Tonight, after talking to my sister, Maureen, who teaches choir at a Utah high school, I was even more grateful than I originally felt that my children have the kinds of resources and opportunities that they do at their elementary school. She reminded me that few elementary schools in her district have any kind of music program at the elementary level and I remembered Seth's second grade year, when we lived in Utah, when his poor classroom teacher was also his P.E. teacher. They didn't have art or music, or maybe Seth's teacher simply didn't feel comfortable teaching it.
The school my boys currently attend reminds me of my own elementary school growing up. They have a gym teacher and a music teacher and an art teacher and a school counselor and a speech/language pathologist and a gifted and talented teacher. They have access to aides and field trips and talent shows and science fairs and all sorts of "extra" things that some argue are unnecessary. Amazingly, fourth and fifth grade students can, if they choose, join the school choir and/or orchestra. They practice during school hours, once a week on Friday, so anyone can join, not just those who can commit to being there before or after school. As a result, there were 117 absolutely adorable and unknowingly fortunate boys and girls singing and playing at tonight's concert. One-hundred and seventeen children electing to participate in a musical event! And twice that many parents coming to watch and support - never mind the screechy violins and forgotten words.
I know Reading, Writing and Arithmetic are the important fundamentals, but I do believe that exposure to music, art, science, various cultures and diversity when they are young and curious, not to mention much less jaded by what's cool or not, is preferable to no exposure. And I hope that those in charge, however inefficient they may perform their jobs, try their best to keep music in our schools.
7 comments:
Hear hear!! I agree with you 100%.
Oh jeepers. I was going to say exactly what Kristin said. Exactly.
I couldn't agree with you (and Kristin) more.
I love it... I am also grateful for a school like yours for my kids to attend (lots of "extras" during school hours) ~ especially because I don't have the musical talent to teach them on my own!
I think music is so, so important. I think playing together in a group is amazing for them. You learn your part, but then if you put all those parts together you get amazing music! I love it! I too am glad our kids get to participate in 'extras.' My older sister volunteered as the elementary music teacher at her kid's Utah school for yeeeears--because there wasn't one. From what I have heard about Utah schools, I am glad we don't go there! It's always so fun to see your kids create music! Love it! Congrats Seth! Way to go!
Yep, our school has nothing. It makes me really sad for Matt. I agree with a well balanced education in all areas. I even wish they had a chess club or something like that, but no. It's a bummer. We've even had a problem with Kate's speech. Her teacher moved and they couldn't afford to replace her so she hasn't been going for several months. She finally started back up last Monday. Disappointing.
Love love love all those pictures! What an amazing elementary music program...your kids are definitely lucky!
I so agree with you! Every year they talk about cuts, and I just cringe. So far, we still have great programs. I just don't know how some kids would get exposed to the arts at all, were it not for school. It makes me so sad when districts see it as expendable.
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