After reading the June 13th article, “MHS Choir, Theater Classes Jeopardized,” I am puzzled by the minimum enrollment requirement of 20 students per class that Principal Mike Matthews is placing on the music and theater departments. I have four questions:
1) Is this requirement in effect for all classes in the school? For example, if there were 20 students in Spanish 3 this year and one student moved away over the summer, would Spanish 4 be removed from the class schedule next year, thus punishing the 19 students who didn’t move out of district?
2) Is the school administration aware that according to the College Board, in 1995, for example, students nationwide who were studying acting/play production scored on average 69 points higher on verbal SAT tests and 45 points higher on Math SAT tests than students with no arts coursework? Students in music performance classes scored on average 51 points higher on the verbal portion and 39 points higher on the math portion of the SAT.
3) Malibu High School went through a rigorous accreditation process this spring with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Will that accreditation be renewed if the school is not offering courses in theater and choral music? I understand that no dance classes will be offered next year either.
4. Music has been part of the curriculum in American public schools since the 1830’s. There are national voluntary standards and state content standards for music, dance, theater, and visual arts. How can students interested in these subjects meet the standards and prepare for college if the classes are not offered?
5. Private schools brag about maintaining class size of 15 or less. What is the justification for canceling classes in public schools if enrollment dips below 20?
Zina Josephs
SMMUSD Advisory Committee
on the Fine Arts