Monday Motivation: Why Don’t Administrators Get This?

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1. Bart Brush says

   May 5, 2014 at 1:55 pm

   I have often complained about this serious problem, and we need to keep advocating for music.  However, I think the problem originates with financial and achievement concerns among the public and at the state level, much of which is political and misguided.  I would like to see superintendents, school board members, and state officials and elected representatives do more–much more–to “push back” and defend our programs (“our” meaning society’s programs).  After 13 years teaching at the elementary level, much of my success has been due to the support of principals and superintendents who supported my efforts as best they could, regardless of the policies and limitations we labored under.

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2. Robert Ritschel says

   May 5, 2014 at 7:43 am

   They “get it” but if it’s not going to be on an acheivement test they dont care.  That said, we should exercise caution to paint all administrators with a single brush. There are many school districts across the country that have excellent choral and instrumental programs. 

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3. Ronald Richard Duquette says

   May 5, 2014 at 7:04 am

   Question:  What kind of administrators are you referring to?  Educational administrators – school administrators in specific?  Then a valid question.  School system administrators?  If they come out of the educators’ ranks, again a valid question – but if they come from elsewhere than an educational milieu, then it becomes more of a question of “did they ever have music in school, and if so, what sort of program was it?”  In addition, you’re fighting a cultural matter – here in America, if art is not useful or moral, historically it tends to be dismissed, and readily so.  The larger and more valid question might be, “What do we, as music educators and professionals, do to change this widespread and deeply held cultural perception?”  Answer that, and this other question for today is addressed.

    

   Ron

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