What Has Happened To The Minor Hill Band Program?
What once was a very active Band program now seems to have all but vanished?
Is it due to a lack of interest on the part of the students, the staff or the parents? Perhaps it’s a combination of all three or something totally different.
Perhaps priorities have changed such that the band no longer matters? Allen Barrett
Is it due to a lack of interest on the part of the students, the staff or the parents? Perhaps it’s a combination of all three or something totally different.
Perhaps priorities have changed such that the band no longer matters? Allen Barrett
posted by Allen Barrett | 9:54 AM
10 Comments:
Is it true that thre are less than ten people in the band now?
This is Michele Stephens, President of the GCHS Bandbackers.
I have been told the reason the number of band students is down at Minor Hill is because band has been pushed to meet at 7:15 in the morning (and has for a 1-2 years, if I understand correctly). Though band is considered an academic class (students receive credit for it at the high school), at Minor Hill band is forced to meet outside the school day. Most kids do not want to get up that early every day, even for something they really love...and most parents don't have a way to get them there that early. I know the parents from Minor Hill, as well as the band directors (who have requested a different time, and feel the needs of the program are not being considered) are very interested in addressing this.
As I understand it, all scheduling decisions are made by the Minor Hill principal.
There are many studies that prove those who study music, specifically instrumental music, actually score higher on their SAT tests (college prep test). Over the last few years, band students graduating GCHS have been offered thousands and thousands of dollars in scholarships to play band in college - regardless of the student's major.
A good case could be made for saying that the skills learned in band assist many students in paying their college expenses. We suggest the district should be doing all they can to make this program available and to encourage participation in it and we have faith they will address and correct this issue.
As I understand it, all scheduling decisions are made by the Minor Hill principal.
Did that answer your question?
so if the principal schedules math for 7AM there's no problem or if he schedules PE at 4:30 PM that would be no problem? Amazing, simply amazing.
Is school opened at 7 am?
No principal schedules Math, Science, History and English at 7am.
Nothing was said about 4;30 pm on band.
Wonder if they would of gone to band practice if it had been at 3:00 pm?
What's amazing is how they can go for football practice after school hours.
Thanks to Michele Stephens for her response.
This is clearly another example of accomplishment being punished instead of rewarded while those with weaker grades are protected from facing their personal responsibilities.
Simply why are those students who excel forced to endure the same restrictive requirements as those who show less accomplishment?
The previous writers obviously don't have a lot of knowledge about the schedule at Minor Hill School, so I will enlighten you. The buses unload at Minor Hill at 7:15 each morning. Therefore, the parents are not caused any undue problems with having to drag themselves out of bed to get their band students to school any earlier than any other Minor Hill School student, band or otherwise. Seventh and Eighth grade Band meets at 7:15 which is as soon as the students arrive on the buses. Of course if the band student is not in the Minor Hill School District and not able to ride the bus, I guess the parent would have to bring him/her to school in time for band. If that is a problem, however, the student could attend the school he/she is zoned for, a school where the band scheduling is more to the parent's liking as well. The sixth grade band meets at the same time it has always met, which is at 8:45 in the morning. If there is a drop in the number of band students at Minor Hill, a possible explanation could be that at present there is not as much interest in band as there has been in previous years. Many students begin band in the sixth grade, but several of them drop out before the end of the first six weeks. This is obviously not in dread of the early hour that they might have to have band in the seventh grade, but rather it might be caused by the realization that band is not a crip course. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. You have to be willing to do a lot more than be at school at 7:15. You have to practice, work very hard, and purchase an instrument (which is no small feat in today's economy).
While we're on the subject of band class and the timing of it, the writer should be enlightened about the many hours after school that the same students might be required to attend after school, and Saturday practices, private lessons etc. once they enter the GCHS Band. The 7:15 arrival won't seem like such an imposition when examined beside the afternoon sectionals 1 day each week until 4:30 and the Tuesday/Thursday practices every week which are scheduled from 5:00-8:30, but more often than not are actually more like 4:30 to 9:00 (at least that was my experience when I had a band member that I had to get to those practices.) Don't get me wrong, I really love band, and I think it is well worth the effort, but I do think some of the people who post to this distinguished forum should take the advice of a scholar of old..."Speak not of that which ye know not of..."
I drop my children off at Minor Hill School at 7:15. i have one of the two children that are in the Minor Hill eighth grade band. I meet buses going to Minor Hill School on my way out of town, so not all buses get there by 7:15. This is just the time the school opens the doors to allow students to enter. What is a band student needs to eat breakfast at school? They will have to choose between eating breakfast and attending class that they would get a grade for if only the band instructor was allowed access to the report cards so that he could give a grade. Reports cards are printed on line and the band director is not given access to post grades. Parents of band students understand that when they enter high school, band is very demanding. There are alot of practices, ball games and competitions. You don't have this in junior high, so junior high band is not so demanding that it makes students want to quit between 6th and 7th grade. Students are not made to purchase their own instrument if they can't afford it. Many students rent their instruments and those that choose to buy are set up on payment plans so they don't have to pay in one lump sum. Why is it that the other "feeder" schools for the High School band (ex: Elkton & Bridgeforth) somehow manage to have their band meet at an appropriate time during regular school hours? I'm sure the state demands that all schools teach the same classes, so why is it that Minor Hill students are told that there is not enough time in the day to get the classes the state demand they have plus band? The other schools do it. So before anyone starts calling the kids slackers for not committing or the parents for being cheap for not buying instruments, they should get the class schedules from Elkton and Bridgeforth and take them to Minor Hill and ask the principle why she can't schedule her school days like them.
The simple truth of the matter is that the principal at Minor Hill has no affection for the band and thus does not see it as important or a priority. She's been there too long
wonder how she feels about taking Shirey's old job but that's right her husband wasn't elected to the school board.
Mrs. Stogner has the equivalence to "Short Man Syndrome". She takes advantage of being a principal. She humiliates the students as punishment, she talks down to the teachers and parents. Controlling the band is just another example. Band students are usually the smartest kids in the school. She wants to use the first 30 min. for reading. If you can read music then you can read anything. It's a power thing and parents need to get one spokesperson and go to the board of education.
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