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The Town of Falmouth Public Schools Superintendent Mr. Marc Dupuis and the Falmouth School Committee have made the decision NOT to fund the following for the 2010-2011 school year. We must be very vocal in letting them and the community know that this is not acceptable. The music department must remain intact! The items affected are in large bold print and why we must save them are bulleted: ELIMINATION OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT HEAD POSITION, MAKING IT A “COORDINATOR” · Music is a core subject in Massachusetts. The ARTS were made a core subject “alongside math, science, social studies, and Language arts”, as voted by the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1993. Music is a core subject as stated in “The No Child Left Behind Act” and the National Goals 2000. Music teachers all follow the National and State Music Standards and our own Falmouth Music Curriculum, based on these and recently revised and approved in 2009. To fully adhere to the K-12 curriculum, the Music Department must be led by a Department Head. · The school calendar is extensive for seven schools and requires attentive correlation to be effective. · The Music Department Head is the liaison with the Cape Cod Symphony. We are fortunate to partner with the Symphony. · The Music Department Head is obliged to supervise the “Music Memory” Grant Grade 3-6. · If this is changed to a Coordinator position, this would be in ADDITION to a music teacher’s teaching responsibilities. · Because of the specialization of music education, the development in teaching methodology and advancements in music technology, it is necessary to have the Department Head oversee and evaluate Falmouth music teachers. · Music Teachers require a leader to help them work together for the overwhelming number of instrumental and choral students, as well as students in all of the general music classes K-7. · NOT FUNDING THE 4TH GRADE AFTER SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM · There are currently 168 students in this program. It fuels grades 5 – 12 Instrumental Music. What will happen if this is eliminated? Where will our instrumental program be in 5 years? · It is taught by non-compensated Falmouth High School Students who are members of the Tri-M National Music Honors Society and the National Honor Society. · The total cost of this program for the entire year is $5,000.00 - This will be funded by the Falmouth Education Foundation for the 2010-2011 School year. Thank you FEF! NOT FUNDING AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES – THIS INCLUDES: MORSE POND HOT JAZZ AND THE LAWRENCE JAZZ BAND and JAZZ CHOIRS · These bands and choirs bring out the best in our instrumental and vocal musicians. They are learning an entire new style of music. It prepares them for the ensembles at the High School level. The research is overwhelming with regard to how music influences the development of the brain. The majority of students in the National Honor Society are music students, and almost every student that has been awarded the Superintendent’s Award has been a music student. Music helps students in the other core areas, and the College Board each year reports that students who participate in music score significantly in the SAT scores. We need to become very vocal NOW! Letters to the editors: Falmouth Enterprise, Falmouth Bulletin and Cape Cod Times. The Superintendent and ALL school committee members need to hear from every single parent and supporter of Falmouth Music. This is the only chance we have of keeping our stellar program intact!! We do not want to lose anything that has been worked for through years of hard work! Please write a letter or send emails. The e-mail address for Mr. Dupuis and all School Committee Members are on the Town of Falmouth School Website: www.falmouth.k12.ma.us On a national average 10% of students are involved in music (outside the required music classes) – in Falmouth that number is 20%!! From our ensembles in Falmouth, 50 students have gone on to study music in college, some with Doctorates, and have successful careers in music.We have 445 band students involved in Instrumental Music gr. 5-12 and 168 students participating in the 4th grade instrumental program. This does not include the string Chamber Ensembles in grade 5-12 or the large number of choral students in all of the various choruses Gr. 5-12. Please be vocal. If you need further information, please contact Jan Heckler Souweine, President of the Falmouth Band Parents at
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or evenings at 508 540-1303. |
