[Vision2020] idaho school cuts violin program

[melyndahuskey at earthlink.net]

Dear Pat,

I'm curious--where in that article did you find the information that the
music students in Butte were illiterate?  Or that giving students music
instruction excludes the possibility of teaching them to read or write? 

Did the article not state clearly that middle school students' grades and
behavior improved as a consequence of their participation in the Arco music
program?  Doesn't that at least suggest that their ability to read and
write wasn't *harmed* by learning to play a stringed instrument?  Maybe
even imply that there are substantial, real benefits to providing music
instruction in school?

No Child Left Behind is perhaps the most destructive influence on public
education in the history of that institution in this country, and this is a
perfect local example of why.  We need to work hard to retire this stupid,
stupid policy before it harms any more students.

Melynda Huskey


> [Original Message]
> From: Pat Kraut <pkraut at moscow.com>
> To: vision2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Date: 5/9/2005 4:04:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] idaho school cuts violin program
>
> So, being able to read and write isn't important? How much money does
Butte
> have?? How many people?? I think you are trying to stir up emotions but
have
> not presented all the facts. Playing the violin and trips are fun and
great
> memories but knowing how to read and write will carry them through a
> lifetime.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Debbie Gray" <dgray at uidaho.edu>
> To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 7:28 PM
> Subject: [Vision2020] idaho school cuts violin program
>
>
> Facing the music
> No Child Left Behind certification rules force Butte County School
> District to cut its violin program
> http://www.headwatersnews.org/pr.music050905.html
>
> By NICOLE STRICKER
> nstricker at postregister.com
>
> ARCO -- It was just like the plot of a Hollywood movie.
>
> Cindy Jardine helped pilot a violin program at a tiny middle school with
> few musical offerings. Both gifted and struggling students signed up.
> Within two years, their grades and behavior improved.
>
> Jardine launched the program by showing a scene from "Music of the Heart"
> in which a high school violin class plays Carnegie Hall. Jardine's
> students asked whether they could perform in New York if they practiced
> hard enough.
>
> Five years later, they made the trip. They visited Carnegie Hall and
> performed at the Statue of Liberty and St. Paul's Cathedral.
>
> But when they returned from the tour last month, they learned the Butte
> County School District was axing the violin program.
>
> That's not the ending Hollywood would have scripted, but it's the reality
> imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act.
>
> Under the law, next year all teachers must be "highly qualified," meaning
> they're certified to teach their subject. School districts aren't
> reimbursed for teachers who aren't certified, meaning those salaries come
> out of their general funds. And students attending class with a
> noncertified teacher are absent as far as the law is concerned, meaning
> districts also lose state funding that's based on student attendance.
>
> Jardine, the violin teacher, isn't certified.
>
> "Not only would we pay her salary, but we lose the money for those kids,"
> Butte County Superintendent Scott Rogers said. "So it's a double hit."
>
> The problem is especially acute in rural school districts, which don't
> have enough students to employ a full-time teacher for every subject.
>
> "Let's say you had 13 band students," Rogers said. "Who is going to come
> to Arco to take a job where you only have enough kids to do two periods of
> band? They want to come for a full-time job."
>
> In the past, districts could hire a teacher certified in one subject but
> able to teach others. A science teacher who's also a musician could teach
> four periods of science and two of band, for example.
>
> But now that teacher would need dual certification. Without it, districts
> would have to cut the teacher to part time and hire a part-time certified
> band teacher or face the financial burden of keeping an uncertified
> teacher.
>
> As districts struggle to meet the goals now required by law, electives
> such as Butte County High School's violin program are the first to go.
>
> "You don't get on the failing schools list because you don't have a violin
> program," Rogers said.
>
> Even the irony of the predicament harkens to Hollywood.
>
> A violin program that boosted children's grades is being squeezed out by a
> law trying to improve education. Jardine, who's taught violin for 35
> years, is a liability to the district because the law says she's not
> "highly qualified."
>
> But she has seen the program's impact and aims to keep it going on her own
> time. She said she doesn't fault the school district, which has always
> supported the program.
>
> The district bused the group to the Salt Lake City airport for its New
> York trip and even paid for the driver's hotel when the return flight got
> delayed, she said.
>
> Most of the students in this year's program were part of the original
> class and want to continue studying violin with Jardine.
>
> Junior Kellimarie Knighton, who is aiming for an honors diploma, said
> playing violin helps her relieve the stress of her packed schedule.
>
> Eighth-grader Tawnya Hughes, who's been playing for four years, said the
> program motivates her to do better in school. Students can't participate
> in the program if their grades slip, Jardine said.
>
> Plus, the violin class exposes Tawnya to new people and gives her a mental
> boost.
>
> "I get happy after class and pumped up for my other classes," she said.
>
> Education reporter Nicole Stricker can be reached at 542-6765.
>
> Debbie
>
> %^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%
>   Debbie Gray      dgray at uidaho.edu
>   We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
>   so as to have the life that is waiting for us." --Joseph Campbell
> %^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%^%
>
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