Casting School Plays

[goofy4tink]

Uhmmm. . . I live in the poorest state in the nation. You don't have to explain funding or the lack thereof to me.

Want to know what our show choir got from the school? Enough money for ONE bus trip to ONE competition (that is a school bus driven by a driver that is employed by the district). Oh, and of course they pay the teacher who also teaches music in every grade k-8 plus directs show choir.

We raise every dime that it costs to run the choir. please, do not tell me it can't be done.

The drama production being put on, cost the parents NOTHING. The teacher is finding plenty of creative ways to do everything she needs to do and any expenses that are incurred will come out of the fund raised in ticket and meal sales.

So glad you guys are figuring out to make the arts happen!!!! Congrats to all of you!!!

 

[luvsJack]

So glad you guys are figuring out to make the arts happen!!!! Congrats to all of you!!!

Its just what we do for our kids.

I guess most parents here don't think too much about it. We have to do the same thing to make sports happen too.

I feel bad for kids in schools where the parents/teachers don't find a way to make it work (and I realize it takes both and there are some places that just don't get parents that are willing to work for it).

 

[ccgirl]

You're missing the point.

What happens if a student wants to participate, but can't afford the ridiculous fee? Too bad, so sad for them?

As far as what happens if there are more people than roles? The director writes them a role.

I'm not the one missing the point. This is an elective. Same thing would happen as those students that want to take dance class, soccer, gymnastics etc outside of school time. This activity is not offered during school time. It is an after school thing.

 

[Coconut36]

Ok. You're right ~ I have no idea and don't get it.

Guess you haven't followed what's happened in WI in the last year.

I know they busted the teacher's unions up. What does that have to do with districts or states that slash budgets so severely they cut teacher pay, that are so low they struggle to buy supplies, that can't replace textbooks or upgrade outdated tech in the classroom and so on..where do you think they are going to magically get the money for extras like sports or theater? Are you a teacher? My DH is a coach and AD and has been faced with the reality that budget cuts create in regards to sports and other extras. What one district can do another can not (do you understand how it works at all? )

You seriously don't seem to be getting it. These are extras..these are not critical parts of an education and such as anything in life sometimes if you want it not only do you have to work for it, you have to pay for it too. Being a body in the school means you get an education not that sports, theater, band..etc are all available and open without fee or effort. Those items are not critical to get a job or graduate from high school. They are not a right like education or a necessity like food and shelter. They are a "want" not a need. We often have to pay for our (and our childrens) wants.

 

[SaraJayne]

I know they busted the teacher's unions up. What does that have to do with districts or states that slash budgets so severely they cut teacher pay, that are so low they struggle to buy supplies, that can't replace textbooks or upgrade outdated tech in the classroom and so on..where do you think they are going to magically get the money for extras like sports or theater? Are you a teacher? My DH is a coach and AD and has been faced with the reality that budget cuts create in regards to sports and other extras. What one district can do another can not (do you understand how it works at all? )

You seriously don't seem to be getting it. These are extras..these are not critical parts of an education and such as anything in life sometimes if you want it not only do you have to work for it, you have to pay for it too. Being a body in the school means you get an education not that sports, theater, band..etc are all available and open without fee or effort. Those items are not critical to get a job or graduate from high school...they are fun or interesting pursuits that if you choose to go for might cost money.

A lot more than that has happened.

We'll just have to agree to disagree, since yes, I do "get it". I just disagree with you.

 

[Coconut36]

Uhmmm. . . I live in the poorest state in the nation. You don't have to explain funding or the lack thereof to me.

Want to know what our show choir got from the school? Enough money for ONE bus trip to ONE competition (that is a school bus driven by a driver that is employed by the district). Oh, and of course they pay the teacher who also teaches music in every grade k-8 plus directs show choir.

We raise every dime that it costs to run the choir. please, do not tell me it can't be done.

The drama production being put on, cost the parents NOTHING. The teacher is finding plenty of creative ways to do everything she needs to do and any expenses that are incurred will come out of the fund raised in ticket and meal sales.

And I live in the state that I believe was ranked 49th in regards to education funding/teacher pay. I never said it couldn't be done..I simply said that their $120 was their way of funding it. That is the way to get it done at that school or at another school for a given program.

You don't think that is OK and think fundraisers are the only way to go..that's fine for you but I disagree and I also know from PTA and other experiences that depending on what it is, the level of parental involvement, overall interest, the effort/involvement from the teachers they may or may not work as well.

So in this case they chose a certain way to fund it..that is my entire point. When the money is not available they have to pursue alternative means to fund the program..be it charging a fee, having a fundraiser or whatever other means are necessary to do it. You seem to feel that it's your way or it's wrong and I disagree with that. The point for many schools that charge fees is that the money isn't there and they chose to charge a fee vs a fundraiser and that is OK..they don't have only one option to pursue and they likely know better than you what works best in their area/for their program.

 

[marcyinPA]

We are in a semi-urban district- in a medium sized city. My DS16 goes to the more urban of the 2 high schools- with about 4000 kids in it. Our district has cut programs and teachers left and right, after making some really bad financial decisions and investments gone bad. So- the district is basically broke.

We don't pay any activity fees. The district tried to implement it last year- to charge every child involved in ANYTHING a flat $25 fee- but the parents were up in arms over it and the school board rejected the proposal.

Now, in order for my DS's (one in MS, one HS) to participate in band, they must meet a "fair share". The amount of the fair share depends on whether or not it is a trip year. Going on the trip is NOT required, and many kids choose not to go. If you do choose to go, you pay out of pocket for the trip, or you can raise money for your fair share through planned fundraisers. This year, the band was about 280 students.

DS16 went on two band trips in one year. The directors admitted that it may be hard for some families to afford, so they encouraged kids to choose one over the other if they had to. One trip was planned- the other was an invitation that could not be refused. So, in Feb 11, they went to Disney to the tune of $1750 and in Nov 11, they went to Hawaii to the tune of $2700.

We are not independently wealthy, but we made it happen for our kid. We sold what we could, and we paid for the rest, forgoing other things so he could have the experience. In fact, we gave up vacations last summer and this summer so he could go on his band trips.

Fundraising is part pain in the butt, and part no big deal. Yes, I hate asking people to buy things, but everybody does it. Our band has a very long history, and most people who we sell to love the band and will support it in any way possible. Plus, we sell things that people actually want, like fall mums and spring veggies and flowers, and Christmas poinsettias and wreaths. We have no problems selling that kind of stuff.

As for theatre, I'm not paying a dime for DS12 to participate. We buy tickets for the show, and I'm volunteering at the ticket booth one of the days of the show- and I've donated food for the cast party.

DS16 hasn't had to pay anything either- but every kid who participates is required to sell $100 worth of advertising for the program. He did try to sell space to his orthodontist, but it looks like DH and I, with the help of my parents, will eat the cost of an ad and put one in ourselves.

Of course, there are also t-shirts and professional photos, but neither of those are mandatory.

I know a lot of families personally right now who are laid off, and still make it work for their kids. They sacrifice big time, but their kids still participate. I also know that our band directors especially are very concerned and are willing to work with families who have needs.

 

[luvsJack]

I'm not the one missing the point. This is an elective. Same thing would happen as those students that want to take dance class, soccer, gymnastics etc outside of school time. This activity is not offered during school time. It is an after school thing.

But it IS a school sponsored function.

Every activity our school offers has to have some way to make it affordable to any child that wants to participate. Now of course show choir, cheer leading, basketball and few others have try outs, but the school works hard to make sure that those chosen does NOT depend on who can afford what. Truthfully, almost every child that trys out does make most things except cheerleading just due to the small number of students we have overall. (no its not giving something to everyone, its the simple fact that a basketball team requires a certain number of players and there may be no more than that number trying out)

 

[Coconut36]

A lot more than that has happened.

We'll just have to agree to disagree, since yes, I do "get it". I just disagree with you.

I have a close family friend that is a teacher (retired) here who went there regularly to protest and advocate...I am not ignorant. You seem to feel that extras are a right not a privilege and that charging a fee is wrong..I disagree with you on that. I feel if the money is not there they have to do what they have to do if they want the program to continue. Fundraisers can be huge miserable failures that cost more than they raise so schools and the programs have to make the most appropriate choice based on what they know about their area, parents, students..etc and sometimes that means charging a fee.

 

[luvsJack]

I never said it couldn't be done..I simply said that their $120 was their way of funding it. That is the way to get it done at the school or at another school for a given program.

You don't think that is OK and think fundraisers are the only way to go..that's fine for you but I disagree and I also know from PTA and other experiences that depending on what it is, the level of parental involvement interest, the effort/involvement from the teachers they may or may not work as well.

So in this case they chose a certain way to fund it..that is my entire point. When the money is not available they have to pursue alternative means to fund the program..be it charging a fee, having a fundraiser or whatever other means are necessary to do it. You seem to feel that it's your way or it's wrong and I disagree with that. The point for many schools that charge fees is that the money isn't there and they chose to charge a fee vs a fundraiser and that is OK..they don't have only one option to pursue and they likely know better than you what works best in their area/for their program.

What I think is wrong is for a school sponsored activity to eliminate some children from being able to participate due to the income of their parents. And that is what a $120 fee is going to do.

No one has to do it "my way" (which by the way is the same thing EVERY school in this area does, so its really hardly my way), if the only way they can come up with is to charge $120 then there should be some means for a child from a low income family to participate.

I am not sure what fundraising you have done that can cost more than it makes, but most of what we do costs us nothing.

And, IMHO, the performing arts ARE very much an important part of a child's education and should be treated as such.

 

[ccgirl]

Most schools have something in place for those that cannot afford the $120. Since I do not have a child that attends the school the OP is referring to, I cannot say that for certainty.

This sounds similar to band to me. If a students wants to play the tuba or drums, is that instrument free or do they have to pay for it?

I never said it wasn't a school sponsered event. Although, it sounds like it is not. Parents pay, the people teaching it are hired from outside the school, the event itself is held outside the school, the event is not held during school time.

Since they are charging $120 and hiring teachers outside of the school etc, I am thinking this is probably not occuring in a poor school district.

 

[marcyinPA]

Most schools have something in place for those that cannot afford the $120. Since I do not have a child that attends the school the OP is referring to, I cannot say that for certainty.

This sounds similar to band to me. If a students wants to play the tuba or drums, is that instrument free or do they have to pay for it?

I never said it wasn't a school sponsered event. Although, it sounds like it is not. Parents pay, the people teaching it are hired from outside the school, the event itself is held outside the school, the event is not held during school time.

Since they are charging $120 and hiring teachers outside of the school etc, I am thinking this is probably not occuring in a poor school district.

I couldn't tell if your question was rhetorical or not, so I will answer. In my district, if you play drums, or tuba, even baritone or trombone, in most cases, you borrow an instrument from the school. If you play a smaller instrument, you rent, rent to own, or buy outright. In some cases, you may buy a larger instrument too- my DS12 plays drums- we bought him a drum set, but at school, he uses the school drums (they stay at school).

 

[Coconut36]

I couldn't tell if your question was rhetorical or not, so I will answer. In my district, if you play drums, or tuba, even baritone or trombone, in most cases, you borrow an instrument from the school. If you play a smaller instrument, you rent, rent to own, or buy outright. In some cases, you may buy a larger instrument too- my DS12 plays drums- we bought him a drum set, but at school, he uses the school drums (they stay at school).

And it can vary greatly from state to state or district to district. Here (I can speak with certainty about 2 districts in my city..I assume the others are the same but don't have personal experience/exposure to know for sure) if you choose to join band you either purchase an instrument or rent one from the school or another source. It is NOT free and the fees to rent can cost almost as much in the long run as buying the instrument. The band teacher/director had instruments they would borrow out for a student to test their interest/aptitude in playing it but it was a very short term thing...a week or so not a long term solution. So if the student then decided to play, parents have to provide it via purchase or rental fees.

 

[Coconut36]

What I think is wrong is for a school sponsored activity to eliminate some children from being able to participate due to the income of their parents. And that is what a $120 fee is going to do.

No one has to do it "my way" (which by the way is the same thing EVERY school in this area does, so its really hardly my way), if the only way they can come up with is to charge $120 then there should be some means for a child from a low income family to participate.

I am not sure what fundraising you have done that can cost more than it makes, but most of what we do costs us nothing.

And, IMHO, the performing arts ARE very much an important part of a child's education and should be treated as such.

Ugh..you feel that there is only one way because that is all you see/know. If it isn't a fundraiser then it is wrong because "every" school does it that way..great for them. That does NOT mean that works in other cities, states or other districts/schools. Fundraisers can and do fail and the people involved know what those in their area will do and what is likely to work out best.

Yes it sucks if a kid can't participate due to the fee..as I said in the first place and others have said schools try to work things like that out whenever possible..allowing it to be paid over time, cutting it, scholarship/grants, even the teacher forking it out of their own pocket..can they do it 100% of the time, no..but they often do their best to work it out. However there could be situations where due to lack of fee a kid can't participate and it is a bummer but it is a reality of life.

I do not agree performing arts are a necessity or an important part of a quality education in the slightest. I believe they are great for those that have an interest and choose to pursue them (just as I feel that way about sports, band, choir..etc) but they are not a right or what is necessary to function in life. It is great when a school can have these programs for free but if they can't..that is OK too.

 

[punkin]

Ugh..you feel that there is only one way because that is all you see/know. If it isn't a fundraiser then it is wrong because "every" school does it that way..great for them. That does NOT mean that works in other cities, states or other districts/schools. Fundraisers can and do fail and the people involved know what those in their area will do and what is likely to work out best.

Yes it sucks if a kid can't participate due to the fee..as I said in the first place and others have said schools try to work things like that out whenever possible..allowing it to be paid over time, cutting it, scholarship/grants, even the teacher forking it out of their own pocket..can they do it 100% of the time, no..but they often do their best to work it out. However there could be situations where due to lack of fee a kid can't participate and it is a bummer but it is a reality of life.

I do not agree performing arts are a necessity or an important part of a quality education in the slightest. I believe they are great for those that have an interest and choose to pursue them (just as I feel that way about sports, band, choir..etc) but they are not a right or what is necessary to function in life. It is great when a school can have these programs for free but if they can't..that is OK too.

I disagree with you. The arts and sports are a vital part of any education.

 

[SaraJayne]

Ugh..you feel that there is only one way because that is all you see/know. If it isn't a fundraiser then it is wrong because "every" school does it that way..great for them. That does NOT mean that works in other cities, states or other districts/schools. Fundraisers can and do fail and the people involved know what those in their area will do and what is likely to work out best.

Yes it sucks if a kid can't participate due to the fee..as I said in the first place and others have said schools try to work things like that out whenever possible..allowing it to be paid over time, cutting it, scholarship/grants, even the teacher forking it out of their own pocket..can they do it 100% of the time, no..but they often do their best to work it out. However there could be situations where due to lack of fee a kid can't participate and it is a bummer but it is a reality of life.

I do not agree performing arts are a necessity or an important part of a quality education in the slightest. I believe they are great for those that have an interest and choose to pursue them (just as I feel that way about sports, band, choir..etc) but they are not a right or what is necessary to function in life. It is great when a school can have these programs for free but if they can't..that is OK too.

A ha. There is the fundamental difference in our opinions. Performing arts *are* a necessary and important part of a quality education.

 

[luvsJack]

Ugh..you feel that there is only one way because that is all you see/know. If it isn't a fundraiser then it is wrong because "every" school does it that way..great for them. That does NOT mean that works in other cities, states or other districts/schools. Fundraisers can and do fail and the people involved know what those in their area will do and what is likely to work out best.

Yes it sucks if a kid can't participate due to the fee..as I said in the first place and others have said schools try to work things like that out whenever possible..allowing it to be paid over time, cutting it, scholarship/grants, even the teacher forking it out of their own pocket..can they do it 100% of the time, no..but they often do their best to work it out. However there could be situations where due to lack of fee a kid can't participate and it is a bummer but it is a reality of life.

I do not agree performing arts are a necessity or an important part of a quality education in the slightest. I believe they are great for those that have an interest and choose to pursue them (just as I feel that way about sports, band, choir..etc) but they are not a right or what is necessary to function in life. It is great when a school can have these programs for free but if they can't..that is OK too.

That is not what I said, I said that is the way its done by all the schools HERE (and so its not really "my way"); I didn't say its the only way. There are other ways to consider those that may not can afford the $120.

Performing arts are an extremely important part of quality education and every effort should be made to offer them to every student.

 

[ccgirl]

I couldn't tell if your question was rhetorical or not, so I will answer. In my district, if you play drums, or tuba, even baritone or trombone, in most cases, you borrow an instrument from the school. If you play a smaller instrument, you rent, rent to own, or buy outright. In some cases, you may buy a larger instrument too- my DS12 plays drums- we bought him a drum set, but at school, he uses the school drums (they stay at school).

Sorry, it was not rhetorical. I really have no idea. My DD is just starting recorder lessons during her music class. We had to pay $9 for the recorder and the book so I was wondering about bigger instruments. I was never involved in band. Thanks for answering.

 

[punkin]

My DD is in orchestra and she has an instrument to play in school. If we did not also have an instrument to practice on at home, her teacher would make sure she had access to the school instrument after school to practice.

 

[Coconut36]

That is not what I said, I said that is the way its done by all the schools HERE (and so its not really "my way"); I didn't say its the only way. There are other ways to consider those that may not can afford the $120.

Performing arts are an extremely important part of quality education and every effort should be made to offer them to every student.

Performing arts, like sports are an option to any student that is interested in pursuing them. I do not view them as a right and I do view them as something extra. It has been said by many people over and over again schools do the best they can when fees are involved to try to work with families that can't afford the fee. It's not 100% but they do what they can, when they can.

Schools do what they can to keep a program from being cut and not happening at all. In some areas fundraisers work..in others they don't and they charge a fee...it is not wrong of them to do it, yes is sucks if a kid can't afford to do it but it is an extra in life and extras don't come for free and if we can't afford it we can't do it.