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Parents Want Music Added To The 3R's

By 250 News

A small group of parents has 'banded together' to push for the continuation of, and enhancement, of fine arts programs in Prince George schools.

Jane MacIntosh says the parents have pledged to meet on a regular basis to form an action plan on how best to achieve that goal.  MacIntosh's daughter is in a music program at Vanway Elementary, where Neil Wolfe is the Music Director.

Wolfe is working with the parents.  He says years of financial cutbacks have taken their toll on school music programs and, although some targeted funding was announced last year, there is no longer any continuity between schools.  He points, in particular, to the gap between programs at the elementary and secondary level.  And says, he wants a commitment last year's boost isn't a one-time injection.

Holly Nathan is the parent of a child at Quinson Elementary, where the school's choir will be travelling to Ottawa this year for a competition.  She says she's been so inspired by the experience of those children and is realizing the critical link between fine arts and the District's goals of literacy and numeracy.

At last week's school board meeting, MacIntosh informed trustees the group would soon be seeking a meeting with school district administrative staff to discuss some of the issues surrounding music programs in District 57.

And, on March 3rd, the group is planning to host a gathering for parents to hear from music education advocate, Dennis Tupman of Vancouver, who travels the country in a bid to enhance school music programs.


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