Dear Mr. Lombardi and the
Vancouver Board of Education Trustees:
On behalf of the Coalition for Music Education in British
Columbia, my name is Christin Reardon MacLellan, and I once again write on
behalf of students, teachers, parents, community members, arts organizations
and industry partners who are fiercely opposed to the proposed cuts to music
education in this year’s budget proposal. We implore the VSB to remain
committed to their 2014 promise of finding a long-term, sustainable solution
for the Elementary Band and Strings program as well as an equitable approach to
music education more broadly in the school district. We also implore you to retain the district’s Fine and Performing Arts
Coordinator position.
The Coalition for Music Education in BC has closely followed
the course of action concerning music education in the VSB in recent years. We
have responded swiftly on a number of occasions and participated in
consultation process during the 2014-2015 school year. All previous
documentation of our correspondence can be found here: http://www.cmebc.org/blog.html.
Despite the powerful advocacy that has taken place in
support of music education in the VSB, here we are again. This is the fifth
time in the last seven years that music programs have been threatened. Regardless
of advocacy efforts, stakeholder values, research, curriculum, and policy, we
are presented with the same old story- the VSB can’t fund music education in
elementary schools. We acknowledge the widely held belief that the province of
BC underfunds education. The CMEBC understands the financial predicament facing
school districts and is committed to advocating for increased music education
funding across the province. This letter, however, focuses on the VSB’s choice
to slash music programs again this year.
The value of music education is a topic that continuously
gains merit, validity and traction. A growing body of research supports the
benefits of music education on cognitive development, socio-emotional growth,
and academic achievement. More than ever before, we have data that supports
music’s transformative abilities on individual learning and development as well
as on topics related to culture and society. In previous years, the CMEBC has
shared with you specific benefits of learning music in an instrumental
ensemble, including non-verbal communication, self-expression through an
instrument, development of fine motor skills, positive social interactions, and
participation in the creation of something bigger than oneself. Most
importantly, as you well know, these benefits occur simultaneously in
ensemble-based learning.
Surely, the Vancouver School Board understands the value of
the Elementary Band and Strings program and its potential to thrive as part of
a larger plan for music education in the district. As a direct result of the
community’s 2014 advocacy efforts, the VSB hired a consultant (Dr. Valerie
Overgaard) to explore sustainable solutions for the Elementary Band and Strings
Program, as well as music education more broadly in the district. The consultant’s
report documented the decline in music education in the VSB over the last ten
years, explored how music education is offered in other Lower Mainland school
districts, addressed consultations with stakeholders, and perhaps most
importantly, concluded the following: “There is one point of consensus that
arose in this process. Music education is not only important, it is essential….This
includes band and strings, but extends more broadly to a general music
education program taught by a music specialist.” The report suggested that
“this process should be seen as a catalyst to enhance music education across
the district.”
Yet, we find ourselves, a year later, right back where we
started. It seems that the recommendations in this report and the initial steps
taken to implement these recommendations have been abandoned, with the entire
Elementary Band and Strings program once again up for elimination. We
understand that schools have faced challenges with implementing new plans for
this program, however we do not believe that ample time has been provided for
schools to work through these challenges, nor has the district demonstrated an
ongoing commitment to helping design and implement an equitable solution for
elementary music education across the district.
The Vancouver School Board needs to adopt a district policy
on music education that ties into its existing policy on arts education. The
inequities within music education in the VSB are deplorable and they exist
mostly in elementary schools. Only 58% of elementary schools have a music
specialist teacher. Approximately 25% of elementary schools have neither a
music specialist nor a band/strings teacher. In a recent survey, fewer than 50%
of principals described their school’s music program as high quality. This is
unacceptable. Furthermore, in many schools, the band and strings program is the
ONLY music education offered. So,
cutting band and strings would mean cutting music completely in those schools.
The VSB needs to fix elementary music education and the inconsistencies that
exist from school to school. An effective model must be established for all schools and all students that includes general music taught by a music
specialist as well as the opportunity for all students to participate in band
and strings. It’s time to invest in the personnel and resources necessary to
bring about change, rather than running from this problem and cutting programs.
The perception in the community is that senior administration and the school
board are more committed to the easy way out than to finding an educationally
sound solution for elementary music education. The district needs an advocate
from within and the time is now. Actually, the time was seven years ago, but
we’re still waiting.
It is necessary for us to once again address the issue of
music specialist teachers. Music cannot be taught by a generalist classroom
teacher unless that person has extensive training in music and music education
pedagogy. It is essential that teachers are literate in what they are teaching.
Music learning involves skills and techniques that are learned over time and
that require expert teaching. Placing music education in the hands of
non-specialist teachers is a gross over simplification and dumbing down of
music education. Music specialists are recognized by the BCTF and we encourage
the VSB to require music taught by music specialists across the district. This
model would not be a new concept. In 5 out of 9 Greater Vancouver school
districts, there is a music specialist teacher PLUS a band or strings teacher in every school. We strongly urge the
VSB to take the same leadership these other districts have taken by recognizing
the importance of music education and choosing to protect it.
This year’s budget proposal also recommends the elimination
of the district’s Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator. The CMEBC was
devastated to see Peggy Bochun’s position up for elimination, as the direct
impact on students is severe. Eliminating this position in addition to band and
strings means that our students lose out twice. The Coordinator is the
district’s lead liaison with the arts community. She is responsible for
community partnerships with countless arts organizations, coordinates district
festivals, fosters collaboration among the district’s fine and performing arts
teachers, organizes PRO-D, and manages a large amount of grant funding. The
loss of Peggy Bochun would be tremendous, and you won’t know what you’ve lost
until she’s gone. The CMEBC cannot stress enough how fortunate the VSB is to
have a professional like Peggy Bochun. She is not replaceable, and her position
is not expendable.
The Coalition for Music Education in BC implores the VSB to
remain committed to their promise of finding a long-term, sustainable solution
for the Elementary Band and Strings program as well as an equitable approach to
music education more broadly in the school district. We also implore you to retain the district’s Fine and Performing Arts
Coordinator position. These proposed cuts are a quick move to erase two budget
lines, but with serious consequences. As we have said before, it is time for
the VSB to CHOOSE MUSIC EDUCATION the way so many other school districts have
done. While we recognize that you are underfunded, I know that I speak for many
stakeholders in saying that we are sick and tired of music as well as many
other valuable programs and services being placed in the middle of your battle
with the current Ministry of Education and provincial government. Cutting band
and strings programs as well as the person who helps them thrive is a
destructive decision when the school district is in desperate need of a
complete overhaul of elementary music education. You are denying students of
essential learning opportunities and denying the community of what it has
advocated so passionately for.
A Call to Action
The Coalition for Music Education in BC urges parents,
students, community members, and concerned citizens to make their voice heard
in support of the elementary band and strings program in the VSB.
EVERY VOICE COUNTS and time is of the essence. The budget goes to vote
on April 28.
Please consider the following:
1.
Write to Mike Lombardi,
Chair of the Vancouver Board of Education Trustees, urging the board to retain
the Elementary Band and Strings program and Fine and Performing Arts Consultant
position, as well as to develop a district policy for music education that
offers all students equitable access to music education taught by a specialist
teacher. Email: mike.lombardi@vsb.bc.ca
2.
Attend and/or register to
speak at the upcoming Public Consultation Budget Meetings on Tuesday, April 12
(or Thursday, April 14 if required) by emailing budget
2016-2017@vsb.bc.ca
3.
Follow the Coalition for
Music Education in BC on Facebook and Twitter for updates and action items. www.facebook.com/cmebc; Twitter:@cmebc
4.
Share this information with
your friends, families, and neighbours and encourage them to make their voices
heard in support of school music education of our children.
Who we are:
www.cmebc.org
The Coalition for Music Education in British Columbia
Society (CMEBC) is a registered non-profit society made up of parents,
students, educators, arts organizations, and supporters from across our
communities whose mission is to protect, promote, and advance music education
in British Columbia.
For questions or comments, please email president@cmebc.org
