New Rule: If you are hired to teach a music program… YOU MUST TEACH MUSIC!
In the words of Yogi Berra "It's deja vu all over again!"
When I lived in California a really good friend of mine was teaching music in Pasadena. He told me part of job was now to teach math. I said "Matt, I love you like a brother… but I would never want you to teach math to my kids." We both laughed at what a ludicrous suggestion this was.
Fast forward 20 years and here comes this news report from Florida. Teachers hired for "specials" like music are now being asked to spend much of their time teaching reading.
I don't know about you… but when I went to school my foundations of education class didn't mention anything about how to teach reading!
OCALA – Jody Alexander has a master's degree in music education and is certified by the state to teach music and band to public school students.
But on Aug. 1, the Forest High School band director learned she would have to teach reading to some of Marion County school system's most challenged readers. Instead of teaching freshman band, music theory and other electives, she now spends nearly half her day teaching reading.
"I have a wonderful degree," Alexander told the School Board on Tuesday. "However, I'm a band director. I was taught to be a band director. I was taught to teach students how to play instruments, run band booster organizations and fund-raisers. I was not taught to teach reading."
Uncertified instructors in reading classrooms| Star-Banner | Ocala, Fla.
