Choir Teacher at a W school takes advantage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. What is the attire for other MCPS high school choirs? Would be interested I. Hearing of a large expenditure is asked of the parents.

The biggest problem is the grade deduction tied to dress code infringement. It's not allowed.

Performance clothes cost what they cost, but multiple layers needing hemming is NOT practical and parents can definitely complain. A public school chorus should not have more than one performance uniform.

Finally, the teacher should always add a line in their email about the school helping families in need who cannot afford the special outfit. This is a Bethesda-area school with a well-funded PTA. These schools are ready and able to help, but the teacher has to know how to handle that and not pick something completely over the top in the first place.

Yes, but MCPS requires every secondary school to send at least one choir, one band, and one orchestra to “adjudication” every March. One of the criteria the ensembles are judged on is “appearance”. This is an unfunded mandate because MCPS should be purchasing whatever kids are required to wear for the performances like they purchase jerseys for athletics.

It's not unfunded. It's funded out of the MCPS Operating Budget. If your principal doesn't use the money she is supposed to use for the choir, that's on her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. What is the attire for other MCPS high school choirs? Would be interested I. Hearing of a large expenditure is asked of the parents.

The biggest problem is the grade deduction tied to dress code infringement. It's not allowed.

Performance clothes cost what they cost, but multiple layers needing hemming is NOT practical and parents can definitely complain. A public school chorus should not have more than one performance uniform.

Finally, the teacher should always add a line in their email about the school helping families in need who cannot afford the special outfit. This is a Bethesda-area school with a well-funded PTA. These schools are ready and able to help, but the teacher has to know how to handle that and not pick something completely over the top in the first place.

Yes, but MCPS requires every secondary school to send at least one choir, one band, and one orchestra to “adjudication” every March. One of the criteria the ensembles are judged on is “appearance”. This is an unfunded mandate because MCPS should be purchasing whatever kids are required to wear for the performances like they purchase jerseys for athletics.

It's not unfunded. It's funded out of the MCPS Operating Budget. If your principal doesn't use the money she is supposed to use for the choir, that's on her.

Maybe the principal is pocketing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it illegal to lower a grade for dress requirements? I am not clear on that.

Our MS does that. We can buy whatever though.
I do think the whole thing is obnoxious and pretentious though. They aren’t the NSO. We have money but I am still irritated at having to pay $60 for black dress shoes that are worn precisely once plus the black dress pants and black dress shirt (another $100–although I bought the shirt big you at least get a second wear out of it). My kids own sneakers and snow boots — let them wear one of those. What a waste to the planet to buy all this stupid crap that is worn once and then “donated” where no one is wants it. And the black stuff fades out with a couple of washes too. [/quote

]

Make more sense from a waste in financial perspective for the kids who just donate it to the school and then reused by future chorus members

[Anonymous]

The focus should be on the music, not what the students are wearing. Any type of shoe should be sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. What is the attire for other MCPS high school choirs? Would be interested I. Hearing of a large expenditure is asked of the parents.

The biggest problem is the grade deduction tied to dress code infringement. It's not allowed.

Performance clothes cost what they cost, but multiple layers needing hemming is NOT practical and parents can definitely complain. A public school chorus should not have more than one performance uniform.

Finally, the teacher should always add a line in their email about the school helping families in need who cannot afford the special outfit. This is a Bethesda-area school with a well-funded PTA. These schools are ready and able to help, but the teacher has to know how to handle that and not pick something completely over the top in the first place.

Yes, but MCPS requires every secondary school to send at least one choir, one band, and one orchestra to “adjudication” every March. One of the criteria the ensembles are judged on is “appearance”. This is an unfunded mandate because MCPS should be purchasing whatever kids are required to wear for the performances like they purchase jerseys for athletics.

It's not unfunded. It's funded out of the MCPS Operating Budget. If your principal doesn't use the money she is supposed to use for the choir, that's on her.

Wrong. MCPS gives a tiny bit of money to each school to pay for transportation to adjudication. MCPS also gives about $5 per kid in instrumental music classes to fund instrument repairs (not guitar). Zero money comes from MCPS for performance attire. Who pays for sports jerseys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. What is the attire for other MCPS high school choirs? Would be interested I. Hearing of a large expenditure is asked of the parents.

The biggest problem is the grade deduction tied to dress code infringement. It's not allowed.

Performance clothes cost what they cost, but multiple layers needing hemming is NOT practical and parents can definitely complain. A public school chorus should not have more than one performance uniform.

Finally, the teacher should always add a line in their email about the school helping families in need who cannot afford the special outfit. This is a Bethesda-area school with a well-funded PTA. These schools are ready and able to help, but the teacher has to know how to handle that and not pick something completely over the top in the first place.

Yes, but MCPS requires every secondary school to send at least one choir, one band, and one orchestra to “adjudication” every March. One of the criteria the ensembles are judged on is “appearance”. This is an unfunded mandate because MCPS should be purchasing whatever kids are required to wear for the performances like they purchase jerseys for athletics.

It's not unfunded. It's funded out of the MCPS Operating Budget. If your principal doesn't use the money she is supposed to use for the choir, that's on her.

Maybe the principal is pocketing it.

I’ve heard of principals using fundraising money for their own benefit or just absorbing it into the general
Budget. Very common when there is a director change. Recently happened to me. I started at a new school to discover almost $10,000 that was raised by music students in October 2019 disappeared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. What is the attire for other MCPS high school choirs? Would be interested I. Hearing of a large expenditure is asked of the parents.

The biggest problem is the grade deduction tied to dress code infringement. It's not allowed.

Performance clothes cost what they cost, but multiple layers needing hemming is NOT practical and parents can definitely complain. A public school chorus should not have more than one performance uniform.

Finally, the teacher should always add a line in their email about the school helping families in need who cannot afford the special outfit. This is a Bethesda-area school with a well-funded PTA. These schools are ready and able to help, but the teacher has to know how to handle that and not pick something completely over the top in the first place.

Yes, but MCPS requires every secondary school to send at least one choir, one band, and one orchestra to “adjudication” every March. One of the criteria the ensembles are judged on is “appearance”. This is an unfunded mandate because MCPS should be purchasing whatever kids are required to wear for the performances like they purchase jerseys for athletics.

It's not unfunded. It's funded out of the MCPS Operating Budget. If your principal doesn't use the money she is supposed to use for the choir, that's on her.

Maybe the principal is pocketing it.

I’ve heard of principals using fundraising money for their own benefit or just absorbing it into the general
Budget. Very common when there is a director change. Recently happened to me. I started at a new school to discover almost $10,000 that was raised by music students in October 2019 disappeared.

Does anyone know what happened to the money that the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 raised for Senior activities like Prom that never happened?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. What is the attire for other MCPS high school choirs? Would be interested I. Hearing of a large expenditure is asked of the parents.

The biggest problem is the grade deduction tied to dress code infringement. It's not allowed.

Performance clothes cost what they cost, but multiple layers needing hemming is NOT practical and parents can definitely complain. A public school chorus should not have more than one performance uniform.

Finally, the teacher should always add a line in their email about the school helping families in need who cannot afford the special outfit. This is a Bethesda-area school with a well-funded PTA. These schools are ready and able to help, but the teacher has to know how to handle that and not pick something completely over the top in the first place.

Yes, but MCPS requires every secondary school to send at least one choir, one band, and one orchestra to “adjudication” every March. One of the criteria the ensembles are judged on is “appearance”. This is an unfunded mandate because MCPS should be purchasing whatever kids are required to wear for the performances like they purchase jerseys for athletics.

It's not unfunded. It's funded out of the MCPS Operating Budget. If your principal doesn't use the money she is supposed to use for the choir, that's on her.

Wrong. MCPS gives a tiny bit of money to each school to pay for transportation to adjudication. MCPS also gives about $5 per kid in instrumental music classes to fund instrument repairs (not guitar). Zero money comes from MCPS for performance attire. Who pays for sports jerseys?

MCPS funds classes. They are all funded in the Operating Budget. If you sit back and let your principal short your students, that's on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I feel our choir teacher in our high school in MCPS is out of line in her demands for concert attire for the kids. She has recently requested different black dresses for the Advanced Treble Choir AND another dress for the Chamber Choir.

Well, I am frustrated by the sheer cost of these outfits. Dresses seem to cost over $100.00 and then an extra $100.00 or more to hem. It seems that this teacher thinks the parents’ are her own private ATM. Now she is considering having the parents pay for a necklace for the outfit.

I understand wanting to look nice but why are there not robes? Or why can’t teacher just choose black dress pants and white blouse?

The kids are going to be inspected with their dresses on on Wednesday. And if they don’t meet her standards of hem one inch above the floor , a grade will be deducted.

If this were a really good choir teacher, I might forgive some of this. Her focus is on what they “ look” like vs a high quality choral program. The teacher frequently misses class and has for years.

We don’t like being used as an ATM. It’s crazy Does anyone else find this standard practice in MCPS choirs? How do we deal with this lunacy?

What did OP mean by the teacher takes advantage? Did the teacher getting kickbacks from the dress purchase or the tailors?

For this type of dress needs, we just ask around to borrow one or buy cheap ones and use pins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello. I feel our choir teacher in our high school in MCPS is out of line in her demands for concert attire for the kids. She has recently requested different black dresses for the Advanced Treble Choir AND another dress for the Chamber Choir.

Well, I am frustrated by the sheer cost of these outfits. Dresses seem to cost over $100.00 and then an extra $100.00 or more to hem. It seems that this teacher thinks the parents’ are her own private ATM. Now she is considering having the parents pay for a necklace for the outfit.

I understand wanting to look nice but why are there not robes? Or why can’t teacher just choose black dress pants and white blouse?

The kids are going to be inspected with their dresses on on Wednesday. And if they don’t meet her standards of hem one inch above the floor , a grade will be deducted.

If this were a really good choir teacher, I might forgive some of this. Her focus is on what they “ look” like vs a high quality choral program. The teacher frequently misses class and has for years.

We don’t like being used as an ATM. It’s crazy Does anyone else find this standard practice in MCPS choirs? How do we deal with this lunacy?

What did OP mean by the teacher takes advantage? Did the teacher getting kickbacks from the dress purchase or the tailors?

For this type of dress needs, we just ask around to borrow one or buy cheap ones and use pins.

So entirely reasonable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it would be a good story. I am the OP. Parents in “wealthier” areas are being bilked for these outfits - sports too. Not everyone here has this kind of cash to just throw around like this. It’s offensive. One good dress is enough. Also the boys do wear tails at whitman. I mean why is this necessary? Completely over the top. What if a family has multiple kids and just would rather put money towards other things? This sort of thing needs to be stopped.

You do realize that sometimes the elite public school choirs are asked to perform at the White House and other venues. Rather than scrambling for appropriate outfits at the last minute, why not have them ready to go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Multiply the fees for uniforms, trips, and other things, the cost becomes excessive especially for families who have multiple children in the school. It’s unnecessary and excessive. Some things run through the school accounts but most don’t. I personally do not believe anyone is financially profiting except for the chosen vendors, however, who would know because there’s no oversight.

Such excessive fees discourage participation for what are public school activities. When trips are involved, students pay for the school staff who chaperone so staff do get the perk of a free trip.

Buying a nice performance outfit for $200 or less is different than sending your child to Europe for one week for thousands of dollars to hang out with other Americans during Spring Break. If you can do the latter, you can afford a performance outfit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Choir question: is the chamber choir audition only? Do all the public schools have a non-audition option for singing?

Yes and yes. If you want to belong to the non-auditioned choir that doesn't compete anywhere or perform outside of the school, you are free to do so and you will get school credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choir question: is the chamber choir audition only? Do all the public schools have a non-audition option for singing?

Yes and yes. If you want to belong to the non-auditioned choir that doesn't compete anywhere or perform outside of the school, you are free to do so and you will get school credit.

Nota Bene: The girls are wearing matching necklaces. The choir probably competes up and down the East Coast against other select high school choirs, including private schools whose parents don't whine about outfits. Use your energy and passion to promote fundraisers, but don't take your ire out on music teachers. They deserve more support than that.

[Anonymous]

The choir lead is being. A jerk, but this a perfect PTA project. My husband is a Cub Scout leader and the pack has a “scout attic” at a nearby church where they have bins of books, belt loops (like Girl Scout badges), uniform pieces, etc. Parents donate outgrown items to the attic and adult leaders offer families items from the attic or provide them if asked.