I heard on Friday that ALL classroom parties, Halloween, Winter Holidays, Valentines, etc, have been cancelled in our district. A friend of mine (who is a teacher) said that “No Parties” has actually been a policy for a while (she didn’t know how long) but they are going to enforce it beginning this Halloween and she is pretty sure that reps from the district office will be visiting the school sites.

The reason is that the parties cut into instructional minutes.

I’ve never been a real fan of the parties, partly because they are a waste of a school day. And partly because of the HUGE amount of junk food that the kids eat - even before beginning to trick-or-treat. I never used to sign up to bring stuff (and this really made ds angry some years). 10-15 moms used to bring things and the kids had each had a huge heaping plate of cake and cookies and candy. I thought one cookie would have been adequate.

But in a weird way, I’m sort of sad about the absolute “No Party” rule. Sort of like a little part of childhood being taken away. Most of the teachers put on music during the parties and the kids listened to everything from classical “In the Hall of the Mountain King” to rock-and-roll. It was a little bit of social and down time... and I thought that the parties had some benefit...

Any activity that can’t be tested on a scantron form is being ditched. All of Jamie’s teachers elementary teachers have told me that they do WAY less art projects than they used to. Most of them do NO classroom music. Every activity during the school day is in prep of the standardized tests… <sigh…>

quote:

Originally posted by Lori4squaremom:

quote:

Originally posted by Tayhudson:

I guess we can thank Bush and the "No Child Left Behind" legislation, because that is where all of this "Time on Task" and so many minutes of instuctional time being required started.

Dawn

Actually, these policies started here in CA LONG before No Child Left Behind.

Don't know about the rest of the country, but here in CA the school climate started changing in 1989. They started eliminating industrial education in 1989. Then in 1990-92 they started targeting the arts programs. And around that same time the state requirements started changing to allow PE and recesses to be able to be eliminated. The massive budget cuts in the past couple of years as a result of Gov. Gray Davis' financial fiasco were the "nail in the coffin" for elementary music education here in CA. But the time allowed for those music programs was being affected back in the early 90s.

I didn't mean cuts in budgets or classes like art, music, PE and the like, because those are still considered educational. Those cuts have been an issue for many years. Believe me, being the child of a man who taught PE for 42 years, I know that PE positions being cut across the country have been an issue since the early 80s. It was nerve racking when I was old enough to understand, because I wondered every year if my dad would lose his job.

I meant cuts in things like school parties, recess, and things like that. While they may seem frivolous, kids need a break in their day. Even with frivolous holiday parties you can teach cultural, social and historical things. Cultures have to understand their heritage and have things like art, or you really aren't civilized.

Dawn

PS...

Teaching on Halloween is a serious challenge - party or no party! Granted, MANY days are a challenge...

I'm required to teach 24 After School band classes a year.

The first day of band is a challenge. Holidays like Halloween are a challenge. The week before Thanksgiving break is a challenge. The entire month of December is a challenge. The first week of January is a challenge. The two weeks of standardized testing are a challenge. Rainy days are a challenge. Hot spells are a challenge. The weeks before and after Spring Break are a challenge. The end of school is a challenge.

This leaves about 2 "perfect" days .

But man, I would not want to be a classroom teacher on Halloween... especially this first year with no party.

I don't know if I would blame any one administration at either the federal or state or the local level. Actually, it is more accurate to say that they are all to blame.

Music started being cut in our district in the 1980's. It was supposed to be a temporary cut, and in 20 years, no board at any level has been able to figure out how to get it back into the elementary school day. The district pays for the Jr. and Sr. high music teachers’ salaries… but they must do fund raisers for EVERYTHING else… including chairs in their classrooms.

“No School Left Behind” has been especially hard on lower income schools. It is hard on the teachers and it is hard on the kids. Teachers are rewarded (financially) for bringing test scores up and the school is REALLY penalized when test scores go down. It is devastating to have scores go down.

It is like losing weight… Standardized testing is like a once a year weigh in… Being a teacher is like being a WW leader and doing everything right for a year. You could really be motivating your people and they love your meetings and want to stay with the program. They are learning so much and doing better than they ever have before.

And at the end of they year, your group gets on the scale and finds that as and average, they didn’t lose anything. Some members may have lost a lot, and a few members had a rough year and might have gained a some… but the average loss for the group was 0 or maybe even a slight gain.

Your program will be listed in the paper as having “failed” and you will have to send a letter to every person in your group stating that you have officially failed and if they would like to change to more successful program, they have an opportunity to do that. Oh, and if you had a reward planned… we’ll that won’t be happening.

Believe me, the next year. You would work your group like dogs. NO treats for them. No down time. If there is an activity that doesn't contribute to weight loss - cut it. Just work, work, work.

All test scores do is map the education level and income level of families. The wealthier neighborhoods have “Gifted and Talented” programs and successful schools. The lower income schools have large and thriving remedial programs. The remedial kids get NO elective in Jr. High. Other kids get to take band or woodshop, and the remedial kids go to class and do more math and English.

22% of California’s students' parents don’t have a HS diploma. 40% of California’s families move every year. 50% of California’s kids are on the free lunch program. You have to be desperately poor to qualify for free lunch here.

I don’t have an answer but I know in my heart of hearts that taking away all extra curricular activities isn’t the answer and it is just sooooo sad.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GoingSkiing,

My neice decided not to go to the local high scholl last year (her freshman year) because she would actually have had to take a class called MCAS preparation (Massachusetts standardized test). And there were few if any art options. She was lucky enough to be picked for a charter school a few towns away (where I live). I am so thankful for that. Even their Math classes bring art and music into the classroom. Constructive but fun activities usually take place around holidays. Students are also encouraged to understand various holidays, not just the "major" ones, as a way to understand the diversity around them.

Laurie

quote:

Originally posted by Tayhudson:

I guess we can thank Bush and the "No Child Left Behind" legislation, because that is where all of this "Time on Task" and so many minutes of instuctional time being required started.

Dawn

Actually, these policies started here in CA LONG before No Child Left Behind.

Don't know about the rest of the country, but here in CA the school climate started changing in 1989. They started eliminating industrial education in 1989. Then in 1990-92 they started targeting the arts programs. And around that same time the state requirements started changing to allow PE and recesses to be able to be eliminated. The massive budget cuts in the past couple of years as a result of Gov. Gray Davis' financial fiasco were the "nail in the coffin" for elementary music education here in CA. But the time allowed for those music programs was being affected back in the early 90s.

Where dd works they are taking Halloween as an opportunity to teach the kids about squash, acorn squash, butternut squash, delacata squash and of course pumpkins.

Dd works with 3 year olds but at Primrose all ages have a cirriculum(sp?), even the infants. Her class made a pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin (not a can) and roasted delacata strips like oven fries. She roasted the pumpkin at home and then let the kids mash it,add the spices and pour it into the pie shells. Then they had it for their afternoon snack. They did not cook the acorn or butternut but they cut them open along with another pumpkin so they could see the inside.

In our school district, they are only allowed one party per year. Since my son has never known anything else, it isn't an issue. I'm sad thinking about what he is missing, but he doesn't know the difference.

My son's school does still have art, music, PE, Spanish and counseling (a class that teaches life issues.) In fact, when they do testing for "Target" (The gifted and talented program) they take creativity into consideration.

I guess we can thank Bush and the "No Child Left Behind" legislation, because that is where all of this "Time on Task" and so many minutes of instuctional time being required started.

Dawn

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:
Any activity that can’t be tested on a scantron form is being ditched. All of Jamie’s teachers elementary teachers have told me that they do WAY less art projects than they used to. Most of them do NO classroom music. Every activity during the school day is in prep of the standardized tests… <sigh…>

I've only just read this post. (I was busy this weekend and missed a lot.)
When I sub it is all about "time on task" and test readiness. I could go on for hours about this, but I won't.
I am sad. I am afraid too. There are so many ways to learn and process. As a society, as teachers we are overlooking and stomping out so much life, creativity and potential.

Dd goes to a school with no testing, no grades. (She does get comprehensive reports and we conference with the teacher 3-4 times per year- so I know where she is at.)
The behavior and academic expectations are high, but kids learn by doing and sharing and processing in all sorts of ways. I love how this works in a Montessori enviornment.
If only the food Nazis were less powerful! Ha!

It is interesting to me that districts are continuously taking away fun time from our kids to spend more time on academics and yet, at least in my daughters district there are more and more kids struggling with grades and managing school work. We all need fresh air and a break from work, so do our kids. Our schools are taking on the "corporate mentality" of this country. All work, no play! These kids will grow up working crazy schedules with no time to care for themselves. Very sad.
Jill

Denise,

That is SO sad! You know, as incredibly intense as school is nowdays, and as focused as it is, I agree, the kids need some downtime! And they also need to be allowed to be kids! Our children's childhood's are being stolen from them! SO SO SO sad! And shame on your school district for stealing more away from them! Unfortunately, I see this happening more and more and more here in CA. School parties, recess, PE, music, art, some districts are SEVERLY scaling down their elementary science and history programs, field trips.....these are all going the way of the dinosaur here in CA, and they think THAT Is what is going to raise the test scores! Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this may end up having the opposite effect. So sad!

Not all learning is done from books. I think your policy has just killed a bit of the school experience for your kids. As a former teacher, I would feel very sad for these kids, they are missing out on a very good opportunity to share some of the history, fun and excitement of holidays. How sad for them. I'd be at a school board meeting on this one.

that is just nuts. Its part of childhood to go a little bit overboard, have classroom parties, be able to lick the frosting off of a cupcake.

And kids need art!

Catherine

I think that's kind of sad too, especially for the little kids who get sooo excited about school parties : (

I know that my dd would be devasted if they cancelled the Halloween parade and party.