academic study showing the return on investment for these two options (and others). The measures were number of jobs per dollar, and the number of dollars returned right away per dollar invested.
Education is one of the few places you can put stimulus money that gives a positive return: a dollar buys you something like $1.30.
To contast, a tax cut will return only about 60-cents on the dollar. AND, the job growth amounts to a few part time retail sales jobs with ZERO benefits.
Still, dogma flies in the face of reality and looks in the wrong direction for "solutions."
We are a nation that can not think, that ignores facts and operates on wishes.
Bob Phillips
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2010-05-19 19:38
Quote:
Band is one step closer to getting ready for college auditions, to start off on a music career
Aren't there other outlets outside of your HS band? Region and All-state band? Community bands? Youth orchestra's?
Not to diminish your loss, but it is not the end all for your opportunities. At the minimum, perhaps you can rally a few friends to do chamber music and play in the community ( @ retirement communities, nursing homes, hospitals, libraries). Show the value of music in the community, get local interest and you may get the attention you need to support the school program.
In my hometown, an elementary school band director wanted to start a drum corp. So many kids wanted to join, but he did not have enough equipment and obviously there was no money in the budget to purchase any. So he decided to use buckets and pvc pipes - some money was raised and some items were donated. It's an inspirational story about what can be done if love and devotion for your art is there...but resources are limited:
http://www.app.com/article/20100509/NEWS/5090341/Handmade-instruments-help-school-band-grow-in-Hazlet
Post Edited (2010-05-19 19:39)
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Author: William
Date: 2010-05-19 20:15
Critics point out that our students are "way behind" those of other countries, so their solution is to cut back "the frills" for more emphasis on math & science. Yet, those "other countries" whose students excel academically also are more advanced in the arts, especially music. What don't I (we) get here???
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Author: Gregory Smith ★2017
Date: 2010-05-20 05:39
"In order to keep a music program alive in the face of budget cuts, we need to be realistic about the things we do to keep it going. That means that a participation fee is probably necessary. In any sport you generally have to pay to obtain and maintain your own equipment. Visual art classes require consumable supplies, science excursions involve an activity fee, etc."
============
Realistically speaking, "participation" fees *are* being paid by students more and more via musical instrument rental/purchase, reeds, mouthpieces, lessons on campus, music, etc. Most districts that still have a music program at all now only partially fund these "supplies".
I'm sorry to say this but above all, don't let the administration (who will generally look out for themselves first) and the jockocracy discourage or intimidate you or anyone else.
It's all about an ingrained attitude that pervades our culture. I was taking this attitude on along side my pre-college music dept. instructors even when music and the arts were flourishing nation-wide over 40 years ago.
Good Luck!
Gregory Smith
http://gregory-smith.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2010-05-20 12:52
Unfortunately, massive school budget cuts are becoming epidemic among American public schools. School boards seem nearly universally to be elected more for their promises to cut taxes than to maintain or raise educational quality.
Often, these cuts are more threats than real intent - if the school board can make enough noise about cutting things that will upset people (like extra-curriculars, foreign languages, etc.) , the same people will quiet down when the worst of the cuts are taken off the agenda and allow milder ones to be made without protest.
That said, if your board is really serious about cutting music and other extra-curricular activities or even regular music instruction during the school day, there are a few things that can help, mostly in the direction of advocating for the music program at board meetings. Both parents and students can get involved. Be careful of making statements at board meetings like yours that "its all I want to do... If they cut it, then school just won't be worth it anymore..." They sound overemotional and can be counterproductive - whatever you think of cutting music, it isn't and never has been the primary focus of public education and saying things like that to a board only makes you *sound* self-centered and whiny (whether or not you really are).
There is material about advocating for music programs on the public pages of the Music Educators' National Conference (MENC) website and probably on the website of your state chapter.
Unfortunately, good results are not guaranteed. Witness "Mr. Holland's Opus." And in districts where the worst happens with regard to music programs, interested students and their parents have to find alternate activities outside the school system (which can spawn whole new areas of music industry and employment - but that's a whole other discussion).
Until the American people figure out a better way to fund schools, this problem will continue to get worse. Good luck.
Karl
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2010-05-20 15:08
At both of my children's high schools we never paid any fees for the music programs. The public school program was quite robust and the private school band program was meager.
However, we paid a lot of fees at both schools for athletics that included buying warm up uniforms, contributing to coaches salaries and transportation costs, and a flat fee for some sports to cover various expenses. We also paid fees for art classes to cover materials used by my kids and for general class materials. At both shcools we paid a technology fee used to support the computers in the schools.
These fees on top of a huge property tax bill made us cringe but it is the way things are going.
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Author: jonnybliss
Date: 2010-05-24 03:36
Show them this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOM6Fn0y2AI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CkK-LM6Oe0
http://clarinettrampoline.blogspot.com/
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-05-24 05:09
I can only hope that the fustercluck masquerading as an education system in the U.S. implodes on itself and is replaced by something sensible by the time I have school-age kids.
They should cut the mandatory school day to 4 hours AT MOST, and have optional afternoon sports, arts, whatever, maybe for an extra fee. Keep the pens, pencils, paper, minimal textbooks, chalk/whiteboards, and teachers who actually know how to teach the material and are allowed to do so. Everything else (computers, most of the wretched textbooks, etc.) can fall victim to (be liberated by?) budget cuts, and maybe, with more hours to explore the world, kids won't hate school so much.
I don't see why there's this insistence that education on any topic must come from the school system. They screw it up royally in so many areas so frequently.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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