[Grovenet] An Important Matter

[Ed Davie]

I do in fact. Even if only one student 
participated (not likely) it would benefit him/her 
and the rest of the school district along with 
life in the real world. Rather extreme, I know, 
but I've seen the results many times in the past.
Ed
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron D'Eau Claire
  To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
  Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 9:40 AM
  Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter


  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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