Warning to Canadians Living Outside of British Columbia
Your School Music Program Maybe in Trouble
Victoria was first and then it spread to the entire province and now John Young wants to take his fifteen minutes of fame that he has garnered and spread his venom Canada wide. In principle it sounds good but in theory it is proving to be a disaster. What am I referring to? The elimination of school fees.
It's true schools charge fees for many different things such as wood shop, art, music, field trips and specialty courses such as the culinary arts. What is not true however is that any child ever had to be left behind because they were unable to pay the fees that different programs had to charge. If you could not pay the fees, the school board paid.
Now, it looks as though the music program may have to be axed because of the cost of renting an instrument is now being caught up in the tangled web of school fees. Simply put the schools cannot possibly afford to buy enough instruments to distribute to all band members. In the past if a student who is qualified to enrol in a music program could not pay a so-called musical instrument fee then the school board stepped in and made sure they were able to participate.
Sadly, an idea that many parents believed would ensure all children have access to different programs is turning into the reason that only the wealthy will have access to different programs. Obviously, parents that can afford it will simply send their children to private lessons. Parents who cannot won't, and it is their children that will suffer because of John Young's mad crusade.
I was one of the lucky ones. When I hit grade five our school board had just implemented a band program and because of this I play the flute. I am still playing. There are not words to describe the enormous impact this instrument has played on my life. My life would have been far less rich without it. It's hard to know where to start. Do I list who I have performed for? Three premiers, two prime ministers and one queen and a highlight for me personally the Honourable David Lam. Do I list where I have performed? Which bands and orchestras? Far too many to mention and not really the point. What is important are the lifelong friends that I have met through my instrument and that the flute has always been a great source of inspiration and healing. I'm not sure that healing is exactly the word I am looking for but it is the flute I turn to in times of stress. The physical act of playing is just so calming. I find when I am not playing my life seems emptier somehow. I need music to keep that all important balance in life that so many of us strive for.
I am a very big believer in hobbies and sports. I don't mean that you have to be great at any or all but I do think these are the things that help us to cope and give our life meaning beyond our jobs and relationships. They are always there for us. They are not something that should be taken lightly and we should not allow the John Young's of the world to dictate what our children will have access to.
9 comments:
How about asking successful musicians to donate to school music programs...Get the Arts involved in fundraising.. OK it's not the solution but when govt fails us what can we do?
Barbara, at the moment that is exactly what is happening. The only problem with it is it is a temporary solution and one that has to be revisited every year.
This development is just so puzzling to me. We are all now well used to paying school fees and while we grumble about it, we know the purpose and we plan for it. And as you have stated, children whose parents cannot afford school fees are accommodated, so what's the issue? That sounds like a most ill-advised plan.
Barbara B, John Young said he wanted to make sure we did not have a two-tiered education system. He's from here so he started his campaign here and won a court case a few years ago. We are now dealing with it and absolutely reeling from it. I don't think the schools thought he would win. He's a bit of a quack and everyone kind of pooh-poohed him and we are now starting to see just how much we have lost.
This year he won a court case to eliminate fees for all of BC which came into effect basically after school started and after fees were collected. So school districts are scrambling to figure out what it all means. In the meantime John Young is encouraging parents to demand their money back or sue.
Now John Young is in talks with people in other provinces. He's getting a lot of attention in Ontario. I think they'll find they are next.
I focused on the music program mainly because that is an area that I can make a direct link to the idea that my life as an adult would be different without it.
When I was thinking about some of what we got to do it's kind of amazing. You don't really realize it as a kid but in looking back you see just how much you got to do that you took for granted. I'm sure almost every kid band I played in we sounded like crap but we thought we were awesome. Parents certainly never told us otherwise!
Whoa, sorry for the extra long comment rant. I'm going to make you wish you'd never stopped by!!
i thought i'd commented on this earlier???
today in the local paper here it reported that they are bringing fees back to support certain programs...music being one of them. I'll grab the article and relay some of the info to you (later on tonight)
Pfft! Toccata, the last thing I would EVER wish is that I hadn't dropped by. I am glad of the information, as I didn't know about this dufus before.
Deb, it looks as though the government has been forced into taking a stand on what schools can and cannot charge. Mind you since they said they would control class sizes and haven't I'm a little skeptical.
Barbara B, that is a relief. I knew when I started the comment I was getting a little carried away but I couldn't stop myself.
Okay, I am back logged on my reading therefore on my commenting as well.
I once learned to play Classical Gas on my 12 string guitar and my kinda girlfriend at the time accompanied me on the piano. Then I discovered debauchery and gave up music and sports for the good life—kinda sorta. The final destination was a bummer but the better part of the trip was a blast. Now I collect trays of all kinds. Does that count as a hobby?
The government does not fail the people. The people fail the people. Change is inevitable. It is not only the result of an action it is the result of inaction, the worst of which is acquiescence. Does anyone get what I'm saying here?
Wayward son, I have no idea when you posted here so I am probably a little late in commenting back. My brother played Classical Gas on the piano. Drove me crazy!
Change is inevitable but sometimes we have to be careful that which gets changed. We've talked about this before but I think we have to be willing to pump money into youth and our school programs otherwise we pay for it later.
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