Frustrating, to Say the Least… [UPDATE!!]

[Todd S. Malicoate]

E-mail of protest sent. I'm sorry to hear about this and tired of seeing it more and more each year around the country. Best of luck, Wade.

[TubaNerd88]

I'm sorry for the huge blow that you and the rest of the MSO have suffered, Wade. I can't imagine what is going through the rest of the orchestra's mind right now, but I hope that something good comes out of this in the future. I hate to see music education diminishing, and I hope for the best for you and for the rest of the MSO. Good luck, Wade!

- Matthew "who despises anyone that tries to take away music education from students" Gray

[The Big Ben]

How much money was spent on assistant coaches for all of the sports teams???

Imagine what it would be like if each one of the sports teams had genuine working professional athletes coaching the kids! Wouldn't that be great?

The string programs are getting just that kind of coach with the MSO players.

Sports reaches one kind of kid. Music reaches another kind. Let's not short either!

Good luck on this, Wade.

[The Jackson]

That's horrible, Wade. You and your MSO compatriots are in my prayers. I'll be sending my e-mail telling them how I feel.

[ken k]

Arts always seem to be the first to go. Last year our andiminstration moved our Intermediate school band rehearsals off the school day to after school. ha dto have more time to teach reading so we can meet "adequate yearly Progress" in our standardized testing scores. Very frustrating when a great kid comes in and says I can not be in band this year because my parents work after school and I have no ride home.

Meanwhile my home school district, which has never had a football team, just voted last night to start a football program (in this economy mind you..)

Good luck Ele; hopefully enough of a noise will be made to reinstate the program.

ken k

PS see notonthetest.com

[ZNC Dandy]

I posted the article, and a few thoughts about it on the blog at the radio station I work at in Dayton, OH.

http://www.voiceofthearts.org" target="_blank" target="_blank

[tbn.al]

I emailed my views to all of the board members today. I've already recieved the following response:

"I fully and completely agree with you. I understand totally the relationship between music, math and foreign language proficiency. I support the program and hope that we can get a reconsideration of the decision as soon as possible."

Jonathan N. Larkin, Member
Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees

[Richard Perry]

Wade,

Just saw this post. Unbelievable. I'm sharing this info with my colleagues down here, and my message to the board will be sent this evening. Sending good vibes up your way...

[The Big Ben]

After reading the linked article, I was surprised that JPS just dedicated a new palace for the kids to play in right before they cancelled the professional instructors for the program.

Hopefully reason in the form of the backers of building the palace will win out in the end...

Arts instruction may not be directly "measurable and quantifiable" but I sure know that I would not be attempting to play the tuba in middle age if it hadn't been for my school music instruction.

[The Big Ben]

This can replace the fun coloring books we send out to each school. "Children, this is our new, official definition of stringed music and our contract with the MSO while you are on any JPS campus. Enjoy!"

'phant, whose butt do I have to kiss to get one of those coloring books? I want one....

Jeff "I believe in art" Benedict

[windshieldbug]

Shades of "No Child Left Alone"!

[cambrook]

Congratulations to everyone involved! From a situation that started with stupidity there is now an endorsement of the program - and indeed the value of the MSO in the community.

Bravo

[bearphonium]

OUTSTANDING!!!