[Grovenet] An Important Matter
Ron D'Eau Claire
rondec at easystreet.com
Thu Mar 29 19:52:36 PDT 2007
I agree Tracy. I studied engineering, physics and math, yet one of my
fondest classes from High School was music. I studied music. I didn't learn
to play. It was fascinating as has been my exposure to art. I've carried my
enjoyment of music through the years and I've managed to make a living as a
graphics artist at times. There is no therapy as powerful for me in times of
great stress as going to the seashore with my sketch pad and pencil.
Our class song in my senior year at High School was "We Will Have These
Moments to Remember" and it was quite right. The Four Ladds signing that
famous Stillman and Allen tune spoke the truth when they said that the
memories of youth are things that do stay with us over the years.
Test scores... sheesh I live by test scores. After most people would think
they were through tests in school I - like many, many others - live and die
professionally by how well we do on tests. Oral tests and written tests.
Cunning tests designed to evaluate how well one can add up negative
statements in 'trick' questions as well as know the material. I took dozens
of them to earn my government licenses to service radio equipment, and now
with new systems and treaties in place on the high seas I'm preparing for
yet more with a stack of about 500 sample questions on my desk. I took tests
in the 1980's to be a Realtor in California, and then had to repeat them
again in 2001 to be a Realtor in Oregon and every other year have to pass
another handful of tests to keep that license.
One of the first major tests I took was the SAT back in High School that
determined my position applying for a college or university.
As as consultant every time I meet with a new prospective client I'm in
another "oral test" to see if I'm the right person for the job in their
mind. Every person who looks for a job faces such tests, and which job they
get - flipping burgers at the local diner or working as an executive in a
corporation - has everything to do with how they have done on tests from
school to the oral exam called the job interview.
Tests may be "dumb". Many of them obviously are. But they're how we sort out
those who can from those who can't in our society.
And these days they're how we sort out the schools who are doing their job
from those who aren't. It's for the kid's protection we do that.
If the tests are flawed, it's time to revise the tests or find a better way.
But, before this current craze in testing, we were calling kids "high school
graduates" who could not read, write or do simple arithmetic. At least now
when we do that we know it's happening.
Ron D'Eau Claire
-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Tracy Irwin
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 4:56 PM
To: grovenet at rdrop.com
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter
I think it does matter, but I also think it will be a terrible shame to lose
this program. Both of my girls participate. I tried to figure out how many
students and I think it was over 400 district wide. That was based on who
showed up at concerts, it may be more than that.
Arts are basic, music is basic. This is a wonderful gift that public money
is giving to the future governors or our world.
The proposal to move the schedule is a failure of imagination, not
necessarily a lack of money. My concern is that continuity will be lost at
TMUES and students will not continue with music. It is life skill enhancing
to learn to work together as a group and studies have shown time and time
again that math skills are sharpened by playing an instrument while young.
This is not about money, it's about test scores. How dumb is that?
_____
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <rondec at easystreet.com>
Reply-To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com>
To: "'Forest Grove local interests list'" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:40:19 -0700
>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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