They're doing it again: Phasing out the music programs in the schools
In an article in the Daily Kenoshan Newspaper this morning, the headline read: The Day Music Died. The ensuing article read: " According
to music teachers at the Kenosha Unified School District, School Board
President Eric Olsen has declared a total phase-out of the music
department in Kenosha to take place over five years. By eliminating
music as part of the education of Kenosha's students, a number of
teaching positions might be saved." My first reaction was: OMG, they're doing it again! Why does the music department have to save the teachers?
Kenosha's
school music program has historically been one of the very best, as far as public
school systems go. It has long been a national model, and its student
concerts are led by guest conductors of world renown. The Band-O-Rama
in particular usually sells over 3000 tickets over the weekend it is
offered. So why phase out their music program? I'm thinking: If this isn't typical of the board of education, I don't know what is.
This has been happening at high schools all across the country.
In major cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, art and music
programs are all in danger of being cut. At both Grosse Pointe high
schools, in Detroit, accompanists who work with vocal music programs
are being laid off. The schools in phoenix are making major changes to all of their arts and language programs.
In addition, Boards of Education are busy closing
large schools in favor of smaller ones. Student populations appear to
be down and the economy has cut many positions to save revenue. In most
cities, the first departments to go are the
arts: art, music, photography, theater, etc. Back to basics appears to
be the most common mantra right now. This is not necessarily due to the
fact that students will get a better education, but primarily to cut
back on spending.
When I was teaching high school music in the Chicago Public Schools in
the 1970s, we went through the same thing.. There were six music
teachers in the high school were I taught, so they decided to cut three of
us. They did it by seniority. I wasn't high enough up on the list and so
I was one of the three who had to go. To save our jobs, they put us back in the elementary schools Based on seniority I "bumped"
the principal's favorite teacher. She hated me from then on. For me, it
was two years of hell while she tried to make my life miserable. I'll
never forget it.
And, most importantly, the kids suffered. They saw me once a week. The
first year, I had no office or classroom. I slung my
guitar over my back and schlept a record player and art supplies from
classroom to classroom. I was responsible for all the kids in the
school, K-8. They saw me so infrequently that they couldn't remember
what they learned from week to week. The younger ones couldn't even
remember my name.
Fortunately, the second year, they managed to give me
a classroom. I started including dance, movement, and theater games
into the curriculum. I would change the seating around and try to do
all sorts of innovative things. Better for me, but the "old school" principal didn't
approve and lowered my "superior" rating to "excellent".......still good, but I'm an over-achiever and I wasn't happy. I finally succeeded in getting
transferred back the a high schools, by getting a masters in Special
Education. There were positions open in that area.
The most important thing I took away from this situation was how much
the children need the arts and creative outlets. They were very
responsive. And some, who never succeeded at anything else, excelled
in this type of environment. One's state of mine and sense of well
being is enhanced by these experiences, enabling them to have the self
confidence to take risks and open their minds to other more academic
endeavors. I strongly believe these programs enhance our children's
lives and make them happier and better adjusted students. Will someone
please stop the madness!
