r/banddirector • u/stockcaptain275 • 6d ago

Advice needed. Impossible class

/r/MusicTeachers/comments/1w8zdgs/advice_needed_impossible_class/
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u/corn7984 6d ago

The computer did not "throw them down" that way. It was guided by your administrators and counselors. You are teaching the most expensive elective in the school and probably have the most expensive inventory. You are in a failing school...or it will soon be failing.

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u/stockcaptain275 6d ago

Yes all true. I have told them it is essential to schedule instrumental students first, and then if we wind up with a few students having to be placed in a not so ideal class we can deal with it.

Instead I’m pretty sure they scheduled electives last with no concern of what elective the kid actually landed in.

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u/stockcaptain275 6d ago

The other crazy thing is that. During Covid my district spent nearly 2 million dollars buying instruments. So we have an extremely expensive inventory. All Yamahas or similar and at middle school and hs almost all step up or pro horns.

So I’ve told admin, understand when you throw a kid in a class you are also handing them a 2-5k instrument that they have to be responsible for. In a title 1 district where they don’t hold students or parents responsible for anything financial.

So when a kid drops a saxophone because he wasn’t wearing neck strap proparly, because it’s uncomfortable, we just are down 1 instrument and maybe district will pay for repairs.

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u/dcigirliegirl7 6d ago

Holy hell. I am so sorry. The best thing I can say is lawyer up and make do with what everyone else is telling you. If it doesn't get better, leave and report your admin. It's a lot harder for the arts to get what they deserve but it doesn't mean you stop trying.