ANGRY PARENTS HIT OUT AT COUNCIL

- Wendy proposes 3 point plan to clear up the mess -

Angry parents have hit back at Council claims PDE 13/3/09, that cutting instrument tuition “will not affect a single school music department or any child who is studying towards a standard grade or any other music qualification.”

The parents wrote to Wendy Alexander who is leading a campaign against the cuts. They ridiculed the statements to the Paisley Daily Express by a council spokesperson.

Parent Ian Pye wrote:

“I have a daughter who is entering her 3rd year at Park Mains High School this summer and one of her chosen subjects is Music.  I am extremely disappointed with the council after hearing about the cuts to her Music tuition that she will receive after April this year.

The council is wrong to say that the cuts “will not affect … any child who is studying towards a standard grade” Paisley Daily Express as two of the four main elements of the course are “Solo performance” in two instruments and “Group performance”.  Therefore, it appears that the council have no understanding on how pupils are expected to pass these musical performance elements by attending one 20 minute lesson every two weeks – that will amount to around only 10 hours of tuition per year!

If both cuts go ahead, I will have no choice but to seek private tuition for my daughter to give her the necessary skills to pass her music standard grade thus making this an elite subject and contrary to the curriculum for excellence.”

A local teacher, who has to remain anonymous, wrote:

“Particularly disheartening is the dismissive attitude of councillors when challenged on the subject. They are also being desperately disingenuous – according to the Paisley Daily Express. A council spokesman said: ‘These changes will not affect a single school music department or any child who is studying towards a standard grade or any other music qualification.’

I work as a class teacher in a local secondary music school music department, and this assertion is utter rubbish. This proposal will, without question, very badly affect all school music departments and pupil achievement. The fact that children understand this fully, yet the quoted council spokesman lacks the honesty to admit this, makes my blood boil. Like others I fear disciplinary action from the council if I make my views public.

Thank you for your support so far in this matter. Please keep fighting! Music services are an all-too-easy target for cuts, but this threatened service is crucial if schools are to deliver a quality music education.”

Wendy said:

“It is wrong for the Council to pretend their plans will not hit music in Renfrewshire and music students. It is wrong there has been no statement of policy to schools or parents. It is wrong parents do not even know if the current charges are to remain although lessons are being halved”

Wendy added:

It is time for the Council to admit it has got it wrong. This “musical madness” is attracting criticism across the country. I have written to the Director of Education proposing a three point plan to clear up the mess:

1. Immediate withdrawal of proposals and full review of instrument teaching
2. No compulsory redundancies of music staff.
3. No disciplinary action against staff who speak out in favour of weekly lessons.

This universally condemned plan to halve tuition could be scrapped for less than £143,000 next year. This is less than a tenth of the £2 million sum the Council are putting into balances next year. It is time to stop the musical madness and think again.”