Suggestions for Public Education

This will be a developing entry - stay tuned.

I try to implement the following rules in regard to my own classroom teaching, and feel that holding myself to pursuing the following these points is the best way to teach a love of music. Unfortunately, there are many in public education who do not see the necessity of the following, or, if they do, only give them lip-service.

1. "Structure and Discipline"

2. "Be Consistent"

3. "Keep It Simple Stupid"

Point 1:

Structure and Discipline have to be a public education institution's modus operandi. Forget standards, forget testing, forget diversity, forget [insert random educational buzzword here]. Students need structure and they require discipline when they diverge from said structure. Countless psychological studies have proven that school-age children crave boundaries (although they will invariably test those guidelines). Being that less and less children are getting real love and discipline at home due to the breakdown of the American family unit, the school has to step it up a notch.
Although one could argue interminably for standards and testing, if a student has not been trained to sit quietly through the test, then all is for naught. If a student cannot be still enough for me to show him how to place his hands on the clarinet, how can I ever teach him the finer mechanics of playing the instrument.
I always look to the military for encouragement. The U.S. Military system takes young men and women from all walks of life, many of whom probably graduated from sub-standard schools, and quickly and efficiently (8-13 weeks) turns them into trained, disciplined, fighting forces. How does such happen? The answer: Structure and Discipline. Recruits are told what to wear, when to wear it, when to go to bed, when to wake up, where to walk, how to walk, how fast to walk, when to pee, when to shower, and I could go on. When you take away independence and dictate behavior with consequences for deviance, the individual can be trained to do almost anything.
Too much of public education is based on an oozy-schmoozy concept of "diversity," "independence" and "self-expression" - so much so that misbehavior is often written off as awkward self-expression, and deviance from structure highlighted as "independent thinking." "Bull" is the only word I can utter. Six-year-olds aren't ready to think independently, nor are they mature enough to understand proper self-expression - many barely know how to keep their clothes on, much less how to think outside of the box. Don't get me wrong - I don't have a problem with real diversity or independent thinking. I would react with jubilation if a child told me he wanted to take a project in a different direction that what I originally outlined, or if a student told me she wanted us to do a unit on jazz because she's interested in Charlie Parker (that's truly independent thinking). However, if that independence involves dry-humping the chair instead of singing (I see this at least once a week - no joke) or bludgeoning a fellow student with rhythm sticks, then the behavior can't be tolerated.
I believe the above is fairly sensical, but I cannot count the times I've seen administration or fellow teachers write off blatant misbehavior as self-expression. I've also been castigated for "exacerbating" a situation by trying to correct misbehavior. Unfortunately, the true exacerbation occurs in coddling deviant behavior. When deviant behavior is coddled, it becomes "normal" behavior. Unfortunately, in my opinion, far too often today in public schools misbehavior is the norm, and correct behavior is sporadic at best. The only way to correct this problem is with appropriate structure and discipline that is applied consistently.

Point 2:

Consistency:

Veteran teachers and mentors have sternly warned me time and time again that students can read inconsistency - my (however limited) experience, corroborates this claim. Unfortunately, students can read inconsistency from administration as well.

TBC......

January = Crazy

January has attacked in full frontal assault, I can barely keep my battle line from collapsing. It's certainly keeping me busy.

The opening of our new school facility was delayed until February. Such was not a big surprise (considering I do work for the government). However, it has thrown a kink into my teaching. I am so excited about having a smart board, a decent stereo, suitable classroom furniture, etc. But, alas, right now I'm still stuck in the moldy, climatically calamitous, and otherwise smelly trailer interesting for another few weeks. I'll do my best to survive on the dinky boombox and the manual whiteboard. (Don't worry kids, the composer intended for that skip to be in there....)

Everyday I feel as if I confront mediocrity headlong - and somedays I feel as if I lose handily. I am constantly reminded of the overwhelming absence of God, and, consequently, Integrity, in our culture. Incessant, lying, bickering, back-biting, and jealousy plague my charges, and the "it's all about me attitude" rules the day. I only hope that my teaching, and the example I set before my students will put these false gods of self and decadence to death. It is truly a mission field and I pray God give me the strength to keep up the good fight.

I was reminded today about the role of consequences in life in the story of Moses. Moses, who had long fought the good fight for God's people was not allowed to set foot in the Promised Land because he broke God's command by striking the rock. Moses - a pinnacle figure in the Bible and world history suffered a consequence for a failure of judgment. In our culture, consequences are passe. Politicians, preachers, and worst, children (students) are excused from the consequences of their bad decisions, and naturally, they continue practice poor decision making. Why on earth parents and leaders think that by removing or severely diminishing consequences we are being kind to our children, I will never know. The Lord uses earthly consequences to admonish his chosen - how much more should we raise our children and hold our leaders accountable by letting the due consequences come to fruition. Only when we as a culture rediscover that actions breed consequences, will we again see the flourishing of our culture and nation.

In other news, I'm keeping at the banjo. Flaky callouses now grace all of the fingers on my left hand, and my right hand spontaneously wants to run through picking patterns on any available surface. I am finding a great deal of pleasure in the instrument. I am so glad that I have been able to discover the simple richness of bluegrass. I hope that as I progress that I can put this new instrument to use, not only in school, but in the service of my Lord in all things.

Until the next update (who knows when that'll be) I'll be working to teach tomorrow's generation and pour out the rich wine of musical goodness over everything and everybody I come into contact with.

Well, updating has faltered severely.

Here's a brief update of the end of the semester:

-Our Christmas show for the school PTA went very well (especially considering that over half the kids were absent and we had understudies appointed the day of the performance filling major parts). Our first show for the Boys and Girls Club of Charleston was far better than the school performance, just because of numbers.

-I got a banjo for Christmas from my lovely wife. I'm still figuring out a method book to purchase, but I am looking forward to getting started learning bluegrass/Scruggs style. It's going to be a major adventure considering I've never played a stringed instrument before. Just tuning the thing is a tumultuous experience.

-Spent most of the Christmas holiday in Texas with Shari's family. It was a great time. Got to spend oodoodles of time with the extended family (which we hadn't seen for 1 1/2 years) and see some dear friends. We also visited the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas and I brought home some brew (wrapped in dirty socks no less) which I am currently slowly savoring.

Lots more is happening - but I can only spend so much time on here.

The Holidays are Upon Us

Here's some of what's going on in the world of this slightly irascible music teacher:

Planning a Christmas (oops, Holiday) program for the kiddos with our drama teacher. It's going to include some combination of skits and our newly formed choir singing "Nuttin' for Christmas."

Considering proposing a summer course for the district's Fine Arts Gifted and Talented program on American Bluegrass/Country Music (the early Country, not this modern pop crud)

Getting ready for the church's Christmas music program.

Playing with the Community Band (four concerts in about as many weeks, whew!)

Trying to teach kids about music

Blog Remodel

I decided to can the previous blog in favor of a fresh start. Said decision was due in large part to the fact that the previous "blog" was little more than sparse ramblings and rantings rather than anything regularly updated.

However, I'm starting over, with the lofty intention of updating once per week. This lofty intention will probably go the same way as most lofty intentions, but, nonetheless, better a lofty intention than none.

Check back for my musings about music and life.