4th Grade teacher discouraging instrument lessons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't the schools change up the schedule to provide for a block during the day when kids can go to music lessons, special instruction, ESOL, speech therapy, whatever? It's called block scheduling and in our last school system it worked like a charm to minimize disruptions and enable kids to get whatever type of services they need. Sounds like MCPS has a really dumb system if they can't figure out how to offer instrumental music as part of the curriculum in a way that doesn't detract from the rest of the schedule.

I think a big part of it is that they let kids choose from among about 6-10 different instruments but they only seem to have about 2-3 teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But they do have to make up the work, if they go for lessons. That's not discouragement; it's a fact.

Though of course it's possible that the teacher said it in a particularly discouraging way.

Our kid's teacher said the same thing. If students were unable to make up the work during class, some 4th grade teachers allowed the kids to meet with them during recess the next day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD came home from school with the flyer for upcoming selection of instruments for kids who are interested. She already plays piano and we were pretty excited about the chance to add another instrument...that is until her teacher got ahold of her. When she brought the flyer home, she said she no longer wanted to play an instrument because the teacher made it a point to tell the class that if they break out for lessons that they will have to make up that work.

Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that the lessons will be all of 30 minutes once per week. DD is a straight A student and I highly doubt she will have issues making up the time, especially since there will likely be multiple students coming and going during the day for lessons and my guess is that instruction will be slower all day due to that as well. WHY would the teacher need/want to discourage little kids from music, especially with the arts so underrepresented in school these days.

Sorry just needed to vent.

Our 4th grade teacher told the kids they had to pick a "buddy" who played a different instrument and get notes from the buddy regarding what they missed in class every week. Since more than 85% of class is trying out an instrument, this policy made sense to me. Perhaps you could suggest for your teacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD came home from school with the flyer for upcoming selection of instruments for kids who are interested. She already plays piano and we were pretty excited about the chance to add another instrument...that is until her teacher got ahold of her. When she brought the flyer home, she said she no longer wanted to play an instrument because the teacher made it a point to tell the class that if they break out for lessons that they will have to make up that work.

Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that the lessons will be all of 30 minutes once per week. DD is a straight A student and I highly doubt she will have issues making up the time, especially since there will likely be multiple students coming and going during the day for lessons and my guess is that instruction will be slower all day due to that as well. WHY would the teacher need/want to discourage little kids from music, especially with the arts so underrepresented in school these days.

Sorry just needed to vent.

How was the teacher actively discouraging the kids? She was just stating a fact that is important to consider in advance. However, it doesn't seem like making up the work will be a problem for your child.