Gonna be a fight -- chorus vs test prep

[MushyMushy]

I can't believe time has flown so quickly! Last week my daughter brought home her high school schedule. She was SO excited going through the available courses (electives) and trying to decide what to take. She only gets 2 electives her first semester and 3 the second semester. She's in marching band, so that takes up one, and she's also in chorus so she chose that as a second. No brainer, right?

Second semester, there's no marching band, but still chorus as well as other courses she wants -- creative writing, intro to business or intro to foods/nutrition.

Let me add that she is in special education for an LD in reading. Her reading is pretty far behind her peers and her IQ is fairly low average. Academics are ALWAYS a struggle for her. But her strengths are her creativity, singing, writing, and being in the color guard in band.

Anyway, when she went to get her schedule signed off by her teachers, her special ed teacher and guidance counselor refused to sign her up for chorus, saying they want her in a test prep course. She is devastated, and I'm TICKED.

I'm sure I'm going to get all sorts of insults flung at me for her being a "snowflake," but I don't care. I think it's BULL pulling a kid out of something that she's good at to put her in a test prep class, which I also think is BULL as an educator. I hate standardized testing, I hate teaching to the test, and I hate wasting time in these courses that have not proven to bring up test scores. I already know who her special ed teacher is going to be, so I talked to her about it last night and she totally agreed with me, suggesting I call the high school directly rather than dealing with the middle school.

Anyway, I just wanted to vent. I absolutely despise my kids' middle school and was really looking forward to DD's high school years, as was she. She is such a good kid (as far as being compliant, well behaved, sweet, etc), and I hate seeing her discouraged by having to sit out of something she's good at.

 

[jrmasm]

What is the course for? Test Prep for what?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

While I agree it will probably help her, I have to cry foul forcing her to take test prep. That is crap. You can do that on the side.

I agree with going to the HS and working it out with them. I would absolutely advocate for my child on this note. It is going to be tough since space is limited and lots of kids are rejected for HS chorus (at least here you have to try out, it is not automatic).

When my 7th grader goes to HS, I might have to go advocate for her to get into the advanced weighted english class. Now I am sure the teachers will give her the thumbs up, she has the test scores to prove it, and she is taking a university class over the summer to back her up, however having a dd in college now, I know the score, limited space.

She is not in the "gifted program" so that is a strike against here, even though the "gifted" is only geared at math. English is her gifted subject.

Good Luck!

 

[FINFAN]

pretty sure for Standardized State Testing.. yeah OP, go in to the school and get her schedule changed now, get it in writing and signed off by her counselor and principal. ITA, those are her electives, not the mandatory graduation requirements.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

pretty sure for Standardized State Testing.. yeah OP, go in to the school and get her schedule changed now, get it in writing and signed off by her counselor and principal. ITA, those are her electives, not the mandatory graduation requirements.

Agree.

OP do you know if you have to try out for chorus?

 

[WizardLarz]

Put your foot down! I nessesary go over their heads, first to the principal, then if need be the school board. I feel that electives are Just that elective choices of the student!

 

[MushyMushy]

Yes, test prep is for state testing. I know for a fact that they get plenty of test prep in their general ed classes.

No tryouts for chorus but upperclassmen get priority so any time wasted on fighting this nonsense is going to put her at the end of the freshman list.

 

[Hedy]

That's baloney!
Wasn't it yesterday you posted about the parents at open house for middle school?

 

[punkin]

At my DD's schools everything is always a fight.

Honestly, your child belongs in Chorus if that's what she wants and is good at. Good luck dealing with the school.

 

[onelilspark]

If she's good at creative persuits, that's more than likely where she'll make her living when grown. It's important to nuture that talent.

Test Prep is important, but IMO, the creative electives will probably have a longer lasting impact.

 

[Rora]

That's ridiculous.

OP- I'd already be at the principal's office. Like someone else mentioned, test prep can (and should!) be done on the side.

Hope she gets to keep chorus. Keep us updated!

 

[TinkerBean]

I *hate* standardized testing. My DD10 and in the fourth grade spent 5.5 hrs yesterday taking the MCAS. They got a 5 minute snack break and a 20 minute lunch, that's it no recess either. She was exhausted by the time she go home and crawled into bed and fell sleep.

OP - ITA agree with you.

 

[MushyMushy]

That's baloney!
Wasn't it yesterday you posted about the parents at open house for middle school?

Why, yes it was yesterday!

I can't believe how fast time can fly when it comes to kids. I started posting on here when my son was 14 and headed into high school.

 

[maelstrom]

I had a guidance counselour once try to argue with me over my class selections for 10th grade. I had taken earth science in 8th grade and biology in 9th grade, and had therefore fulfilled my science requirements and I wasn't about to take another science class (chemistry) that I wasn't interested in, wasn't required, and that I would likely fail. The counselour tried to pull the "I'm going to call your mother" card... I told her to go ahead. My mother told her that I didn't want to take chemistry, didn't need to take chemistry, and to NOT sign me up for chemistry. Needless to say, what mommy says goes, and I didn't take chemistry in 10th grade. I took a much more fun class called "human relationships" (a health sort of class).

 

[MM27]

My sister used to be a guidance counselor in a high school that did this. Any student that didn't do well on the 8th grade state testing would be placed in test prep classes instead of getting an elective. Parents could refuse it but they made them sign a waiver because they had to prove to the state that it was offered. When the kids didn't pass the next year, there was no room for the parent to complain because they had refused the services.

 

[golfgal]

Why does it have to be a fight? The school is looking out for your DD's best interest. If she is struggling in school it makes sense to take a test prep class so she can graduate. If you are willing to have her do something out side of school why not just a simple phone call to the school to tell them that your DD wants to do choir and you have made arrangements for an outside test prep class. I am sure they will say, ok, sounds good and sign her up for choir.

 

[MushyMushy]

Why does it have to be a fight? The school is looking out for your DD's best interest. If she is struggling in school it makes sense to take a test prep class so she can graduate. If you are willing to have her do something out side of school why not just a simple phone call to the school to tell them that your DD wants to do choir and you have made arrangements for an outside test prep class. I am sure they will say, ok, sounds good and sign her up for choir.

15+ years experience with this school district tells me it will be a fight. When they decide something, that's that.

I am looking out for my child's best interest in this case, not the school. She gets enough test prep in her regular middle school courses, and she will continue to get enough test prep in high school.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

My daughter's middle school has the same rule. If you don't score proficient or above on your state standardized test, you can be pulled from "Extension" courses to take a test prep class. Band and chorus meet during "Extension" daily.

Fortunately, my daughter has always done well on the tests. But every year when they start, she is abjectly terrified because her entire goal in life is to play French Horn in the pit orchestra of a Broadway show. She knows that if she fails the tests, she will be pulled from Band. Talk about high stakes testing!

Still, I think if the situation ever occured, I would do exactly what you are planning to do - go into school and insist they put her back in Band.

Has your daughter taken the state tests for this year? Maybe when her results come back, they will be more willing to accept her in chorus.

Good luck!!

 

[golfgal]

15+ years experience with this school district tells me it will be a fight. When they decide something, that's that.

I am looking out for my child's best interest in this case, not the school. She gets enough test prep in her regular middle school courses, and she will continue to get enough test prep in high school.

I am glad we don't have to fight with our kids' schools, never have. We have had only a few schedule issues and they were all handled quite easily. I LOVE OUR SCHOOLS!!

 

[Pigeon]

I disagree that the school is necessarily looking out for the child's best interests. The school is looking out for the school administration's best interest. The school is measured by how students do on standardized tests. Dh is a public high school teacher and he is now forced to do all sorts of things that aren't in the children's best interests, but will yield higher test scores no matter what.

I'd be in the guidance counselor's office ASAP.