Andrew Greeley, a Catholic priest and prolific novelist,
asked, “What would the world be like without music?” Greeley concluded, “We
would still be humans and life would go on, but it would be much more difficult
to mourn our losses and celebrate our loves.” I thought about his words as I
left Ashland University’s Hugo Young Theater last Friday night, filled to the
brim with the magical music featured in the concluding program of the annual
Maplerock Jazz Festival.
What a gift we are given in music. As a young child, my dad
faithfully drove me to piano lesson with Miss Wambgantz, an elderly German
woman with a thick accent. Each week, my parents paid for that lesson, likely a
financial hardship in the weeks of unemployment my carpenter father faced
during Buffalo’s harsh winters. So yes, enthusiastic about it or not, I was
expected to practice every day, even sunny days when my friends were gathering
outside.
Over time, the music began to seep into my soul. I couldn’t
wait to become a fifth-grader, the year instrumental music started in school.
Group flute lessons led to the fledgling fifth grade band, and we were so
enthralled with our ability to make music together that we formed a
neighborhood combo. In junior high school I switched to bassoon, and over the
next six years, I spent just about every study hall in the band room.
But what if there had been no music classes, no band, no
choir, no musical? The joy of music is one of the reasons I’m paying attention
to what’s going on in Ohio with the 5 to 8 rule. It’s been in effect since
1983, and requires school districts to hire five of eight specialized staff or
teachers for every one thousand students. These specialties include librarians,
music, art, and physical education teachers, social workers, nurses, counselors
and visiting teachers. In effect, the law has said that no matter whether a
child is poor or wealthy, his or her school must go beyond the common core
(what we used to call reading, writing and arithmetic), and offer classes and
supports that enrich the life of each student far into adulthood.
In December 2014, the first step in eliminating this law was taken by the Ohio Board of Education as they voted to repeal that language. While it’s not a done deal yet, about ten days ago, the legislative Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review rejected an effort to quash the proposal by a 6-4 vote. So unless the OBE has a change of heart, the rule change will be confirmed at their May meeting.
Generally,
the most obvious way to balance a school district budget is to cut personnel
costs. Local school superintendents have numerous mandates and many fixed
costs, so without the mandate of the law, struggling school districts may
choose to have one less music teacher, librarian, guidance counselor or art
teacher.
Supporters
of the rule change want to give more flexibility to the local school districts
in these matters, and say the rule really isn’t needed. State board member Ron
Ruddick explains why he supported the change: “I’m familiar with a lot of
superintendents throughout the state. And I just think districts are going to
do what’s right for kids.”
Perhaps
he’s right. My parents did what was right for me, although the cost of lessons
must have stretched the family resources at times. But not all parents make the
right choice. Will all school districts?
Jazz
pianist Benny Green, one of the guests at the Ashland University jazz festival
who brought such delight to the audience last weekend, says it this way: “I’ve
had so much help and support in my life. Today I realize that the nature of
true foundational support is that it continues and it deepens – its effect on
one’s life spreads far and wide to others.” Here’s hoping that the common core
of foundational support that our kids need to thrive into adulthood will continue
to include the gift of music, spreading far and wide to others. For indeed,
what would the world be like without music?