Teachers’ Plates are Too Full
Posted by Marsha on February 22, 2010
There are rumors in my district that elementary art and music is getting cut next year. As with most rumors, I am unsure about the details. But I find it amusing because my elementary school cut art THIS year. Luckily, my boys are in middle and high school, but as I watch the half dozen of kids playing kickball in front of the house, I couldn’t help but feel bad for them, and for their classroom teachers.
Then I followed a tweet from a person commenting about how “sad it is to have kids miss out” on art and music classes and “wish there were some ways to bring it into other subjects…” As a teacher, I can go off on the problems and consequences of said cuts. But I think it is time for the parent in me to speak up.
I am tired of these things being dumped on classroom teachers and tired of people thinking it is OK. It is not OK, nor is it as simple as bringing art and music into other subjects. I value the arts and I want my kids to be taught by a teacher who is not only certified to teach the class, but who specializes in the subject matter. I am not taking anything away from classroom teachers. In fact, I am giving them the respect they deserve. How many subject areas can we expect classroom teachers to be good at? How much can we expect them to do and, at the same time, maintain the level of quality instruction and subject matter expertise that our children deserve?
Times have changed. Teachers today have to meet the changing needs of their students, master the depth of their curriculum, and keep up with every new legislative mandate that comes down the pike. Maybe it is time elementary teachers specialized to some degree. Think about it. Elementary school teachers are generalists; they teach all subjects (reading, writing, language arts, math, science, and social studies). If a music teacher had to plan to teach reading, writing, language arts, math, science, and social studies as well as music, what do you think would become of her music lessons? Quite honestly, I would prefer my children’s teachers have some things removed from their plate so they can focus on a little less and have the chance to do it extremely well.
The teacher in me is well aware that this is not as simple as it sounds and is easier said than done, but sometimes the outsider’s view of a problem can spark a better, fresher solution.
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