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General Music Education Course Eliminated Part of the budget reductions for 2004 - 2005, included the elimination of the course "Musical Keyboard & Guitar" for all 7th graders in the school district. There are over 100, 7th grade students currently enrolled in this class. The PTSA and other concerned citizens, contacted Mr. Melvin Pontious, State Fine Arts Consultant for the Department of Public Instruction. Below is an email that Mr. Pontious sent to the school district, after he was notified of the impending cut. From:
Pontious, Melvin DPI Dear Charles: Thanks for your January 19th email! I would have replied sooner but I've been out of the office from the 19th until this Wednesday for a variety of meetings and presentations out of the office and out of state. I do indeed remember the Stevens Point audit, back in the early nineties I believe, when you were music coordinator and Pat Lewis was principal at Washington. Your question about canceling 7th and 8th grade general music is worrisome. The short answer is that it is not legal. The explanation is longer but important. The full answer is in the administrative rule for Standard j of the Wisconsin Educational Standards (enacted ca. 1985), which I have attached. The last sentence of the rule states that "Music instruction including general, vocal music, and instrumental music shall be available to all students in grades 7-12 and shall be taught by a licensed music teacher." Note that the clarification of that sentence states that "One offering of each type in the middle or junior high school and one offering of each type in the high school will meet the requirement only if it can be elected by students in each grade level." This last sentence pertains to any elective course that districts are required to offer. It means that if even a single student elects such a course, that student may not be denied access. "Access" is defined (p. 73, Wisconsin Educational Standards, DPI, 1991) as "An opportunity to study through school district course offerings, independent study, cooperative educational service agencies, or cooperative arrangements between school district boards under s. 66.30, Stats., and postsecondary institutions." (PI 8.001, Wis. Admin. Code). Although high school was not part of your question, note that general music classes must be available to high school students such that if a student elected a general music class each year from 7th through 12th grade, that student would not have to repeat a course, or repeat it at the same level. At the high school, districts do not have to offer all four courses the same year. Offering one each year in a 4-year cycle would fulfill the requirement. The point of regarding an ensemble as a "non-performance" course is puzzling. "Non-performance" refers to general music and was adopted in an effort to free educators from thinking of general music as a basal text-centered course, as some were wont to do in the past. The three learning modes in music are performing, creating, and responding, and all music classes should include appropriate aspects of each. Guitar, electronic music, keyboard class, etc. are regarded as "non-performance" because the main point of the course is not a concert or recital but learning ways of "doing" music that individual students can carry into life beyond school. This does not mean, of course, that demonstrating their learning before an audience is inappropriate. Ensemble classes are performance classes, and this status is unaffected by any school policies governing attendance at performances. The presentation of performances is an expectation of the class and represents a culmination of the work they have done and the standards they have achieved. Because considering ensembles as non-performance classes is such a stretch, this is not spelled out in the administrative rules. While it would be simpler for all if laws and rules were written so that every contingency were covered, the law books would grow exponentially and still not cover all the exceptions that the human mind could imagine. The concept of the rule of law is based on commonly held beliefs, understandings, interpretations, and assumptions regarding acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and practices. The Educational Standards were developed on the framework of such assumptions, interpretations, and understandings. It was and is commonly understood that band, choir, and orchestra are performance classes, and general music classes are those that promote a general understanding of music, without a central purpose of public performance. In grades 7-12 general music it is most appropriate for students to branch out and explore aspects of music learned in K-6 - composing, performing on other than traditional ensemble instruments, analyzing, responding, learning music theory, etc. Charles, I have also attached three other items - "Music in Wisconsin Schools," which quotes the administrative rules of Standards j, k, and L and discusses their meaning, with an FAQ at the end; and two items on secondary general music. Please contact me if this overly long answer doesn't clarify the questions you asked! Incidentally, when I reply to a citizen, parent, or teacher, I also copy or notify other concerned parties of my reply in the interest of open communication. Consequently, note that I have copied this note to the administrator and board president. Again, thanks for your note! Please let me
know if I may be of further help. Mel Pontious
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