Post by title1parent on Jul 7, 2009 6:03:12 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1654382,2_1_AU07_WESTBAND_S1-090707.article
West parents: Don't cut band students' options
July 7, 2009
By ERIKA WURST ewurst@scn1.com
It was a Battle of the Bands Monday night in West Aurora, as eager middle school parents flocked to the district board meeting to oppose recent curriculum changes which could leave seventh- and eighth-grade band members unable to participate in art, choir or other exploratory electives.
In February, the School Board approved the changes to the middle school day, adding an additional block of language arts, in addition to lengthening the amount of time spent in core classes.
Administrators hope that the extra time spent on language and reading will raise test scores, and prepare students for a more competitive future. Consequently, other changes had to be made, and those changes would affect anywhere between 300 and 400 students, like Leah Frueh's daughter.
And Frueh thinks the changes will give her daughter anything but a competitive edge. Without computer classes, home economics classes and other life basics to round out her daughter's education, Frueh feels like she's been sold short.
"The new schedule shouldn't be an end-all, be-all answer," she said, before joining about six other speakers at Monday's meeting. "They need to look at students on an individual basis and see who needs help."
Instead, Frueh has accused the district of concocting a "blanket" fix, which will leave students like her own daughter in the cold when it comes to pursuing her interests outside of band.
Frueh said making her daughter decide between band, art or choir as a seventh-grader shouldn't be a choice she's forced to make.
"Her heart is in band, but she's a great artist as well," the proud mother said.
Steve Orland, West High band director, sees the situation in a different light.
Orland applauded the board's decision to leave the band program intact, and not split the amount of time spent practicing during school on activities that could be pursued elsewhere. The dedication to the Blackhawk band tradition is what's kept them winning awards for decades, Orland said.
"I'm thrilled they didn't make changes to the band program," he said before citing a number of the program's successes. Orland said that if administrators do as Frueh and other parents want, the program will be in jeopardy, and students won't enter high school at the same performance level.
Even taking private lessons will leave students without the ensemble practice they need to create music with a big ensemble, Orland said.
And while administrators realized that the situation would never be perfect, as they were stuck with an almost impossible task of pleasing every student, parent and teacher, they promised the process would be watched closely.
"It can always be reviewed and revised," district spokesman Mike Chapin said. "We're working on incorporating career technology in sixth through 12th grades, and into our language arts classes as well."
"It's an ongoing process, and that's the way the plan should work. We can assess it; see what we did well, and what we need to improve on."
But Frueh isn't going to wait for that to happen. She took her message to the streets Monday, begging summer band members to show up at the meeting and express concerns over the curriculum changes that will affect some of the district's brightest students.
"I'm open to compromise," she said adamantly. "I urge (the board) to put the curriculum for band students back on the agenda so that they can reverse their decision to deny band members of all exploratory classes. Regarding exploratories, as stated in the letter sent home to parents on June 11, students will be able to 'build on skills from sixth and seventh grade and prepare students for high school.' I believe that the new curriculum for the band students is in direct conflict with the school's statement."
comment at beaconnewsonline.com
West parents: Don't cut band students' options
July 7, 2009
By ERIKA WURST ewurst@scn1.com
It was a Battle of the Bands Monday night in West Aurora, as eager middle school parents flocked to the district board meeting to oppose recent curriculum changes which could leave seventh- and eighth-grade band members unable to participate in art, choir or other exploratory electives.
In February, the School Board approved the changes to the middle school day, adding an additional block of language arts, in addition to lengthening the amount of time spent in core classes.
Administrators hope that the extra time spent on language and reading will raise test scores, and prepare students for a more competitive future. Consequently, other changes had to be made, and those changes would affect anywhere between 300 and 400 students, like Leah Frueh's daughter.
And Frueh thinks the changes will give her daughter anything but a competitive edge. Without computer classes, home economics classes and other life basics to round out her daughter's education, Frueh feels like she's been sold short.
"The new schedule shouldn't be an end-all, be-all answer," she said, before joining about six other speakers at Monday's meeting. "They need to look at students on an individual basis and see who needs help."
Instead, Frueh has accused the district of concocting a "blanket" fix, which will leave students like her own daughter in the cold when it comes to pursuing her interests outside of band.
Frueh said making her daughter decide between band, art or choir as a seventh-grader shouldn't be a choice she's forced to make.
"Her heart is in band, but she's a great artist as well," the proud mother said.
Steve Orland, West High band director, sees the situation in a different light.
Orland applauded the board's decision to leave the band program intact, and not split the amount of time spent practicing during school on activities that could be pursued elsewhere. The dedication to the Blackhawk band tradition is what's kept them winning awards for decades, Orland said.
"I'm thrilled they didn't make changes to the band program," he said before citing a number of the program's successes. Orland said that if administrators do as Frueh and other parents want, the program will be in jeopardy, and students won't enter high school at the same performance level.
Even taking private lessons will leave students without the ensemble practice they need to create music with a big ensemble, Orland said.
And while administrators realized that the situation would never be perfect, as they were stuck with an almost impossible task of pleasing every student, parent and teacher, they promised the process would be watched closely.
"It can always be reviewed and revised," district spokesman Mike Chapin said. "We're working on incorporating career technology in sixth through 12th grades, and into our language arts classes as well."
"It's an ongoing process, and that's the way the plan should work. We can assess it; see what we did well, and what we need to improve on."
But Frueh isn't going to wait for that to happen. She took her message to the streets Monday, begging summer band members to show up at the meeting and express concerns over the curriculum changes that will affect some of the district's brightest students.
"I'm open to compromise," she said adamantly. "I urge (the board) to put the curriculum for band students back on the agenda so that they can reverse their decision to deny band members of all exploratory classes. Regarding exploratories, as stated in the letter sent home to parents on June 11, students will be able to 'build on skills from sixth and seventh grade and prepare students for high school.' I believe that the new curriculum for the band students is in direct conflict with the school's statement."
comment at beaconnewsonline.com
