Testimony by Jennifer Mohr at School Board Business Meeting 11-13-12
STEM + Art = STEAM
Good evening, my name is Jennifer Mohr, and I am the music teacher at Cooper Mountain Elementary and Fir Grove Elementary. I am also a member of the Beaverton Friends of Music.
The letters S-T-E-M spell STEM. They stand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM + Art = STEAM
On October 10th, Oregon’s Chief Education Officer, Rudy Crew spoke at a public town hall at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, which has an Intel-sponsored STEM program. When their star student testified, Rudy Crew applauded. Earlier in the program, as Rudy Crew was answering a question about how to help students avoid bad influences and stay focused in school, he said very emphatically that you don’t cut the arts, drama, or athletics. He extended that these keep kids in school, making them more likely to graduate and go on to college.
The Oregon Education Investment Board and it’s predecessor have long been considering some kind of STEM project. Along with your copy of my testimony, I have included the presentation from last week’s OEIB meeting that says STEAM—not STEM. Quote:
“Investing in science, technology, engineering, math and the creative arts is crucial to engaging and motivating Oregon’s students to reach the 40-40-20 goal. Competencies acquired through STEAM education—computer skills, basic math, problem solving, critical thinking, spatial awareness—are needed in a broad range of occupations and industries. Further, the “soft skills” acquired through STEAM—perseverance, collaboration and creativity—are stronger indicators of future success in college and career than even mastery of basic content.”
In addition to the OEIB’s endorsement of STEAM, the Governor spoke about STEAM at the Oregon School Board Association’s meeting on Saturday.
In Oregon, our education and government leaders say STEAM.
In the course of many one-on-one conversations, the Beaverton Friends of Music have reminded the Board that the Arts are CORE CURRICULUM per national definitions and state requirements. The arts are of high value to the public in Oregon, as recently emphasized by Measure 26-146 (the Portland Arts Tax) passing convincingly last week. We know that our school budget is a year-round process. We therefore remind you at every opportunity: the arts are crucial to our children’s development into successful, productive, educated citizens. The arts are included in the district’s strategic plan. The Beaverton Friends of Music encourage you to explore a further resolution to keep and grow the arts, to fund comprehensive music programs to national recommended minimums, and to recognize them as the energizing and unifying force in CORE EDUCATION.
Testimony by Nika Nagy at School Board Business Meeting 11-13-12
District Goal (2010-2015): All students will show continuous progress toward their personal learning goals, developed in collaboration with teachers and parents, and will be prepared for post-secondary education and career success.
My name’s Nika Nagy, and I attened the Arts and Communication Magnet Academy. I’m in eighth grade. My father, Janos Nagy, is a music teacher so,naturally, music has been a large, large part of how I was raised, how I connect with my familiy, and how I express myself. It’s in all honesty, part of who I am.
Of course, we know that the specials department has taken a large blow. In my choir class at ACMA, there are over 100 kids in just one classroom with inadequate space. My english class has over 50 kids, all packed into one room. My english teacher actually had to split the class – teaching half of the students the lesson, then reteaching it to the other half of the class, just to try and anwser any questions the sudents need to know. Math, a subject that I have always struggled with, is even harder this year in a class size so vast that my instructor simply does not have time to work with each student individually. My mom had to hire a tutor, who was actually my teacher from last year but who got laid off. I’m seeing my former teachers, people I know and look up to, who have made a huge impact in my education, being laid off and being transferred. It really saddens me that other students will not have the same positive experience with those teachers as I have. My favourite class is library but now I can no longer discuss my favourite books with a librarian anymore.
I, as a student, am MORE THAN WILLING to put forth the effort to not only go to collage, but to reach my dream of becoming a teacher myself one day. I will give you my all but you must believe in me. You must invest in me. You must invest in all of us, otherwise many of us won’t go anywhere.
Oregonian Article: Reporting on October 29th School Board Business Meeting
Oregonian Article
Beaverton School Board continues research on naming stadium after soldier
Testimony of Beaverton Friends of Music member Fred Sautter at October 29th School Board Business Meeting
Fred Sautter is a parent from Raleigh Park district and in touch with Tim Morrison. During his testimony, Fred played a recording of the title piece from the original sound track of the film “Born on the 4th of July,” on which the trumpet solo was performed by Tim Morrison, a 1974 Graduate of BHS. Tim is in our lives daily. He performs trumpet for the theme music on “Nightly News with Brian Williams” and in most films with orchestra since 1997.
Tim is both anxious for music in the Beaverton Schools and will enjoy helping where he can. Tim’s statement: “One of the bigger picture things I loved about my experience at BHS was the fact that 4 of the 6 classes I took as a junior and senior were music classes. Great preparation for the NEC years and the many years as a professional musician that followed! Between the concert band, stage band, concert choir, music theory and all of the musicals that were put on by an exceptional drama department, my experience at BHS was a rich and diverse one musically for me. It saddens me to hear that programs like those, which were so influential for me personally, have ended up on the chopping block as a result of budget cuts.”
Testimony by Beaverton Friends of Music member, Tom Colett, at October 29th School Board Business Meeting
My name is Tom Colett, I am a Beaverton resident and I am here tonight representing Beaverton Friends of Music. Over the past two months, our members have had the privilege of engaging with the school board in person, via email and by phone. There have been many constructive conversations about how to protect and grow music learning opportunities for students in the Beaverton School District. But, our work must not stop there. We have a vision for music in this district: every elementary school student should receive general music instruction from a certified music teacher for a minimum of 90 min per week and middle and high school students should receive instrumental and choral instruction from a certified music teacher at least three hours per week. Band and choir programs should receive proper funding, so families do not have to pay extra fees and music directors do not have to spend additional hours helping parents organize fundraisers just to keep the program afloat. Elementary classes should have new, well-maintained instruments, appropriate for the kinds of activities that meet the national standards for music education:
1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside
the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
This vision will not only ensure the whole child is being taught, it will play an important part in achieving the district’s strategic plan by allowing a wide diversity of students to THRIVE. We will continue to be in contact with the board, inviting ideas, conversation, and most importantly concrete action that can help provide our students with a strong music education. We ask that you please take some quality time to think of what you might do to show your commitment to providing the kind of funding and support our music programs need to once again be the pride of the Beaverton and Oregon.