[Grovenet] An Important Matter
Ed Davie
edavie at verizon.net
Sat Mar 31 08:57:51 PDT 2007
And, we're just saying which studies those should
be!
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron D'Eau Claire
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 9:27 AM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter
How else do we determine if the schools are
doing their job? It seems to me
we've always used test scores to determine that.
What changed was that we
lost confidence in individual schools to
administer appropriate tests and
respond accordingly. Decades ago many schools
just pushed kids on out the
door after so many years regardless of tests, or
they simplified the tests
to the point everyone could pass. So now we have
national testing programs
that monitor the schools. How is that a failure
of imagination?
No one is saying that music or orchestra or band
is not good. What they are
saying is that, if the school is only able to do
a few things, certain
studies must take precedence.
Ron D'Eau Claire
-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com
[mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Tracy Irwin
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 8:41 AM
To: grovenet at rdrop.com
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] An Important Matter
We all, at some point live and die by test
scores. Driver's tests,
cholesterol tests, etc, etc etc. I guess I
should have been more precise.
When there is no money, you quickly come up
against a hard stop. When
people don't get paid they get stop teaching
fairly quickly. Even the most
altruistic of us would need a source of income
if we aren't independently
wealthy.
If it's test scores, they don't have to move it
outside the school day. If
the student is in orchestra and wants to leave
math class to play (this was
the case with both of my girls). Don't let the
student leave if they are
not doing well in class. I bet you the
orchestra students are not the ones
dragging the test scores down. if the orchestra
kids are not the problem,
why is orchestra being constrained.
I should have said that this was about test
scores which seems like a
colossal FAILURE of imagination. Put orchestra
outside the school day and
you essentially eliminate all of the single
parent families and the working
poor who don't have someone to stay at home and
shuttle kids around. That's
just not fair. Break the chain in orchestra
(and band) for two years and
the next thing you know there is not enough
students to keep orchestra going
for NAMS and FGHS. I've already lived this
scenario with the dual languange
program begun at Echo Shaw. The offerings we so
poorly conceived and
executed that both of my girls dropped out after
TMUES.
That's what Jack Musser, Susan Winterbourne and
Al Rodgers need to hear.
_____
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 19:52:36 -0700
>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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> >
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>
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>
>
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