Well, we know Superintendent Weast isn't preserving music and art programs in schools. Take the recent devastating cuts of the choral teacher at Silver Spring International Middle School and the visual art teacher at Einstein High School. We know that the Arts aren't included on Superintendent Weast's "Seven Keys" plan and aren't part of his presentations as he tours the country and the world touting his success as a Superintendent.
What's Superintendent Weast missing? He's missing rising Blair junior Nathan Foley for one.
He's missing that some students have incredible gifts in art, music, and orchestra. Gifts that allow them to achieve to their fullest potential. Gifts that let them soar. Gifts that make them whole and enrich their learning in all areas of education.
Start your July 4th celebration by enjoying the gift that Nathan Foley brings to Montgomery County.
In this video of the Martin Luther King Day Celebration in Rockville, Maryland, fast forward to 1:46:46 to hear a full song by 15 year old guitarist Nathan Foley. Turn up the volume, sit back, and enjoy!
Below is the Apollo Theater's video promotion for Nathan Foley's upcoming competition on July 21, 2010.
As you gaze at the sky tonight, hope that in the future all MCPS students will have the opportunity to make their own "fireworks" and soar!
Weast is a public employee whose job it is to carry out what our elected Board of Eduction members direct him to do. If you voted for this Board, this is what you want. It is your Board of Education that is cutting out the music arts, languages and humanities in Montgomery County Public schools.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is that the arts are often a student's ticket into college. I get so frustrated when I read the Seven Keys. My oldest child met all of the keys and lasted a semester in college. My youngest only met one (SAT scores)--never took an AP class, but was a phenomenal musician. He was accepted at all the schools he applied to and he received some decent scholarship money to boot. MCPS is pursuing a one-size-fits-all solution to education and it is damaging to some kids. Without the arts, my kids would have probably not made it through high school successfully. As a music teacher, I see kids who need to be in the arts but they are steered away from them when they go to middle school. It's very sad.
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