When I arrived at Algonquin there were 621 students roaming the hallways. As the baby boomer's children grow to high school age, the population of the middle school is shrinking. The decline in the auto industry doesn't help enrollment either. This years population is at 538 students. When I prepared the master schedule for this year I reduced staffing. Over the last three years the school went from eight sections of each class to six sections. The staff, students, and parents see empty rooms where learning was taking place.
Next year the projection is for the school to have 520 students. I will need to rightsize the building for the smaller student population. Sound easy? Well, the reduction will not be easy.
The smallest grade is projected to be 168 students. That number of students will require a minimum of six sections of each core class. Since I can't make a cut in a core section, I need to look at the unified arts. (PE, Computers, Spanish, Art) If band and choir take students during the unified art time in the schedule it will be possible to cut one of the positions. So what position should be cut?
Clearly each area is important. Spanish at the middle school is part of the new Michigan graduation requirement in Algonac's school district. So, Spanish is the first position off the block.
The rest, to be continued.....
What would you keep next?
posted by MiddleSchoolPrincipal @ 5:11 PM
11 Comments:
In studies, it shows that visual art helps students in many of their core classes such as science and math. It helps develop their creative thinking skills, which in turn helps in understanding equations more completely. I personlly would not have passed math if I did not have advanced creative thinking skills. It is also one of the only reasons I made it through school at all, with out visual arts I more than likely would have dropped out. I also believe that it gives troubled children an outlet for their problems other then getting themselves into trouble. As I have had many friends in said situation and visual art was their way of coping with their troubles. The visual arts also give them a new perspective on history, and a different way to learn about the past of different cultures. Which the regular history class does not have enough time to cover. Also with the automotive industry slowly coming to an end, todays children will need creative learning to be better suited for the next generation of jobs. In closing without visual arts the development of creative learning will stunt the growth of our students and hinder thier ability to cope with their inner stuggles. As well as diminish their ability to progess in the real world.
I agree with the previous post. I think it is rediculous that Spanish is required for graduation, and arts will be sacrificed. I'm not saying that learning a foreign language is bad, but it is important that children get a chance to express themselves and tap into their creativity.
Why is Spanish the chosen language anyway? The only argument I've ever heard is that it is the second-most spoken language in the United States. In my mind, that is a terrible argument. I'm all for every immigrant preserving their heritage, but it is wrong to focus our efforts (as a country) on Spanish. The most likely non-English speaking culture to influence the world in the next 100 years will likely be Chinese. Why not German, or Arabic? These are also important languages to know. DaimlerChrysler has a huge presence in Michigan. Why not start our kids with a skill that is marketable?
The bottom line is that it is somehow tied to a stupid agenda by our current administration, and no one is able to fight moronic legislation such as this.
I PERSONALLY THINK WE NEED TO STOP THIS. ART IS A FORM OF EXPRESSION AND AT THIS AGE THE KIDS NEED A RELEASE. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT DON'T WANT TO BE IN BAND OR GYM, THEY'RE JUST NOT INTERESTED. ART IS WHAT THEY HAVE AND SOMETHING THEY CAN'T DO WRONG, AS LONG AS THEY ARE TRYING. ART IS EVERYWHERE, MANUFACTURING, COMPUTERS, DESIGN, AUTOMOTIVE, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO HINDER THEY'RE CREATIVITY. NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE COLLEGE BOUND.
SPANISH CAN BE TAUGHT IN HIGH SCHOOL ALONG WITH OTHER LANGUAGES SO THE STUDENTS HAVE A CHOICE. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE THIS CLASS MANDATORY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE HAVE THE LARGEST ARIBIC SPEAKING POPULATION IN THE COUNTY.
I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS TO BE CUTS AND IT'S NOT MR. ROGERS FAULT THIS HAS TO HAPPEN. BUT WE SHOULD OF BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS MORE DIRECTLY, NOT JUST IN THE BLOG. SOME OF US LIKE THE OLD FASHIONED COMMUNICATION. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO CHASE DOWN THE GOING ON IN SCHOOL. THEY SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO US.
I think that art should stay because my friends and I can talk and have fun, but still get something done in the hour. I have a lot of fun in art class, and art in middle school is like a springboard to high school. Since art is part of the curriculum to go on to college, you need a lot of experience in it. To tell you the truth, I really don't know what complementary colors are, my elementary school teachers never taught me that. And I was planning on being some kind of "artist" when I grow up, but I have to know that kind of stuff if I'm planning on going to college for art. I still have a way to go, and if I don't get the information from art now, I won't do so well in high school.
Coputers should be cut! It should be cut because half the people in the school alredy know how to type.But,I bet more than half dont know how to do art. Save art
My first question would be, Why is Spanish mandatory? To me that is the first thing that should be cut. A second language, while I understand is easier to learn at a younger age should not be mandatory at a grade school level. Children need art and gym and computers. Art for expanding their imagination and creativity, gym for blowing off some steam and learning about physical fitness at an early age as obesity in children is growing at a tremendous rate and computers because that is still the future. To answer the question you posed I guess it would have to be in my mind, band. Band and music are also an expression of creativity however I feel art is more important because all students can participate in art without feeling that they are not doing well because art is expression and there is no wrong or right way.
Cindy C
Algonac, MI
I think art should be kept because alot of kids get in trouble from writing and drawing in class.Well in art they can express there imagination rather than doing it in class and getting in trouble.
I dont think we need computers because all of the middle school kids should know how to do computers, same with the highschool kids, but if the kids in elemetary school really need to learn it, there parents can teach them.
I think spanish should stay because alot of our population is spanish people. If we learn spanish we might be able to get along better with spanish people.
I think we need PE because it is good for you.I dont think you really need any other reason. Also though there is one more reason, in gym it gives tou a chance to burn off all your extra energy from sitting in class all day.
I am all for art, too, and feel it's an important and very necessary tool for many students. But with that said, has anybody seen the grades our middle schoolers are getting in art? Talk about a travesty and waste of creativity. This probably won't get posted, but if we keep the same statistics that our middle schoolers have for art, where only the favorites get good grades, let's ditch it. There will be no art in the high school starting next year, either, and it is very unfortunate.
I think we need to keep art,PE,computers. I think we need those subjects because they are the three main subjects for any job.Even though Spanish is my favorite subject in school,it really doesn't seve a purpose.There is no job that I know of that has to do spanish.
You are probably wondering what gym has to do with jobs. It has nothing to do with jobs. In school, it keeps you fit.Also if you are in school sitting all day, gym gives you a chance to burn all your extra energy.
Walking into my child's school, I am always drawn to the art hanging on the wall. The future Pablo Picasso's, Michelangelo's and Georgia O'Keeffe's, right there before my eyes. The watercolor paitings of sailboats, the Statue of Liberty made from clay.
Art is essential, it is more than just coloring, or making clothes hanger mobiles. It is a universal language. Through the study of art, we learn about and understand cultures different than our own.
The universality of art shows us diverse worlds, which brings us together.
The importance of art education and the benefits it allows sudents is something I think about every time I visit my child's school. What if students, even at an age as young as 5, were not allowed to express their creativity through art? The benefits start at kindergarten (or before) and continue throughout life, with the help of schools who understand the importance of art education.
I think that we should shut down computers, because most kids know how to type and art helps you in everyday life.
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