tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post2310379352534286935..comments2024-03-27T05:22:54.254-04:00Comments on Two Reflective Teachers: Slice #18 of 31- Is It All About the GPA?Melanie Meehanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15771712134098949362noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-70890318728542728122015-03-18T23:24:16.338-04:002015-03-18T23:24:16.338-04:00No one will ever ask her what her HS GPA was, but ...No one will ever ask her what her HS GPA was, but people will enjoy hearing her play forever. (My daughter is a cellist, too.) And she can enjoy her instrument the rest of her life. Don't give up!!!!Marilyn Minerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15796997722805292448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-76077522069437083852015-03-18T22:23:43.098-04:002015-03-18T22:23:43.098-04:00You set the scene beautifully, Melanie! I could he...You set the scene beautifully, Melanie! I could hear the orchestra and see the color guard. I didn't realize that kids were graded on being in the orchestra. The whole idea is bizarre to me. I hope Clare changes her mind, too. Music is about so much more than a grade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-52152638988991940412015-03-18T21:58:42.681-04:002015-03-18T21:58:42.681-04:00Wow, it really looks like I read this post before ...Wow, it really looks like I read this post before writing my own. It looks like we were on the same mind track today. I really hope Clare sticks with it-- after she played the guitar for my piece one of my friends said "Ok, so your sister sings AND plays the guitar? What the hell." And I proceeded to list off all of the amazing musical things they did as they sat there with their mouth open. She has such a talent for music and shouldn't put that away because of something like a GPA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-58489572220540025082015-03-18T09:28:00.523-04:002015-03-18T09:28:00.523-04:00Love that you also made us love the music, too. My...Love that you also made us love the music, too. My brother is a former middle school music teacher. He and I have both heard this story from former students who say that taking music and art doesn't "weigh" as much in the GPAs. So sad, such a loss to their talent and to their well-being in my eyes. I hope your daughter will realize what she is losing.Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-87442806314251416092015-03-18T08:53:28.252-04:002015-03-18T08:53:28.252-04:00You are asking important questions.You are asking important questions.Loraleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10196420351567403826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-48057810935191264422015-03-18T08:08:17.904-04:002015-03-18T08:08:17.904-04:00I love how you showed us the orchestra. In many wa...I love how you showed us the orchestra. In many ways, it was better than a video. Seeing students perform musical pieces always gets me. There is so much concentration and teamwork involved in playing in an orchestra, I'm amazed kids can contain themselves. <br />I feel your pain watching Clare make this decision. And the reasons for making it are even more painful. My daughter, Claire, has done similar things all with the eye on that "prize" of college. You hate to watch them change the course of their lives and have them regret it later. As moms all we can do is sit back and offer advice. Hoping they hear it.Julieannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876141420632207823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-21562225697098394142015-03-18T08:05:28.378-04:002015-03-18T08:05:28.378-04:00Oh my. I hate grading so much! Honestly, what ar...Oh my. I hate grading so much! Honestly, what are we trying to say? At my university, you could choose 3 classes to take pass/fail. I love that idea! Why not let high school kids do it too? And at the elementary level, as a teacher, I'm always wondering why we say kids are "A" students in gym, or "C" students in drama. Why not just let them be? Give them a comment on the report card that explains how they are doing, and let them just enjoy without pressure to have a certain grade. If the kids who are really serious about music need an A, or multiple As to get into a university music program, then let them choose to be marked, while the students who are just playing for personal growth and enjoyment could just "pass" & enjoy their lives. Lisa Corbetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12602428975643562609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-41160909813953250532015-03-18T06:48:45.604-04:002015-03-18T06:48:45.604-04:00I wish I could have been there. To have orchestra...I wish I could have been there. To have orchestra as a course in elementary through high school is a huge privilege. There is nothing like that around here. All music is private. Well, there is band which starts at 6th grade. To play the cello or violin would be a dream come true for me. I hope they don't regret their decision. Margaret Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434866104385187658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5738534444392348639.post-81989065338560998942015-03-18T06:48:27.822-04:002015-03-18T06:48:27.822-04:00I wish I could have been there. To have orchestra...I wish I could have been there. To have orchestra as a course in elementary through high school is a huge privilege. There is nothing like that around here. All music is private. Well, there is band which starts at 6th grade. To play the cello or violin would be a dream come true for me. I hope they don't regret their decision. Margaret Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434866104385187658noreply@blogger.com