ok, please let me vent my frustration.....
This is my 3rd grader's speaking part in the upcoming music program:
"No Child Left Behind" states that 100% of all school children must be on reading level by the year 2014. (School X's) reading scores are already above both the state and county averages. Still, we continue working hard to improve the numbers.
So is Dr. Morgan coming to see the show? Or maybe the President? Who's rear are they trying to kiss with this crap? BTW, the whole theme is American Education. Are kids not allowed to do music programs on anything fun anymore?

Only if they do it AFTER school and if the parents pay for it all.
I played cello all thru junior high.Loved it.We'd go to the various senior homes and elementary schools to give concerts.Ah,those were really good days....

momsapilot: Let me understand this. Your 3rd grader is to recite the words that you quoted and in italics above?

What the heck does that have to do with a music program?
Why are adults making children little mouthpieces for their political agendas?

What a piece of crap the school system has become to use 3rd graders to promote the adults' politics.

Morgan needs to get her head out of Baltimore's armpit and get us back to a top notch educational county.

Yes, the italicized bit is my child's part. It further goes like this with the next 3 kids:

Studies show that today's families have more demands on their time that ever before. More families have both parents working, or are single parent households than at any other time in our history.

Many parents don't feel they have the time to help in their child's education. But do they?

One of the easiest things a parent can do to help with their child's education is to read to them. Reading together will improve a child's learning in school. The third grade would like to remind you of this with their next song.

At this point point they break into a thrilling rendition of "Reading Love".

Needless to say, I couldn't sleep last night and finally got up to write a scathing letter to the music teacher at 1am. I don't go to music programs to hear promotion of bad legislation, get a lesson on parenting, or have another inundation of the merits of Character Counts. What happened to songs about astronauts and cowboys? Why can't our kids perform about something fun and imaginative, not stale and political? This is why I really want to homeschool.

So, your kids music program is propaganda programming 101.
How insane! And I thought that it was in poor taste when they did Grease...Thank goodness they did not do that last dancing scene---of course you see the same smut on regular tv nowadays and a lot more...
**
Also--is there any part of this program that is actually FUN for the kids???

That's going a little far! What on earth is going on in Washington Co.'s school system?

Insanity and moronic behavior...Have you ever heard the saying only someone who is crazy repeats the same behavior expecting a different outcome? Well, there should be a corollary: It is also insane to expand on the program if it is not producting the expected results.
THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!!

It's just amazing to me that the Wash Co's school board would have elementary school students push a political agenda. Is this going on in other local area schools?

I think the songs are ok. I'm just sick of everything having to have a "message".
I have yet to hear a response from the music teacher. I am currently doing my own re-write to submit. It follows the whole reading theme, but focuses on the usefulness of fiction, non-fiction, picture books, and periodicals. If I don't get a response I will go to the principal on Friday. If that doesn't work, I may resort to pulling her out of the program. Oh, I saw the second speaker's mother at choir practice yesterday. She wasn't sure what to make of it. She's relatively new to the area, and thought maybe that was just the way it is around here. Maybe she wrote the teacher, too!

So-did you tell the 2nd speaker's mother your thoughts?
You have to keep us updated on the progress or lack of it you make...
Good Luck..

Of course I told her my thoughts! C'mon, this is me here! She and her husband were somewhat baffled by the whole thing as well. That's why I'm hoping she contacted the music teacher. Everyone I have shown it to just looks at me in disbelief. They all think it is in poor taste.

I know just how you feel--I get that same reaction when I tell people that I cannot have meetings at the school(which I have had mothers/fathers tell me would be more convienent--we have now found a 2nd place to have our meetings due to the # of girls who want to be Girl Scouts and have no troops)...except of course from the School Board--they seem to think there is nothing wrong with their procedures--just that I am a disgruntled fool...
PS--I figured you told that parent(s) but I noted you left it out! Just being a pest!

pesky pest!!!

On that note I gotta get going--work is never done! Y'all have a good day---remember harass those in power!!!

Power to the people!!!!

RIGHT ON!!!!!!!!

Well, I finally talked to the music teacher. After 2 letters, I finally had to call her since there was no response. She totally did not hear a word I said. It would appear that the whole program is a factual presentation. ie: they will tell how many bus drivers drive how many miles each day, and so on. I think my child is going to miss school on Tuesday.

However, I invite the rest of you to visit PARAMOUNT next Tuesday at 7 to hear the political garbage being spewed from children's mouths!

Is this like their Thanksgiving music program?

No, this just is the program for the 3rd and 4th grades. Holidays are pretty much not acknowledged at Paramount. They did absolutely nothing for Halloween, but that's another story. I think I'm going to take my daughter to DC next Tuesday. We will have our own American Education program!!

I think she'd like that better than going to the program anyway.

She will be disappointed because I know she was excited to have a speaking part. Get this...I sent in a re-write of the entire piece. The teacher was going to let my daughter say the part I had written for her, but continue on with the rest of her garbage, replacing my daughter with someone else. So it's going to sound good like this....?

School libraries can open worlds of adventure. When I read a great fiction book, I can become a detective, an astronaut, or a princess.

NCLB states that 100%.......

Now how is that going to make any sense? I did a total redo focusing on books in the school library. It has to be better than that socio-political trash the teacher is spewing.

The bottom line is they do not want any other ideas--just theirs and their agenda and they give lip-service to wanting parental involvement. If you do not toe the line, they do not want you even in the buildings...

Momsapilot - did you ever contact the principal about this? If so, what did he/she say? I agree that it is unappropriate for 3rd graders to be performing a play/musical like this. Children that age have no interest in politics and/or education rankings within the county. They're more interested in dressing up, pretending, and singing. I think you have a right to be perturbed.

When did Paramount turn into a private school? That's what it sounds like to me.A private school that's teaching it's own agenda. Man, am I glad I don't have to deal with these people cuz I don't play too well with others sometimes. I'm glad my youngest would've been 24 this past Spring!Whats happened to the educational system? I havn't heard a good word from alot ofpeople about the system for some time.

I wrote a follow up letter to the principal. I delivered it personally this morning, but she was in a classroom and I had to get to work. She did call back and say she would try to catch up with me on Saturday. I am looking forward to her call. We'll see how much lip service I get or if I actually get some kind of satisfying reaction. Ya know, if the music teacher had just had a little empathy..."I understand your point of view, Mrs. B, and this is why I chose this dialogue...."
I probably would have been content. But she was defensive and didn't even give a reply to 2 letters!!! What kind of manners????

I agree with you txex. If you don't conform to what the Gucci Moms at Paramount think they will beat you with matching shoes and handbags!!! I have felt that way since day 1 there. That's why I don't volunteer at my childs school. Fountaindale loves me as I am, opinions and all. Besides, they truly need the help.

Thank you all for your supportive input. I'm so glad I can vent to you guys.
I'll give you an update after I talk to the principal tomorrow!!

I just got off the phone with the principle. She was very understanding of my viewpoint and cited a communication breakdown for the continued misunderstandings. She seemed very supportive of my choice to remove my daughter and not attend classes that day. We both agreed that the narration was well-intentioned, but probably not the best choice. Overall, I am satisfied with the resolution. I am especially impressed that she took the time to talk with me on her day off.
Darn, and I was almost hoping to be forced to write a letter to the editor. Just something I have come to expect from that school.

Good for you Moms. I'm glad to see some parents have a backbone and don't let this kind of stuff slide by. I'm really not surprised the teacher was so defensive, she had probably never been questioned before by other parents who just let political propaganda go on in class. Heh, when I was in 3rd grade our big play was about how words and sentences come together (I was Mr. Conjunction), but now a days children are used to be the teachers political mouth piece. Very unfortunate

We did the Grammar Rock songs in third grade like Conjunction Junction What's YOur function.

I don't remeber much about third grade besides loosing in the finals of the spelling bee because I misspelled "skeleton". I remember doing a western theme in 5th and (gasp) a Christmas show in 6th. Back then EVERYONE in that town was white and Christian. Mind you, I am a 20-something (barely), so it wasn't that long ago!

We sang Christmas songs too, and as far as I know Berkeley County schools still do. (Someone correct me here if I'm wrong)

I know Berk.Co celebrated christan holidays up to 1996. Don't know bout now tho.

Did you know? Berk.Co school board prays before each meeting. Plus, I was at the Musselman play Nunsense (Which was spectacular!) this weekend and they had Crosses,prayers, and nuns! , GASP!!!!!!

Few years from now i'm sure some ultra-liberal will sue the school board to change it.

I'm sure the ACLU has Berkeley County on their list of areas to target. I just found out recently where under the West Virginia Consititution it says that students are allowed to pray (moment of silence) in school, gasp!

You mean the Against Christians Liberties Union??

That's a good one Txe! It seems that the ACLU instead of protecting people's rights, is taking them away from people.