WWYD? DS' school losing art and music

[LauraN]

I just found out from another parent that DS's school is quietly ending the art and music programs for kindergarten and first grade.

Now, it wasn't anything out of this world--they had a teacher for each subject come to their class once every two weeks.

But DS loved the music in particular.

The parent that told me is calling the principal and the district superintendent to try to find out WHY and why they're keeping it a secret from the parents.

I'm brand-new to our school district, since DS is in kindergarten and we just moved to this city anyway, so I don't know anyone except for this one parent. She's really upset and is asking me what we can do about it.

Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? How can we--first of all--cause the school to discuss this with the parents? And secondly, is there anything we can actually do about it?

Anyone with experience dealing with this sort of thing--please give me advice!

Thanks.

[lauren]

This is probably related to a funding issue. If so perhaps you could contact the chairperson of the school board to get more info and/or get it put on the agenda at the next school board meeting?

[EyesOfTheWorld]

This is one of my worst fears! If you hadn't just moved there, I'd say try to move to a better school district. Call the school board and talk to the principal. If you have any extra money, could you get your DS music lessons? Maybe as a Christmas gift? Or do something free like a church or community children's choir?

[mammastar2]

It's probably a funding thing, unfortunately. Some ideas:

- see if there is any parent advocacy going on about the loss of music and art in the schools and join it, or start your own

- look into jumpstarting extracurricular music and art - lunch time choirs or art clubs, either parent or teacher run

- parent group could fund music and art enrichment activities (shouldn't have to, but it can be a way to still have it in the schools)

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

It's probably a funding thing, unfortunately. Some ideas:

- see if there is any parent advocacy going on about the loss of music and art in the schools and join it, or start your own

- look into jumpstarting extracurricular music and art - lunch time choirs or art clubs, either parent or teacher run

- parent group could fund music and art enrichment activities (shouldn't have to, but it can be a way to still have it in the schools)

:

I hate, hate, hate it everytime I hear this. Understandably, funding is an issue(I know how we could fix THAT real fast! a little something called war) but art and music are safe havens for some children. I don't know what I would have done without art and music, it really helped me with other classes, to come out of my shell(PAINFULLY shy), etc.

Get a petition started to get the school board to discuss this with the parents. Let them know this is something you really want your children to have.

See if a parent/s could volunteer some time to go into the class and teach art/music.

Talk with the teachers and principle, see if there is a teacher there who would be willing to include some art or music in a class.

[UUMom]

That's so wrong! Our town is trying to cut funding for music programs, and so far our town has been able to retain it. The parents do a ton of fundraising for each school, and the school committee meetings are always overflowing with families. I would call every parent I knew in the system and get together to fight this. Go to the meeting, en masse, where this is all decided. There can be power in numbers. Good luck! My ds is in a private school, but i still attend the meetings and I never vote against over-rides or for cuts.