MUSIC ADVOCACY: Caring Enough to Put the Student First
May 25, 2005
News Flash: The Crisis in Minnesota
In an article titled "Plan would separate 'extra' from 'curricular,' (Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 9, 2005) staff writer Norman Draper highlights the newest in "educational reform" legislation.A bill co-authored by liberal DFLer Mindy Greiling and conservative Republican Mark Buesgens (an administrator who directs middle school sports in one of Minnesota's more elite districts) proposes the elimination of all sports and other "extra-curricular" activities from the schools as a budget savings measure.
While the bill to some extent appears to be attacking the elitism that has developed in high school sports, the article identifies all activities that are in any way associated with the state High School League.That includes other areas such as speech, debate, drama and music.Two possible alternatives are suggested in the article.
Eliminate all such programs from education and transfer the funding and management of all "extra-curricular" activities to community park and recreation departments or other community organizations.
Add pay for play fees for student participation each activity.
The bill has the support of educational reformer Joe Nathan, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for School Change.He is quoted in the article as stating, "It's long past time to focus more attention on the 'how,' the 'why,' and the 'how much' of extra-curricular activities, especially sports.
The response of public school administrators and school boards has been immediate.In the words of one administrator, "Are these people crazy or what?"
While the legislation appears to have little chance of immediate passage, it does serve as another wake up call for arts educators.It is not difficult to imagine that government agencies that have already enacted anti-arts legislative mandates such as school-to-work and after-school-programs could take such a step.Consider the following trends.
"Counterpoint" has received word from one Kansas music teacher who indicates that similar discussions have occurred in the state legislature there.
There is a growing trend to support music programs with outside fund raising, primarily through music boosters.In fact, there are numerous examples of districts where music teachers and boosters have been told that the music program will only be retained if they can raise the money to support staffing it.
There is a growing trend to support music programs through local foundations, some of which have been organized specifically for the survival of the educational system.
Educational reforms such as school-to-work have been modeled after a European concept of education in which music education is considered elitist and not a part of the public education system.
Why is it that with the development of the National Standards for Music Education, all the research about the importance of arts in education, and all the lobbying efforts that music still seems to be considered as "extra-curricular" at the legislative and administrative levels?
Why is music still identified with athletics as an "extra-curricular" activity?
No one seems to suggest eliminating physical education.
Why do they suggest the elimination of music education?
No one suggests fees for participation in physical education.
Why do they suggest fees for participation in music education?
