Having Feelings Means You Care.

I just received the 2009-10 statistics from the Arts in Schools DOE 2009-10 report, which came out this week, and there are two things you should know:

56% of nyc public schools do not have a full-time music teacher on staff.

Spending on arts materials and supplies in elementary and middle schools decreased by 85% between 2007 and 2010

I am taking this opportunity to blog to P55, because I am mad. I am livid. I am filled with such a passionate rage against the injustice of our education system that I could burst. I am sitting here at this desk feeling every fiber of my being becoming more and more incensed. Spending on the arts in these elementary and middle schools has decreased by 85% …. which means it is at 15% of what it was four years ago! WE ARE DOWN TO 15%!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Breathe, Dominique. Breathe. What really kills me is: think about the disparity of the public school system in this country-- you just know that the spending happening within the walls of those “better” public schools, don’t you? I recently got the opportunity to go to one of our schools and watch ETM’s “Breakfast with the Band” program. I dragged myself out of bed and up to P.S. 76 in the Bronx (an hour and a half on the subway) and I stood near the back of the auditorium. I always knew that our supplemental band programs were amazing, but seeing it first hand was truly wonderful. Onstage, on risers, over a hundred kids played their instruments underneath a school banner. They are amazing. It blows my mind that in the few months since these kids first picked up their instruments, they could perform such fantastic renditions of (to name only a few) “Louie, Louie” and the Mission Impossible Theme Song. The group sound, dynamics, and prowess of each individual section blew me away. They even had band-instrument choreography! The parents of the children sat in the auditorium and cheered after every song. These concerts are early enough that most parents can attend before work, and ETM provides a communal breakfast for the audience and students in the cafeteria. This is just one of the many ways ETM strives to build support for music education within the entire school community. And this one definitely works! As I watched those kids perform, I cried. I mean, I couldn’t help it, it was just so amazing. I felt so proud to work at the organization making this happen. I looked over at my co-worker, Allison, who serves as field supervisor over our music teachers, and has worked in education for years. She was crying too. We were crying because we know what this experience means to those kids and to this community. And we were crying because we know that schools spending less and less on arts education. This year’s number: 15 % of what it was in 2007. 85% less than four years ago. As you can see, this job let’s me feel things. And right now, I feel mad. Right now, I feel ready. Get ready, Foundations. Because I’m about to bring it.