Comments on: High School Musical Redux

By: Karin

Karin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:39:04 +0000

Leslie, that clip was fabulous. Your daughter really does have a strong voice. It was a pleasure to watch and listen.

Having a fear of rejection, since all of the choir groups at my school required an audition, I never participated in any of them. However, I always enjoyed going to the school plays. I agree with everyone here that something needs to be done with the public education system to prevent the total loss of arts and phys. ed. in the schools. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them, even though I spent my last two years in high school in strictly academic classes (being a huge nerd).

Either way, the fact that my niece and nephews who are in first and second grade have homework every night is just mind boggling to me. Teaching to the test is not what is supposed to happen, but it’s what is happening since test scores are now determining funding to some districts where I live. Test scores are also affecting teacher salaries, which is prevents teachers from doing anything other than teach to the test. *sigh*

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:53:58 +0000

Patricia–funny that you mention the marching band. That’s what got cut at the school! The music teacher went to half time because they got rid of his marching band classes and divided his remaining ones between the two semesters, 2 classes each (so he’d work half time and lose his benefits!) He’s a great teacher, everybody is sure he’ll now leave, it’s just such a shame.

Meanwhile, they offered to allow him to continue teaching marching band, after school hours, very a very modest amount.

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:50:16 +0000

Aww, thanks everybody for letting me be a proud mama. I truly am.

And lots of interesting opinions on the arts issue. It really does seem that everything is getting shoved aside so our kids can be better test takers.

How, though, does that prepare them for real life?!?

By: Estella

Estella — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:20:48 +0000

You must be soooo proud of her!

By: Michelle J.

Michelle J. — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:16:06 +0000

Wow that was great! You must be so proud! I know I would be. Congrats to middle daughter!

By: BadBarb

BadBarb — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:12:57 +0000

Your daughter was very good.
After seeing my first play last weekend I want to see more.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:44:16 +0000

Ev! A fellow TECHIE!!! Techies rule! Set construction, stage crew, lighting, stage managing. That was my thing. Then they lured me out onto the stage. But I’ll always be a techie at heart.

By the way, the first time I ever saw Leslie she was on stage in a musical. And she was 16. Someday she’ll have to tell you about how we met three years later…yep…in a play. And people wonder why we’re such a theater family.

By: Patricia Cochran

Patricia Cochran — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:43:55 +0000

All four of our children and the children of friends were in the middle and high school band
programs. We all were there right along with our children for concerts, football games
with the marching band, and trips to competitions. The “powers that be” don’t realize
that they will be depriving families of a most important opportunity for a bonding and
closeness that is most important in family life. My husband and I were members of the
band parents group for 17 years and I was a volunteer in the schools that our children
attended for 25 years. Did we do this to get to free football games and concerts? No
way! We did this in support of our children, our family, the other band students and
their families! We have not lost any of these programs in our district, but have heard
rumbles from other districts. Let’s pray someone will get through to these people and
return the arts to the schools that have lost them!!!

Pat Cochran

By: katie

katie — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:45:58 +0000

Julie and flip…I totally agree. My middle boy (in kindergarten) has homework every night (not a biggie, usually lasts about 15 or 20 minutes). I once got homework from my youngest’s preschool teacher (okay, he is 3). I was a little shocked at that one.

Last year, my oldest had three P.E.s (two with the typical class and one with the special ed class) and that really helped his weight issues (he’s stocky) AND he has music twice a week.

Janelle…glad to hear you are safe (and everyone else down there), hugs to all of the Virginia folks…

By: Donna M

Donna M — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:38:01 +0000

When I was in school I usually was in some kind of music class that involved singing, chorus or something! I did participate in a couple of school plays. In High School I was in girls chorus & was good enough to sing small solos at different times. Now I sound like a frog with a problem! When my voice was properly exercised in class everyday I sounded quite good!! My daughters were active in school plays. The oldest was the good witch, Glenda, when her school did the Wizard of Oz and younger was a mouse in Wind in the Willows. My oldest was also in band all through middle school & high school, she played flute. In fact that is how she & her now husband got acquainted they were both in band in high school. My oldest grandson plays guitar, has had a bit of piano & is interested in learning other instruments, he likes music. The other two grandchildren have taken some music lessons also, private though, not connected to school. My youngest grandson played Pinocchio in the play last year at his school, he was so good! You may recall me bragging about it! Now his sister is going to be in The Jungle Book at the same school. She is going to be part of Kaa. Sadly I am not going to get to go see her!
I hate to see the arts or sports either one get slashed at the schools, both are needed so these kids are getting exposure to more than readin, writin & rithmetic! Sports & the arts give them more of an incentive to do well with their studies. It seems though that those two are always the first programs to be threatend & they are so important. If the schools don’t have those some of these kids would never be exposed to finding out if they enjoy music, art, sports. None of us is one dimensional!!
Kudos to your daughter Leslie. I’m sure you & Bruce were proud parents. Thanks for sharing the video with us.