This is really directed to band directors. But what situation are you put in when your best player(s) is/are failing in academics and you have a parade or a BOTB coming up? Do you let the students march, or sit them out until their grades are passing. Or do you as a band director have a certain grade or GPA level set for the students to reach in order to earn certain things for the program?
We all know the rules for UIL. But this is for the events that UIL doesn't affilate with. What is your view on the issue?
Replies
I say, allow them to stay in band, just don't allow them to perform until you see a progress report. At the same time, giving a failing student the opportunity to perform could prevent them from hanging in the streets.
As a former band member and now an educator, my take on this is that those members were well aware of the rules, i.e. GPA/attendance, etc. To participate in any school activity is a privilege not a right. What kind of message is being sent to those who do meet the standards of participation? In these situations, there is a glaring question; Where are the parents and are they addressing this issue? In addition, what is the band director doing? Is he monitoring his students or does he just want a big band? Students today have no excuse, with this little invention called a Computer, they have access to any information they so desire. Before you say they don't have access, check how many have facebook accounts. We cannot allow our kids to develop the mentality that "FAILURE IS AN OPTION."
Don't forget that now many school systems have systems that allow parents to monitor their child's conduct and grades on their computer. So the parents have no excuse either.
Okay. great points. But yes Book, thats what i meant to say, not allow them to perform until improvments have been seen. I only started this because at my old school a few top players have failed consistently all year long and still dont understand why they cannot perform. When a band does not care about grades. That program is setting up for complete failue when the school board or principals come down on them when more then 50% of the program is failing. Failure is not an option by any means. But it gets out of hand when kids give up on school work just because they feel like they can get away with it and still have a chance to perform. But it is really out of hand when these kids failed when they had damn near all the time in the world to study, do work, go to class and fail 3 or 4 classes. Yet they still think they can perform??? Last semester only 8 hours a week in practice. Had chances to go get help before practice. Its pretty obvious in this community(my hometown) most of these parents dont give a damn about their kids. Dont understand how important an education is when most of the families been there for years. How important being a musician is at this period in time. Their kids have a chance to get a scholarship and go to college! But when these kids fail, the students as well as the parents blame the teachers and find it offensive when they say that the child never did his/her work, never came to class, disrupt class and etc... Now do you see the problem???
*DOUBLE THUMBS UP*
gotta raise your standards
Henry Dunn said:
, A student could be failing due to their home situation and may not want to show it, In many cases the parents don't care. especially when the student has an uneducated parent. the Kind that may support the child but they'd present themselves as people who can't do simple tasks on behalf of their child, Then there are those who Don't necessarily care how good or bad they're Children doing in school As long as they're at School. So they complain In defense of their child or in defense of their home situation
They ask..."Why won't you let my baby March in the band?" ...
Because (one or multiple reasons)
IM SORRY MA'AM WE CANT ALLOW HIM TO MARCH UNTILL HE IMPROVES HIS GRADES!...
Sob Story continues ... Yet she answers her Iphone in the midst of her sob story . "Going Off" as if The director is wrong and about how she can't afford to Keep up with her kids...
Yall see where i'm going with this ( i know y'all deal with this every day)
These Bands provide them an Escape route from many situations in and around their home. and if that's where they want to be. Their parent HAS to be involved somehow. Their parent has to know what their kids are doing so they can "HELP" them.. some parent are NO HELP.
I'm not a Band Director, but I've assisted before and I've seen similar happen.
You Hit the Hammer on the head.....
Book said:
great points
Book said:
all this in an ideal situation but stuff aint ideal-
you got cats that wont make it through school let alone life without a band or a sport...
in the past week i've had 2 former bandmembers shot and one killed last month...
and i teach middle school.
e+very situation is unique thats all im saying
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next