Rasputin

Mon, May 17, 2010 : 6:52 a.m.

@ sjausi, well, this IS still a free market economy and I will shop for the best deal, even if that means going to Chicago. Education and antiques are very different and guess what? Most of the counties education dollars come from a variety of sources, not just sales taxes. "Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember. Involve me, and I'll understand." A Native American saying

Basic Bob

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 11:03 p.m.

@tmad40blue, We know the teacher you are talking about, and I doubt he is complaining about his schedule. True, there aren't too many Suzuki violinists or private lesson students at Scarlett/Mitchell, but it's still an exciting program with talented students. We enjoyed Scarlett's year-end concert this last week. Having a music teacher come to Community for *one class* is part of the problem you mention. The limited size of CHS causes teachers as well as students to commute between CHS and the main high schools. Full time music teachers must teach a full time schedule, even if the work is in different buildings.

tmad40blue

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 10:14 p.m.

I am a student in the Pioneer Symphony Band along with AngelaYang (who commented earlier), as well as Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Community High School Jazz. I can personally attest to the fact that there are several students in Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Band that have never taken a private lesson in their life, and yet strive and achieve to the same levels as most anyone else in the ensemble. Probably 90% of students in the Community Jazz program would never think of taking private lessons - the work is all done by the classroom teachers. It is not about private money spent, it is about the education and resources that the music departments provide. Keep in mind that every student in the public schools can request to rent an instrument annually for FREE - that's 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, AND 12th grades that students can request to rent an instrument through their school. FOR FREE. Things like that don't happen anywhere else - we should cherish and maintain this wonderful resource that we provide to students in their respective instrumental music programs. I would say that half the students in each of the three bands, and almost every string player in each of the three orchestras, rents an instrument for the year. And I don't really know if it's possible to rent a pair of vocal cords for choir, but if it were, I'm sure there would be many students who would. People say that the arts are not a "core" class. Let me show them this: My teacher for Music Technology works at four schools. That's right, FOUR schools. He conducts the Varsity Band at Huron, teaches my Music Technology class at Pioneer, conducts the 6th grade band at Scarlet, and teaches instrumental music at Mitchell. Now, you might say to yourself, "Well, all of the classes have to do with music, so what's the big deal? Can't he just teach music to all of them?" Now imagine this. We have a math teacher (no specific person, just a generic math teacher). He receives his schedule for the upcoming school year, and it looks like this: AP Calculus (taught at Pioneer), 3rd grade science (taught at Northside), AP Chemistry (taught at Huron), Algebra 1 (taught at Slauson), and Geometry (taught at Pioneer). That's an insane schedule! This math teacher is not only having to teach math at three drastically different levels (middle school, normal high school, and college-prep levels), but he is having to teach SCIENCE at an elementary school and middle school level! Who was the idiot who gave this teacher this terrible schedule? The fact of the matter is, the music teacher's schedule is just as insane. Conducting the Varsity Band at Huron requires a monumental amount of work - not just working during class time, but also choosing and extensively studying repertoire, holding auditions, studying score and parts for errors and ensemble-specific changes, etc. The job of conducting a 5th grade band is something that no sane person would go through - you must teach each individual student how to properly hold, play, finger, and take care of their instrument, AND how to read music on a page, AND how to hear what they're playing, AND so many other things that I can't list them here, all before your first concert in November. That's an amazing undertaking. Music technology is possibly the most difficult class, however - most students in the class have no musical background whatsoever and are taking the class for elective credit, so you must teach them how to read music, how to compose music, how to use music software, how to use a computer at all (this is a shockingly deficient skill in today's students - whatever happened to computer education in the public schools?), how to play piano, and many other things. The 6th grade band class is not much different from the 5th grade class, save one year of experience - all students are still learning how to properly play their instrument, and relate what they see on a sheet of music to what they need to play on their instrument. This is entirely the job of the teacher - music, sadly, has generally been lost as something that parents teach their children in the home. I hope that more people will see the viewpoints of music student, music parent, and music teacher in a better light because of what I have written. I wish I had written it earlier so that I could have invited you to Pioneer's GRAMMY Concert, which was today. It was truly a marvelous concert and I felt extremely proud of myself, my peers in the ensembles, and my music teachers for bringing me so far in my pursuit of music as a career (I am a senior and will be attending Grand Valley State University as a music education major next year (oh god, another music teacher in the world)). Thank you, ~Dylan Larkins

braggslaw

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 10:07 p.m.

Susan, I encourage any private citizen who wants to donate to the AAPS to contribute at the website listed. As private citizens we can choose to spend the money we have earned in any way we desire.

Susan Montgomery

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 9:03 p.m.

@braggslaw: Overall the county vote was to defeat the millage, but it passed in Ann Arbor. Those who are in a position to still help the AAPS can do so through the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation's Million Reasons campaign: www.aapsef.org/million_reasons.html

AngelaYang

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:41 p.m.

I am currently a student at Pioneer High School, playing clarinet in the Symphony Band. I'd just like to say that it's been an absolute honor to be a part of such a wonderful arts program in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. It's not about private lessons, I did not begin taking lessons for clarinet until 9th grade, and I am not taking them now anymore in 11th grade. Currently, all students are given the chance to learn an instrument in fifth grade, it is not about money for individual students, everyone is given the opportunity. It doesn't take money to excel at something, especially if it is something you love. The important thing is to give students a chance to love music. The arts are such an essential part of a students' life. People say that core classes important, and I do not deny that they are. But look at the students that are part of the arts program. At Pioneer alone, there are students attending some of the most prestigious universities in the country: Yale, Stanford, Michigan, University of Chicago, Princeton, etc. It is no coincidence that being part of the arts produces fine artists and students. And I'm not saying that we have to choose one or the other, core subjects or arts, I'm just saying, the arts are important.

bluetonguedlizard

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.

Hey @david, guess where the funds to keep art programs going came from - taxes, so when you chose to shop in Chicago, no funds benefited your kids so I guess those purchases at Salvage 1 just cost you a private education - does it seem like such a bargain now?

braggslaw

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 7:27 p.m.

Funny, I thought the voters in Washtenaw county voted down the millage. Voters who have lost their jobs, have seen the values of their homes sink, and have then been asked to subsidize state employees voted the millage down. If the teachers want to help their union brothers and sister take a pay cut to allow the layed off teachers to rejoin your ranks.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.

I didn't think I was name-calling, nor do I think Stunhsif was calling me a name when he called me a "liberal." "Liberal" is a badge of honor I wear proudly. Apparently "teapartyist" or "teacher basher" is not for those who are devoted to the tea party and who bash teachers every chance they have. That's food for thought. Good Night and Good Luck.

Rasputin

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 6:12 p.m.

I agree with everything Professor Elliott outlined and her poignant observations are a painful reminder of how real estate special interests managed to keep the millage from passing in our county. A liberal arts education is the cornerstone of a well balanced educational foundation and now, most likely, we will have to look for an an alternative to AAPS for our children. Lowering the bar is NOT an option for us. Sorry.

Speechless

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 5:35 p.m.

Should school budget discussions become reduced to the level of choosing which classes constitute "core" curriculum and which don't, I'd suggest we look elsewhere first. Before removing one more dime from the teaching of arts and music, let's completely cut out sports teams and athletic extracurriculars. When it comes to learning, these aren't "core" to anything in a prep education (except to the very lucky few who receive collegiate sports scholarships). If we can't bring ourselves to advocate the complete defunding of school sports in the district's budget, then we're hypocrites when we go after elimination of paid teaching in arts and music. Personally, I would not want to suggest ending either music/arts classes or sports extracurriculars, nor make heavy cuts that effectively cripple these programs. And, in response to the commenter(s) above want to go after unionized teachers, I'd expect that we can free up some additional public education funds by looking into job overlap or redundancy in the upper levels of school administration.

braggslaw

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 3:53 p.m.

This is not about teacher bashing or tea partyists. It's about spending the limited amount of funds we have wisely. No amount of name-calling will change that.

JackieL

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.

I agree, AAJoker. The public is lead to believe that these music students are products of our public school program. Ha! If the same exact program, teachers and all, was moved down river to a working class community, it would be a totally different animal. The high level of play is a result of the many students that study privately starting at a young age. That is not to say, however, that the teachers in the schools do not work hard. But, the program is very much geared toward private students.

Susan Montgomery

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 12:49 p.m.

Although one of my sons has taken private lessons in the past, neither of them is currently taking private lessons. There are three levels of orchestra to accommodate the abilities and commitments of a wide of range of students. The orchestra program also has scholarships available for students in need to take private lessons, and they have a summer orchestra program for all students to keep up their skills over the summer through rec and ed that is quite affordable and for which scholarships are available.

AAJoker

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.

I agree that arts and music are very important, but I can also tell you that the level of music you heard was not created in the schools, but instead through massive time/$ spending on private lessons. The music programs in the public school are actually very unfriendly to any students who aren't taking private lessons and/or desiring to play at a very high level, thus actually discouraging the very important impact of music for the masses. I think we should take the competition out of music so more students can enjoy having music part of their life.

mike from saline

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 11:24 a.m.

Tigger, I didn't see one comment that could honestly be described as "Teacher Bashing", or any from Teaparty members.

stunhsif

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.

God help me when I agree with libs on A2.com but I do this time to a certain degree. The basics must come first but music and art are still very important and help students in many ways as noted by other posts here. Sports are very important as well but if the money is not there, then some programs will suffer and unfortunately sports and arts are not as important as the basics. The name calling by the libs about anyone disagreeing with their views as "teacher bashers" and "teapartyists" is getting old. Resort to name calling when you have no rebuttal. I don't hate teachers,I have some that are close friends and we argue at times. I simply want financial reform in the arena of public education. This state can no longer afford to give out the gold plated benefits it used to and it taxpayers cannot afford it either. Good Day

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 10:23 a.m.

Oh My. A letter to the editor lauding the AAPS arts programs, and the teacher bashers come out. Karen Florka is correct. Whatever might or might not be working in the AAPS, its arts programs are its crown jewel. They touch all school children through 8th grade, and huge numbers continue to participate through high school. Moreover, the correlation between arts education and student success in school is well documented. Cutting arts education for the so-called "basics" would be penny-wise and pound-foolish. But such is the logic of the teacher bashers and the teapartyists. Good Night and Good Luck

DagnyJ

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 10:17 a.m.

I gotta say, math/language arts/science/social studies first. Then the rest. Or...do the core subjects for three years and then spend senior year taking HHS's world class Humanities course, a two-hour, yearlong course that includes music and art history as part of the combined social studies/language arts curriculum.

AAmom

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.

Bravo to the comments of Dr. Emsayin and Susan Montgomery. I could not have stated an opinion more clearly myself. Grammy Award Concert, Sunday at 4:00, PHS! All I might add is that I am in awe of the dedication and hard work given by the instructor of bands and orchestra and choir at PHS far beyond the call of duty! Additionally, the parents supporting these programs provide countless hours of their time. This community has a wonderful infrastructure of opportunity in the arts for our young and is as vital as any core subject area. This is what makes AAPS a gem of a school district (amid its faults, yes.) (Perhaps cuts need to happen at the administrative level (which appears to be quite top-heavy)... just a thought as none of this is easy for anyone.) Bottom line: ARTS are CORE and what makes our district shine! Do not disrupt what is NOT broken.

Basic Bob

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.

These *poster teachers* in the opinion piece are not casualties just because they got *potential* layoff notices. Also, it is nice to hear that our humongous factory high schools have music and arts programs. So, CHS is not the only school capable of encouraging young artists?

Susan Montgomery

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 9:39 a.m.

Having two sons in the Thurston, Clague and Huron orchestra programs I very much appreciate what they are learning from the dedicated teachers in these programs. It's more than just playing an instrument, though that alone is teaching them self-discipline, time management, appreciation of the arts in addition to the musical skills. Some might be able to afford to get this at home, but through our wonderful programs ALL of our elementary students get this as part of their education, phenomenal! As part of the orchestra programs in 5th grade as they move on to middle school and high school they are learning valuable lessons in teamwork, dedication to community and leadership. A music education at home cannot match this. The teachers in these programs go above and beyond the call to provide our children an opportunity to excel at the national level. As for comparing music and the arts to what others are calling the "core" skills, it's not a matter of one or the other, we need both, which is why music and the arts ARE considered core subjects by the US Department of Education. It is no surprise to me that large numbers of the Michigan Marching Band, including the drum major, are engineers, or that many of UM's engineering students are involved in other musical and performance groups. They will be better engineers because of this involvement. We need engineers who are versed in the arts, who bring the creativity from music and the arts to their engineering, who don't just see what is already there but can bring new ideas to the table, who understand other cultures, who understand the importance of teamwork and leadership, who think beyond the facts and equations. We need music and the arts.

Somewhat Concerned

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.

Here's one family that won't be standing strong behind A2's teachers and administrators: my African-American neighbors who have decided to take their two children out of AAPS because they have taught their kids, from the time they were old enough to understand language, that they were as smart and strong as anyone else. They are appalled at "the black children only need to go on the trip" fiasco and on the AAPS response of protecting the principal, not the children. They don't want their children taught by people who believe black children ipso facto need special help in order to compete. As for the arts, I am all for them. I attend. I buy tickets. I donate. That is very different than being forced to pay artists via tax dollars taken from my pocket involuntarily and doled out to whichever artists the politicians deem worthy. Someone probably will wax eloquently about how much money European governments spend to support the arts. If I wanted to live there again, I would pack up and go back.

braggslaw

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.

This all comes down to simple algebra. There is X money.. do I lay off the chemistry teacher or the choir teacher? The teachers who teach arts are proponents for the arts because they are afraid they will lose their jobs. Simple human nature. The lobbying does not change the amount of money available to the schools and the fact that hard decisions need to be made. As a taxpayer and parent of a student, I want to retain teachers teaching core skills. My family can function without arts in the high schools. My family will conduct our own musical education at home. For those underprivileged without the resources to pay for or teach the arts at home, I think they would be comforted by the fact that they will learn all the college prep subjects they need to succeed.

Dr. I. Emsayin

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.

Today, May 16, at 4 pm, is the Grammy Gold presentation at Pioneer High School. I encourage community members to attend this event. The band, orchestra, choir, and jazz band will play. These students learned a discipline that extends far beyond the arts. Education in the arts and developing an artistic talent often has a reciprocal effect on academic performance. I have known exchange students from European countries that do not teach arts in the schools. They express a joy in education that they did not feel in their home countries. As for abnormal psychology's usefulness for high school students, the more they learn about depression, adolescent development, and how to solve their own issues, the less likely we are to see them later in life unable to cope and displaying signs of abnormal psychology as adults. The arts have been an important outlet for some students who might leave school because of academic frustration, but the art, music and vocational educators have encouraged them and they stay and learn the academics in spite of how hard it is for them to succeed in the traditional academic program. Professor Elliot is a gem among educators who has spent countless hours working with young musicians and attending music events on his own time to hear them play. This is why our schools win Grammy Awards and it is what draws top educators to our public school system.

DonBee

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.

Right now there are just under 200 layoff notices that have been given to AAPS teachers. Most of these young teachers will be recalled. The way things work is the school district has to give layoff notices to way more teachers than will actually be laid off so they can balance the skills and certificates of the teachers they recall. If the teacher's union gives concessions NONE of the layoff notices will really be needed. AAPS needs to reduce teacher count by 50 to make the budget. As of a week ago, 56 had indicated they were retiring. If the teachers with layoff notices have the right certifications to fill the positions opened by retirement, then everyone could be back. If the teacher's union does not give concessions and no one else takes the new sweetened state retirement offer, then, another 30 to 40 teachers will lose their jobs. These 30 to 40 will come from the teachers will layoff notices. The Janitors and maintenance people took huge cuts already, way more than the teachers are being asked for. Other government workers in the community have taken cuts to save jobs. So far the teachers are offering to not take the automatic raises in their contract, but not to take any cuts. While I am not in favor of having to cut anyone's pay, I am even less in favor of refusing to take cuts to save jobs.

belboz

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 8:11 a.m.

Here we are in tough economic times in Michigan because of the massive layoffs at the big 3. How have the teachers supported our number one source of tax revenue over the years? Well, I walk around the parking lots and see roughly 50% of the cars coming from Korea, Japan, Germany, etc... So, I find it hypocritical that for years so many of the teachers paid no attention to the economy around them, but now that they are being affected - we hear the cry of "No Layoffs!" Frankly, there are hundreds of teachers in wait hoping to teach. My daughter has had over 40 different teachers in the past 10 years. She is a straight A student, and would be no matter who was teaching. So, if layoffs are required - have at it. If benefit cuts are required - no problem. I have no fear that my kids will excell no matter who is teaching, with whatever benefit package is provided. Frankly, I'd prefer to see programs kept over professors.

braggslaw

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 7:50 a.m.

The opinion was merely lobbying to provide career opportunities for music and art teachers. I am waiting for a professor in abnormal psychology to explain to me why my children need to learn abnormal psychology. Oh.. or stress the importance of the Grand Canyon Suite or Appalachian Spring in American music history.... Better yet have a professor explain to my why the Berlioz opium fueled Symphony Fantastique is important to my child's career options. Schools are there to teach my kids what they need to learn not to provide jobs to art teachers and music professors. If given a choice in this economoically stressed environment... I will choose the basics. Yes many underprivileged kids will not learn minor keys and scales but they will learn math science reading etc. all the skills that they need to succeed.

sh1

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 7:22 a.m.

Research also supports that students who have instruction in the arts in their schools do better academically as well.

william

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.

Another great supporter of culture in America who seems to believe professional artists should volunteer (after all, why should anyone get paid for that?) their services. The person seems to miss all of Mr. Elliott's points of the value of arts even in broader experiences. "Of course we all stand behind the teachers and education" -- as long as the arts education is free. The arts and humanities are essential components to a complete education. I imagine it would be hard to accomplish a successful math and reading program in the public schools run on a volunteer basis by local professionals. I think the same would be true in the arts. Or does braggslaw assume that Dr. Elliott couldn't possible be very busy as professor of cello, so he and a few others could take over? I encourage all people to volunteer their individual areas of expertise in the schools, not just artists.

braggslaw

Sun, May 16, 2010 : 6:34 a.m.

Of course we all stand behind the teachers and education in Ann Arbor. We all want our children to be well rounded which includes exposure to the arts. I just don't want to be held hostage by the MEA and the local teachers unions. When given a choice between my children learning math, english, physics and chemistry versus modern dance. I will pick the core subjects. Michigan and Ann Arbor are in a financial crunch and we have to live within our means. One solution is that Professor Elliot and other educators from the the various universities could donate their time to the public schools. Such a solution would enrich Mr. Elliot's(and other arts educators) life and reduce the costs to the school system. I encourage all citizens in the arts to volunteer their time in the public schools.