Dear Johnny,
It was good seeing you. You gotta change that sweater, ok?
You asked me why I hadn't written about what happened at that Magical Board of Education meeting for music and the arts.
It is because I am nonplussed. Which means I am surprised and confused so much so that I don't know how to react. Defeated a bit perhaps, by the board of ed? I'm not sure.
I guess it's because it is so easy to be lulled by their supercilious, frivolous manner, that I almost buy it. Their ridiculous tones and fears. I feel the meeting was an enormous failure.
Pamela presented a very nice well thought out cogent plan. It makes sense, and even given the state our music program is in, it is highly economic. Finally, it will not only fix the problem but go on to create an amazing school system with highly musically literate students. And it could happen next year. It could perhaps even begin this year.
Though each board of education member said publicly to me they understood not only one reason, but I believe Dr. Switchenko said the variety of reasons music education is good, they really don't care enough to provide it.
I know when I asked another specific question being: How do you justify spending 130 thousand dollars on phones for central services instead of giving the students an elementary music teacher, suddenly "this was not a dialogue" though to that point board members were highly enthused and involved in other speakers' comments. And public session was introduced by Dr. Sewall as a question and comment period which it had been to that point, after I spoken we suddenly leapt to the "rules" with which, by the way, these jokers play with faster and looser than Jessica Rabbit at a Saturday dance.
They are an impenetrable mass. I'm not even 100% sure it's their fault. It's the institution itself. It needs reorganizing. Five members at most.
And as for the Council standing up to the Board of Education, I do remember not too long ago them dethroning Sweet Sue and her crew on the Magnet School. Perhaps they should do that again.
Even though they screwed up every possible step of the journey, once Tom took it over he got the work done. Imagine if Tom had gotten it before they bought that land, Tuckie Road would be less of a disaster than it has been and will most likely continue to be.
The truth is Johnny, those kids aren't going to get their music teacher at the elementary schools with these guys in charge. They gotta spend 130 thousand dollars so they can call each other instead.
If they put the full $300 grand in the budget to fix this problem which they have created, it will be a miracle. But then I am told other ones have happened in this very town, so only God knows. My bet is Board of Ed wins, Kids Lose. Why shouldn't history repeat itself yet again in Windham, Connecticut. Claiming superiority in a cloak of mediocrity.
Anyway, did I mention you look like crap?
See you soon
David
Don't think I'm going to be overly "pointy" today in our counterpoint discussion. The arts are the tie that binds academics. Unfortunately Windham has treated the arts as a step child through the years, witness Windham's academic achievement or lack of it over the past decades. Take a look at this:
Lab School of Finance and Technology offers a "Robust Art and Music Program."
Research show that arts education is crucial in children’s learning process and development. Studies show that children exposed to arts education throughout childhood through primary, secondary and tertiary school show greater scores on academic achievements as well as greater social, cultural, emotional and cognitive development. Some of the measured improvements are greater self-confidence, communicative skills, cultural awareness and sensitivity alongside greater stimulated creativity and overall academic achievement.
And as for the Council standing up to the Board of Education, I do remember not too long ago them dethroning Sweet Sue and her crew on the Magnet School. Perhaps they should do that again.
Even though they screwed up every possible step of the journey, once Tom took it over he got the work done. Imagine if Tom had gotten it before they bought that land, Tuckie Road would be less of a disaster than it has been and will most likely continue to be.
The truth is Johnny, those kids aren't going to get their music teacher at the elementary schools with these guys in charge. They gotta spend 130 thousand dollars so they can call each other instead.
If they put the full $300 grand in the budget to fix this problem which they have created, it will be a miracle. But then I am told other ones have happened in this very town, so only God knows. My bet is Board of Ed wins, Kids Lose. Why shouldn't history repeat itself yet again in Windham, Connecticut. Claiming superiority in a cloak of mediocrity.
Anyway, did I mention you look like crap?
See you soon
David
David, that's my writing sweater. Granted it has a couple tiny burn holes from smoking self rolled cigarettes and those white specks are from a Klondike Bar or two. I eat from the wrapper. I know if I used a spoon and bowl it would be neater but a Klondike only taste good from its wrapper.
Don't think I'm going to be overly "pointy" today in our counterpoint discussion. The arts are the tie that binds academics. Unfortunately Windham has treated the arts as a step child through the years, witness Windham's academic achievement or lack of it over the past decades. Take a look at this:
Lab School of Finance and Technology offers a "Robust Art and Music Program."
Research show that arts education is crucial in children’s learning process and development. Studies show that children exposed to arts education throughout childhood through primary, secondary and tertiary school show greater scores on academic achievements as well as greater social, cultural, emotional and cognitive development. Some of the measured improvements are greater self-confidence, communicative skills, cultural awareness and sensitivity alongside greater stimulated creativity and overall academic achievement.
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