[Grovenet] An Important Matter

Thu Mar 29 09:40:19 PDT 2007

How is that, Ed? 

Marian asked what percentage of the students participate in a
publicly-funded student activity at the school and you say it doesn't
matter? 

Steve was very clear that his concern that moving band to an after-school
activity meant it would be easier to justify limiting funds for the program
should budgets grow even tighter. 

Surely you don't advocate opening the public purse without asking how many
benefit.

Ron D'Eau Claire 

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Ed Davie
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 10:53 AM
To: redwagon at coho.net; Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter

That doesn't matter!
Ed
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Marian Cakarnis
  To: stevedj at teleport.com ; 'Forest Grove local 
interests list'
  Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 10:51 PM
  Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter

  I'm just wondering what percentage of students 
participate in Band and
  Orchestra at Tom McCall?
  Marian

  -----Original Message-----
  From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com 
[mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
  Behalf Of STEVE JERRETT
  Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:01 PM
  To: grovenet at rdrop.com
  Subject: [Grovenet] An Important Matter

  As many of you are aware, high stakes testing 
has dominated the educational
  landscape over the last decade. School districts 
are pressured by  State and
  Federal bureaucratic entities far removed from 
the reality of the classroom.

  This narrow pursuit of proficiency produces a 
very undesirable side-effect.
  Any subject not deemed important is relegated to 
second class status. The
  arts-music, drama, art-are all trampled by the 
"meeting the standard"
  stampede.

  This scenario is playing out now in the Forest 
Grove School District. Test
  score are lagging at Tom McCall Middle School. 
Feeling the pressure,
  administrators are looking for reasons for  and 
solutions to the shortfall.
  Administrative mind set, predictably, focuses on 
the arts as an easy
  "scapegoat."  Arts classes are traditionally 
viewed by many administrators
  as superficial and expendable. The case in point 
is no exception. Tom McCall
  Principal Al Rogers has proposed a plan to 
reduce the status of Band and
  Orchestra classes from their rightful place in 
the school curriculum to an
  after- school activity.

  I am posting the following letter on Greene 
because I know that many of you
  value a diversified educational system that 
values all endeavors.

  To: Music Performance Students, Parents and 
Friends of Music Education.
  Re: A Call to Action

  Dear Students, Parents and Friends:

  I am writing this letter to inform you of a 
situation that could negatively
  impact the Forest Grove School District music 
program. District
  administrators are considering a plan to remove 
the Band and Orchestra
  classes from the regular school day at Tom 
McCall Upper Elementary School.
  This plan would reduce the status of music 
performance groups from their
  rightful place as a part of the school 
curriculum to an after school
  activity.  The implementation of this plan 
could negatively effect the
  quality our performance groups for years to 
come.

  After 30 years of experience as a public school 
music educator, specifically
  as a director of performance groups, I can state 
with confidence that this
  move will have nothing but a detrimental effect 
on our performance groups.
  Reduced student participation in the elementary 
schools will impact the
  middle and high school programs for years. The 
effects of this plan can
  never be reversed.

  Also, if this plan becomes reality, it could 
have serious ramifications to
  the very survival of these valuable programs. If 
music performance groups
  are reduced in status to an after school 
activity, they will stand a much
  greater chance of being cut in financially hard 
times. It is imperative that
  this plan not be implemented.

  Therefore, I am asking each and every one of you 
to take action to assure
  that this plan is not implemented.  Here are 
some actions that you can take
  to help assure that it is not:

  Write a letter to, or email our Superintendent, 
Jack Musser, school board
  Chairwoman, Susan Winterbourne and Tom McCall 
Principal Al Rogers. Try to
  make sure the letter arrives before the April 9 
meeting of the Board of
  Directors. Mailing and email addresses will 
follow this letter.
  Attend the next meeting of our Board of 
Directors on Monday, April 9, at
  7:00 p.m. in the Grove Room at the School 
District office. You can address
  the board regarding this issue at the beginning 
of the meeting during the
  unscheduled public appearances. Be sure to 
sign in before the meeting to
  assure yourself a spot on the agenda.
  Give this letter to as many people you can 
between now and   the April 9
  meeting. Nothing is more effective than large 
numbers of people to support a
  cause.

  In closing, I urge you to help assure that our 
music groups continue to
  thrive. Your support and involvement can make a 
difference.

  Sincerely,

  Steve Jerrett
  Parent, District Patron and Music Educator

  Contact Information:

  Jack Musser
  Superintendent of Schools
  Forest Grove School District
  1728 Main Street
  Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
  Phone: 503-359-2414
  Email: jmusser at fgsd.k12.or.us

  Susan Winterbourne
  Chair, Board of Directors
  Forest Grove School District
  1728 Main Street
  Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
  Email: swinterbourne at fgsd.k12.or.us

  Al Rogers
  Principal, Tom McCall Upper Elementary School
  1341 Pacific Avenue
  Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
  Email: arogers at fgsd.k12.or.us

  Steve Jerrett
  stevedj at teleport.com
  EarthLink Revolves Around You.

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