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Post by asmodeus on Mar 19, 2010 8:00:41 GMT -5
I am not aware of these studies. Can you please provide a link?
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Post by WeNeed3 on Mar 19, 2010 10:35:44 GMT -5
I am not aware of these studies. Can you please provide a link? Regardless of the results, I think our district could be more open to a combination of kindergartens right now. I have read where Seattle schools are charging $2000 for ADK with kids that need financial assistance getting in free. You have an option, but if you want additional benefits, you have to pay for it. I don't know how hard it would be to have both a ADK and half-day program going in our district. I know of several parents who would rather go to half-day but the limits of just one school offering half day has discouraged them. If our district explored other options, perhaps we could still offer ADK to those that wanted it, but also offer half day and cut down on the costs. Like you said, it's probably too late this year. I think the district is looking to make cuts and try not to impact a huge number of people and still be able to re-instate the programs when financial times get better. To eliminate something totally will make it hard to re-instate later, but by trimming a little here and there, well, we all have to make sacrifices somewhere. My child is in the music program and we pay for private lessons so the technique class is a waste of time in her opinion. The only reason she likes it is to be able to miss math or social studies every once in awhile! I don't think that eliminating technique class, hopefully for a few years, is going to kill our program. We offer a great opportunity for any student, regardless of his or her musical ability. For those that love music and plan on making a career out of it, well, they are going to need more than just technique class--they need private lessons anyway.
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Post by momto4 on Mar 20, 2010 11:10:17 GMT -5
From "Save Quality Music Education in District 204"
Hello everyone, This will be the only "mass mailing" that I'll do from here, but I just wanted to make sure that everyone saw and read it!
March is Music in Our Schools Month! Let’s turn out to the board meeting to demonstrate our desire to preserve the instrumental music curriculum at the middle school level. Many have decided to get to the meeting early in the parking lot at Still Middle School (just down the street from the board offices) at 6:00PM, to gather thoughts about the meeting to come. Plus, it looks like the turnout may be quite large, so early parking is probably a good idea! There are people already planning their statements, so you don't have to be the one to speak! Mostly, we need a huge gathering to show how much we value the music education being provided for students.
We learned from Eagledad (in a post on proboards.com, also confirmed by other sources) that Administration told music staff they were recommending a cut of 19 instrumental music staff. The staff countered with a plan to reduce staff by 10, but because it wasn't 19, it was rejected. The plan recommended by music staff would have preserved the technique class piece while making other cuts, but the Administration had a TARGET of 19!
Music should not be TARGETED for a deeper cut than any other program in the district. (19 released from an instrumental music staff of 38 elem/middle school is a 50% reduction in staff!) The Administration didn't even consider the teacher's proposals, so it's the supporter's jobs to attend this meeting and speak on their behalf.
PACK THE PLACE! Monday, March 22nd, 7pm Join other music supporters at Still Middle School, 787 Meadowridge Drive, Aurora for a "tailgate" at 6:00 PM.
If anyone is interested in handing out flyers for this meeting on Monday, feel free to send me a message on here with your email, or send me a personal email to jentrumpet@hotmail.com and I can send you an email with a document attached.
Keep reading comments that have been left in this group and ones that are still being posted, and also on the other discussion boards. If we stick to the facts, and come up with unified and reasonable suggestions, then hopefully it can make a difference. Continue to post what some of these ideas may be on this page, so that everyone has a good idea of what the real issues at stake are!
I'm sorry that I won't be able to attend, being that I live in Atlanta now. Thanks for everyone's support and kind words on this Facebook page, and for District 204's wonderful music program!
Sincerely, Jennifer Marotta
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Post by momto4 on Mar 20, 2010 11:11:20 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=367266&src=Music lessons go beyond band rooms I started playing flute in fifth grade at Kendall Elementary School. I moved on to play at Crone Middle School and Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville. In my eight years of being deeply involved in music, it was the most important aspect of my education and academic career. The music programs in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 are not merely extracurricular or nonacademic. They teach students to appreciate fine art and the importance and joy of incorporating it into life. It puzzles me that Kathy Birkett, a former principal at Neuqua Valley, which has been a Grammy award-winning school multiple times, has chosen to disregard the importance and prominence that music has in our school communities. The musical excellence that dominates our high schools would not be possible if it were not for the great music directors of the middle schools. I would not be the person I am today if I had not had the incredible privilege of being part of the music programs in these schools. Music is not a waste of money. The music teachers I have had have been extremely influential figures in my life, and I will always respect, remember and appreciate them. These people help students become better people and teach them valuable lessons. Learning to play an instrument, read music, and create music teaches students perseverance, determination, motivation, the rewards of delayed gratification and the joys of appreciating fine art. These lessons do not stay in the band or orchestra rooms. They transfer into the classroom and to life. My warmest and most sincere thanks to John Timmins, Jonathan Lauff, William Jastrow, Charles Staley and Rachel Luhn for their inspiration, encouragement, and superb direction. Please support and preserve music in our schools. Amy Harwath University of Illinois student Neuqua Valley alum
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