The WW-P superintendent sent a 16-page letter to explain his vision of educating the “whole child” and the necessary changes to current programs in order to educate the “whole child.” He detailed several changes his administration has implemented since he became the superintendent two years ago. My kids have gone through the orchestra grade 4-8 programs, so I’d like to comment on the curriculum changes to instrumental music for those grades.
The letter reads:
“During the 2014-2015 school year, we ended the practice at some of the Grades 4-8 schools of recommending that students withdraw from Instrumental Music due to their ability. This practice expanded further to performance requirements that led to students being denied the right to participate in concerts (either in totality or on specific pieces). The administration ended this practice with the simple philosophical approach that every student ‘has the right to squeak.’”
First, I’d like to explain what this policy truly means. The instrument teachers are all experienced musicians. They have built these excellent programs through decades of hard work and great care for the kids. The enrollment in orchestra has been increasing in huge numbers. I have never heard any case of teacher recommending a kid “withdraw from Instrumental Music due to their ability.” The teachers used to require the kids to pass the concert piece in order to perform the specific piece in school concerts. They’ve been using this tool to set the standard and goal for the kids to practice their instruments. The criteria for passing the pieces are based on the skills learned and not based on if the kids squeak or not.
Also with this requirement, the kids were not left on their own to learn the pieces. By putting up this requirement, the teachers had also taken more responsibilities themselves. They had spent extra time to help the slow progressing kids since the majority of the orchestra kids at these levels were without private teachers. And the results have been amazing! Our school concerts sounded beautiful. Shockingly to me, the administration banned this teaching practice! The long-term effect of this policy is slow erosion of the superb quality of the WW-P orchestra program.
I don’t understand at all the administration’s point that “every student has the right to squeak” as being better instrument education for our kids. Do we want our kids to “participate” in orchestra just for the sake of sitting on the stage and making noises, or do we want our kids to truly learn and be able to play instruments?
Kids are kids. Without requirements and standards, do you think they will put in adequate time practicing the instrument? Learning an instrument is not an easy task. After decades of teaching, our teachers knew what motivated the kids to practice and to reach the level they are capable of. They were not putting up unreasonable and unreachable targets for the kids to fail. All the kids can learn and had learned the instrument following the teachers’ instructions. If the school concerts become some kind of squeak-making events, who would want to even participate in the program?
I do wonder where does this “simple philosophical approach” come from. Do our wonderful and professional music teachers have to work under the supervision of administrators who seem don’t even know what instrumental music and music education is about? Somehow, our superintendent implies in the letter that kids who “squeak” are happier children than those who practice and really learn the instruments.
What kind of message does this policy change send to our children? “Our music teacher doesn’t have the right to require me to practice.” “I don’t need to work hard and still get the same opportunity as others.” Is this the so-called vision of educating a “whole child”? If so, these kids are cheated since reality is not like this. If you are not willing to work hard, there’s no equal opportunity for you in real life! A good educator not only teaches the knowledge but also teaches good learning habits. With no good learning habits, how can these kids become a “life-long learner” (under 21st Century Competencies in the superintendent’s letter)?
Similarly, regarding testing vs. education, my question is, by reducing homework and testing (especially mid-terms/finals) in the name of “whole child,” will our kids get more out of the education than that they deserve? Does this administration really understand what excellent education is truly about? We have many great dedicated teachers who have been teaching in this district for decades, while the top decision makers of this administration are quite new.
With their relatively short tenure, have the top administrators understood fully what WW-P is about before forcing their ideology into our excellent school system? Should these teachers give up doing what has been effective for decades because otherwise it would be “insubordinate” under this administration and would jeopardize their evaluation and even result in termination?! This new instrument teaching policy makes me wonder if all other “mandatory” policies are aimed at the experienced and hardworking teachers.
Yan Jia
