A few days ago, while reviewing Facebook posts, I came across a link to a survey conducted by the American Association of School Administrators. The survey shows how 275,000 jobs could be lost this coming school year. How many of those jobs include music positions? While I don't know the answer, I believe it is fair to say, if these positions are eliminated, 100's or even 1000's of music programs in the US could be at risk. You can read the article here: New AASA Survey Finds 275,000 Education Jobs in Peril.
At times like this we benefit from forming new strategies around our profession to ensure music lives on. We will have to think "outside the box" and be introspective. We will have to investigate our norms and standards as we know them. We will for sure have to be open and appreciate this process as a necessary activity to ensure continuance. The answers to how to ensure music education remains a priority for schools is not as simple as a blog post with a few ideas. But, it is a start. Read on.
Initiatives to help ensure music's place within schools.
Year-Round School
The recent push to consider the value of year-round school has to be particularly interesting for most music teachers. For generations, the one educational program that has embraced year-round educational programs has been music. Active summer programs create year-round education for involved students. Isn't it ironic that as schools consider moving to year-round schooling, that one of the few programs that has already embraced the practice is one of the first programs to get cut from schools when times get tough? What should be happening is that music programs should serve as MODELS for how schools can build successful educational programs and thus, provide the highest quality instruction for their students.
As music educators, this "new" initiative provides an opportunity to voice our expertise and secure a place on school planning committees. I believe we are closer to year-round school than many think. Year-round school is not about simply creating more school days on the calendar. As music teachers, we know that summer can be an incredibly influential educational experience. We take this opportunity to change the pace of our teaching, we change the venue (often moving to outside activities) and work in a more relaxed environment. Those teaching techniques can be applied to a broader definition of year-round school. I believe music instructors can solidify their educational expertise and help schools design great programs. This is an opportunity to ensure music programs serve as models to educational system rather than being immediately placed at the top of this list for cuts.
Local Standards
State and national standards for music education have accomplished little to secure the subject's place as a priority curriculum in schools. It they had, then state testing exams would include sections on music. In PA, the PSSA tests have dictated what schools teach. If the PSSA tests a specific subject, schools must find ways to teach that topic or risk the negative consequences of their students not demonstrating mastery.
Every music team within schools should gather themselves up and develop local music standards for their students. The standards need to demonstrate WHY music is important. They can't focus on "every student will play a major scale" type of standards. Let's face it, in real life, that skill has little benefit to the majority of citizens. The standards need to demonstrate how music provides students the experiences of thinking, problem solving, creating, analyzing, collaborating, etc. The process of developing these standards must also involve the educational leaders in the school system. Principals and Curriculum Directors must be brought into the process. Simply put, if a school at large doesn't know the value of the music program, it risks being cut.
Over the next few post, I'll talk about:
- Reaching the Masses
- Teach Innovative Music (Leadership Through Music, Creativity Through Music, Problem Solving Through Music)
- Professional Development Beyond Click here! (Leadership, Advocacy, PLN's)
- Embracing Innovation
