What we learned in music class today

[Guest]

At dinner tonight I ask my 7 year old (2nd grade) daughter what she did in music today. I am very interested in this particular portion of her day, of course, and am always curious as to what teachers today consider music appreciation to be.

Okay.
Ready for this?

She tells me that they watched a movie. Oh cool! Okay.
"Who was it?", I asked, thinking they learned something about a cool blues artist or classical composer (yeah right, Em).
Nope, that was not it. My daughter proceeds to then tell me all about the video they showed in class today of when the school caught on FIRE and burned completely to the ground two years ago!!!!!!!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img] ON FIRE! Flames everywhere. Whole school toasted. (no one was hurt- it happened after school when everyone was gone)

WTF?

I asked her what exactly she saw, and she told me that she saw the whole school in flames and the seats on the swings melting and the merry-go-round on fire too.

Nice.

WTF? What is up with that? At least my girl has a warped sense of humor like the rest of us Jones', so she actually thought this was interesting and it didn't freak her out.
Thinking that somehow music was tied into this STILL I asked if her teacher finally played some metal or a bit of the 1812 Overture while they watched. Unfortunately, no. So it was not a music video.
Damn. Would have actually been cool if it had had a Slayeresque soundtrack (but we won't get into that).

Anyway. I just thought this was odd to be showing in a music class. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

Em

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: What we learned in music class today

Here is what Em learned in music class today (What Ethan learned for 12 years straight)-public school blows!

[The Eristic]

Re: What we learned in music class today

[ QUOTE ]
public school blows!

[/ QUOTE ]

You don't fail the public education system... the public education system fails you. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[the_drip]

Re: What we learned in music class today

Did you stop to think maybe their was a higher power in teh faculty that was making everyone watch the video?

Maybe it was a Smokey the Bear type thing...and required for everyone to watch at some point. So they chose to cut into music classtime.

[pagemalicious]

Re: What we learned in music class today

You sure they didn't let her watch Terminator 2? [img]/images/graemlins/what.gif[/img]

[Spaceace]

Re: What we learned in music class today

Hay i wint to pubic skool.....and I turned out just fine [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Emthrax]

Re: What we learned in music class today

[ QUOTE ]
Did you stop to think maybe their was a higher power in teh faculty that was making everyone watch the video?

Maybe it was a Smokey the Bear type thing...and required for everyone to watch at some point. So they chose to cut into music classtime.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. I did wonder that and asked her if it was a safety presentation. You know, "what to do in case of fire" or "don't burn your school down" kind of thing.
She said they didn't talk about anything like that, but that doesn't mean they didn't. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[horns666]

Re: What we learned in music class today

I notice that they don't take music seriously at these grade levels..it is basically "free time" ...or they just pass out stupid noise makers and you play to a record..whooooopie...or dance to a britney spears record ...my kid don't do this crap...or wants to!!

My son has always been very musical ...he's a awesome drummer that can hold his own next to just about any drummer in double kick blast beats..

I notice that the kids that are musically advance do very poorly in their schools "music" class because those students ...like my son ...does not take blowing a kazoo along with Charlie the choo choo very seriously as well... [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Once they played a Disney cd and there was a "rap" song on it ...so my son protested ...I was called to the school and I confirmed his protest ....she never played rap again after I enlightened her why I spend $2600 a year to keep him from such crapola

these schools are friggin' clueless .....oh well ..I tell him just shut him to and go with the flow..

[Emthrax]

Re: What we learned in music class today

[ QUOTE ]

these schools are friggin' clueless .....oh well ..I tell him just shut him to and go with the flow..

[/ QUOTE ]

That is what I say. Sort of. [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]
Hard though when you have a mouthy/opinionated child that's an AC/DC fan. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
My kids most likely won't get much of a decent musical education in public school (until high school I suppose), but that's alright. They will get a good one at home (our whole freakin' family is full of musicians) and they can study with private teachers.

I just thought this whole episode was strange. This school, I suspect, sits at the epicenter of the twilight zone.

Em

[horns666]

Re: What we learned in music class today

Yep that true Em ...nevermind the school usic programs at this time ...she had you to guide her in her music goals..

My son Vinny plays a little guitar , is a hell of a drimmer and knows just about every metal band that I know ..he don't have a choice really ..This is the exception not the the rule ..


once a child is exposed to REAL talent and great musical prowess ...like our kids ...then there is no way in hell they could ever take "popular" music seriously ...kids are not stupid ..when they compare the quality of the music calibre of such things ...they make up their own minds to what's obviously superior..

there is no comparison to the music writing of Pop music and music such as Dream Theatre , Symphony X , Coroner , Slayer , Cradle of Filth.....and so on ...and not just metal

Classical , country chicken pickers , jazz players also get a rise out of me and Vinny..

The majority of kids or adults have no clue what this music is ...they are just not exposed to it.

we are privileged outcasts so to speak....of an elite minority.

[the_drip]

Re: What we learned in music class today

you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes of your child's education. ignorance is bliss isn't it.

By January I will be eligible to teach K-12 music classes...there is more to it than ANY thing you people have managed to generalize.

Education has gone by the wayside the last 4 years. Because people are too busy thinking it should be able to keep up with the times with less funding and under-educated teachers... Schools have to settle for hiring crap instructors because they can't afford better. Your fine arts classes get the shaft most often because the majority of people in this country think everyone should be able to solve calculus problems before they're able to create something with their mind.

You can dis the public school systems all you want, but in the end it's our fault that they're not all they're supposed to be cracked up to be.

Private Schools benefit from a much larger budget (in most cases) Due to the fees the parent's pay and are willing to put into their children, unlike the rest of america. Who think education requires the bare minimum in expenses.

Sorry it's not how the world works. Enjoy the extra bucks you save on your taxes while everything goes to **** in the near future.

[RacerX]

Re: What we learned in music class today

[ QUOTE ]
Education has gone by the wayside the last 4 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

Try
the last 40 years

[img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img]

[Emthrax]

Re: What we learned in music class today

[ QUOTE ]
you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes of your child's education. ignorance is bliss isn't it.

Education has gone by the wayside the last 4 years. Because people are too busy thinking it should be able to keep up with the times with less funding and under-educated teachers... Schools have to settle for hiring crap instructors because they can't afford better. Your fine arts classes get the shaft most often because the majority of people in this country think everyone should be able to solve calculus problems before they're able to create something with their mind.

You can dis the public school systems all you want, but in the end it's our fault that they're not all they're supposed to be cracked up to be.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're absolutely right. I don't. And it scares the hell outta me. Ignorance I don't feel is bliss at all. But people accept what is as what it is.
Its lame.
A lot of times parents that stick their noses in things trying to find out how the system works, or offer to lend a hand and ask how to help, just get shot down.
I feel that about the only thing I can do as a parent is to vote and suplement my children in the way I see fit at home. And to support their teachers and school (if they will let you).
It frustrates me to no end that so much emphasis is put into non-creative thought. In Science you get some, granted. And maybe a bit in English- but for the creative and artsy people school is incredibly frustrating. I see my experience happening all over again with my kids.

At least kids like mine and like Bill's and others like us can do what we can. I was lucky to have kickass parents that showed my creative side the same respect.

For teachers, I can't imagine how frustrating this must be. Especially for creative arts teachers. And most especially when other programs encroach upon them not allowing them to teach. BTW- congrats on your teachership!

Anyway, this is an old issue.
Kids that are extremely artistic will eventually go underground, then emerge years later with incredible works of genius. Especially if they were lucky enough to have had parents (and maybe some wickedly cool teachers) that gave them a truly masterful foundation.

Em

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

Re: What we learned in music class today

"You can dis the public school systems all you want, but in the end it's our fault that they're not all they're supposed to be cracked up to be"

I'm sure every public school is diffrent as far as funding, but I don't know if it is "our fault" in our area. The strike that Tim mention left many with a bad taste in their mouth. The paper published what teachers made in this area and it was more that most people made in the area. I think it was up to the 70K range for teachers that have 20 years in. I really don't remember when the last levy failed around here. I think there is a issue, just as most local goverments, that they are not well managed. People that do the bugets have no clue. They built a new High School in Redmond which is fine, but you just know when it is contracted out, some city offical's brother get the contract, no questions asked. Do they really need a elctronic reader board that shows the temp., time and tell you to have a nice day? Stuff like that I would rather see the money go to the students and quality teachers, not image. It's not just schools but any goverment job. They just finished some road work here by adding lane, which it needed, but they spent god knows how much by making the retaining walls sculptured to look like real rock. Just like Disneyland. WTF.

[nor]

Re: What we learned in music class today

Drip - yer just a ray of all-knowing sunshine, 'aintcha. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]