By RONALD ZAJAC, THE RECORDER AND TIMES
Posted 16 hours ago
A petition calling on the province to make music a "protected" subject has gathered more than 1,600 signatures, leading one of its proponents to hope for action at Queen's Park.
"My hope is that this isn't going to be a politicized issue, but that it's going to have support from all parties because it's the right thing to do for kids," Dr. Denise Bowes told The Recorder and Times Thursday.
Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark submitted the petition to the legislature on the first day of its new session Tuesday afternoon.
The petition calls on the provincial education minister to make music a "protected" subject in elementary schools.
It adds that, "according to a 2010 Coalition for Music Education study, 58 per cent of all elementary schools in Ontario are without a qualified music teacher capable of teaching the ministry curriculum."
"Protecting music in elementary schools would ensure children benefit from the many positive aspects of this essential subject," it adds.
Clark, who launched the petition on Dec. 11, said it has gathered more than 1,600 signatures from across Leeds- Grenville, as well as communities all over Eastern Ontario.
Bowes and fellow Brockville and Area Music and Performing Arts Hall of Fame member Joy Goodfellow, through their Mandate for Music group, have expressed concerns to the Upper Canada District School Board about the lack of elementary music instruction within the board's schools.
In November, the pair suggested the board lobby the ministry to make music a protected subject in its schools.
Goodfellow said she is concerned about how the campaign at the provincial level will fare in the wake of the recent report by economist Don Drummond recommending deep cuts to tackle Ontario's debt crisis.
On the other hand, Goodfellow is encouraged by the introduction of specialty schools, including choir schools, in the Toronto public board and said the Upper Canada board should try the same thing.
"I think the best thing that we have done is raise the profile," she said.
However, Goodfellow is disappointed at how few parents appear to have come on board with the campaign.
"They seem to think that there's nothing they can do," she said.
"We're not giving up," added Goodfellow.
Upper Canada District School Board director of education David Thomas said Jim Palmer, a music teacher at Athens District High School and chairman of the committee that oversees the board's arts charter, is now conducting a comprehensive review of the board's arts programs, including music.
The director warned there are complications to declaring something a "protected" subject.
First, it could upset the balance in the overall provincial curriculum, said Thomas.
"We have inspired, enthusiastic, dedicated teachers of science or math who would say: 'Why wouldn't you have protected status for that?'"
Also, declaring music protected could pose difficulties with labour relations, said Thomas. Currently, collective agreements with teachers' unions privilege seniority, a system that could be upset if certain skill-sets trump others.
Marg Merpaw, the Upper Canada representative for the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, could not be reached for comment.
Still, Thomas agrees music instruction is important.
"We're not against this at all," he said.
"We really want a vibrant, lively and relevant music program in all of our schools."
Clark, whose party forms the official Opposition to the Liberal minority government at Queen's Park, said Education Minister Laurel Broten will now have to respond in writing to the petition.
On the matter of the Drummond report, Clark said the McGuinty government has yet to answer clearly the questions about how it will implement its recommendations.
Clark suggested that need not preclude strengthening music education.
"If you're going to give people quality instruction, you have to have a qualified instructor," said Clark.
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Source: http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3481645
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