I started writing this today, and realized that it's really a multi-part entry. I'll start with the bare facts of what happened on Friday, and expand on the larger issues later.
So, for the umpteenth time in my career I find myself a little at odds with the football world. Not the football team per se... but with the general expectations surrounding band (in my case, a pep band) and football games. This is not an unusual thing for a band director - if you googled around you'll find more than a few forum and blog entries by frustrated band directors, students and parents lamenting the treatment of the band program by the football program and administration of their various schools. Fortunately, this time it isn't a matter of being mistreated - I actually have good relations with the NRHS football coach and admin. It's more of a situation that comes down to the CIF rules of conduct.
Basically the problem is this - certain factors at last Friday's football game gave rise to concern that the band has been playing at the "wrong" times. (The "wrong" times being anytime that either team is huddling up trying to figure out their plays, or when the ball is in motion... you know... pretty much most of the game.) Apparently, my kids have been generating more enthusiasm than usual, which resulted in a volume level that actually interfered with the game (as in - the other team was complaining.) I had coaches, the athletic director and even Principal Leto himself rush over to me several times during the night to tell me to stop the band from playing, lest our team suffer a penalty.
Now, this resulted in three reactions from me: 1) First and foremost, I was embarrassed and a little put off by the fact that I was being 'reprimanded' by my fellow staff members. To be fair - 'reprimanded' may be the wrong word. I sensed more panic than anger from the coaches as they didn't want to risk any sanctions from the referees - I can certainly empathize with that. Still I couldn't help but feel like a puppy who just got spanked for peeing on the carpet.
2) I was more than a little confused - basically I've been using the same strategy for timing pep songs for the last 12 years, and no one said anything about it before last night. I understand that it comes down to a matter of the CIF regulations. If that's true, then the only reason I've been getting away with it for 12 years is because no one bothered to complain. Last night, for whatever reason, was different. I was told later that it was kind of a pivotal game - and that whoever won was guaranteed to go to CIF play-offs. I can understand how that would put a coaching staff on edge.
3) The fact that the band was loud enough to disrupt the game means that we were kicking ass. Awesome.
Upon our return to the NRHS music rooms, I immediately fired off an 'apology' email to the football coach, the Athletics Director and Principal Leto, with a promise to get with the Athletic Director to go over the CIF regulations regarding band participation in league games. I already know what that is going to mean - significantly less playing time for the band during the games.
Now, in the long run, this is not an issue that I would go to war over. In fact, this time there really isn't anyone to go to war with, except maybe CIF - and that's a battle lost before the first shot is even fired. Regardless, The only real problem for me stems from the fact that I try to convince my students that the pep band gig is something that can be fun - something that can help build our own little sense of community. It makes my life so much easier when they enter into it with some kind of enthusiasm, rather than doing it because I'm hanging their band grade over their heads. But then, when I do manage to build that enthusiasm, they have a tendency to show up ready to play - and they want to play a lot. Limiting their playing time results in frustration, which can lead to the notion that maybe playing for a football game isn't really worth sacrificing their Friday nights after all.
It's a frustration that I don't know who to vent at - it isn't the coach's fault (he could care less whether or not the band, or anyone else for that matter, even shows up to the games - all he needs is a playing field and two teams locked in mortal combat.) It isn't the admin's fault. I suppose you could blame CIF, but really, is it unfair for an athletics body to pass a ruling preventing the obstruction of athletics teams from doing what their supposed to do?
So in a nutshell, the part that sucks for us is - we are expected to be at the games... just because that's what bands do. But then we're supposed to stay mostly out of the way, which makes for a boring and wasted Friday night. Perhaps I can get the NRHS Football Boosters to spring for some portable game systems and iPads.
(To be continued)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
I Think The Honeymoon is Over
Well, it seems the discontent over Principal Leto's leadership is starting to mount. The basic issue - lack of direction, and a seeming inability to make hard choices and back them up. I'm starting to hear more and more people say things like "at least Palpatine got stuff done." And while I don't particularly disagree, I still stop far short of remembering the Palpatine regime with any kind of nostalgia.
Now, I've worked under truly incompetent principals before - and I wouldn't quite put Leto in that category. He seems to be a highly intelligent and capable man with a balanced sense of ethics and morals. But there seems to be a lack of fortitude to face confrontation head on, and to push through adversity to get done what he thinks he needs to get done. Maybe I need to get him a green power ring.
I know, I know - Palpatine had those qualities in spades. But the problem was I didn't trust her motivations, and saw a blatant lack of concern for the genuine well-being of her staff and even the students. Or... maybe that's not true - maybe she truly believed that high test scores were the secret to success in life (her life, anyway). Regardless, it's a classic might-makes-right vs. might-for-right dilema. Palpatine had the might, Leto has the right. If only I could splice them together and filter out the impurities.
Far be it from me to be too critical - I mean I'm not even fit to be department chair myself, much less an administrator. But I'm still allowed an opinion, and my official opinion is - I really like Principal Leto, I really do. But I'm starting to fear for him, and I'm quickly losing confidence that he'll ever start to wield his authority in a meaningful kind of way - a way that will benefit the campus as a whole. In the mean time, I am still enjoying the glorious absence of Palpatine in my life. And it may be selfish of me, but I know how to get by under a weak principal (benevolent or otherwise)... I can manage my own well enough, given the freedom to do so. It's those lawful evil dictators that really throw a wrench in my works.
So, Principal Leto - I pray (more for your sake than for mine) that you find your voice on campus - preferably sooner than later. But you must forgive me if I take measures to fortify myself against an inevitable pendulum swing that might drop my tranquil little fiefdom into the lap of another malevolent tyrant.
Of course, it may not happen.... soon, anyway. Our last 'inactive' principal was incompetent to the point of failing to prepare the school for our accreditation process, and allowing the test scores to dip dramatically. She also failed to show up to work on time, and avoided responsibility like the plague. I don't think basic professionalism is Leto's problem - and he certainly doesn't have Palpatine's habit of aggressively making enemies of superiors, colleagues and subordinates alike. In short - he's not the kind of guy that will give the district strong reasons to want to replace him. In fact, the district brass are high on his "Keep Them Happy" list (which is a really long list, by the way - one of his shortcomings.) He's a good, obedient administrator which may offer him some protection for the time being.
Now, I've worked under truly incompetent principals before - and I wouldn't quite put Leto in that category. He seems to be a highly intelligent and capable man with a balanced sense of ethics and morals. But there seems to be a lack of fortitude to face confrontation head on, and to push through adversity to get done what he thinks he needs to get done. Maybe I need to get him a green power ring.
I know, I know - Palpatine had those qualities in spades. But the problem was I didn't trust her motivations, and saw a blatant lack of concern for the genuine well-being of her staff and even the students. Or... maybe that's not true - maybe she truly believed that high test scores were the secret to success in life (her life, anyway). Regardless, it's a classic might-makes-right vs. might-for-right dilema. Palpatine had the might, Leto has the right. If only I could splice them together and filter out the impurities.
Far be it from me to be too critical - I mean I'm not even fit to be department chair myself, much less an administrator. But I'm still allowed an opinion, and my official opinion is - I really like Principal Leto, I really do. But I'm starting to fear for him, and I'm quickly losing confidence that he'll ever start to wield his authority in a meaningful kind of way - a way that will benefit the campus as a whole. In the mean time, I am still enjoying the glorious absence of Palpatine in my life. And it may be selfish of me, but I know how to get by under a weak principal (benevolent or otherwise)... I can manage my own well enough, given the freedom to do so. It's those lawful evil dictators that really throw a wrench in my works.
So, Principal Leto - I pray (more for your sake than for mine) that you find your voice on campus - preferably sooner than later. But you must forgive me if I take measures to fortify myself against an inevitable pendulum swing that might drop my tranquil little fiefdom into the lap of another malevolent tyrant.
Of course, it may not happen.... soon, anyway. Our last 'inactive' principal was incompetent to the point of failing to prepare the school for our accreditation process, and allowing the test scores to dip dramatically. She also failed to show up to work on time, and avoided responsibility like the plague. I don't think basic professionalism is Leto's problem - and he certainly doesn't have Palpatine's habit of aggressively making enemies of superiors, colleagues and subordinates alike. In short - he's not the kind of guy that will give the district strong reasons to want to replace him. In fact, the district brass are high on his "Keep Them Happy" list (which is a really long list, by the way - one of his shortcomings.) He's a good, obedient administrator which may offer him some protection for the time being.
Monday, October 4, 2010
How Maestro Got His Groove Back
Once upon a time, just before the turn of the century, Mr. Maestro was a still young and up-and-coming music teacher. He had just taken the job at Old Republic High School after a soul-draining four year stretch at CowTown High School. He was a little unsure of himself, and hadn't yet discovered his true potential.
The community at ORHS took him in and made him feel wanted and special. Then, he met a man who would go on to be his friend and mentor for the next three years - and exemplary musician and conductor who would help Mr. Maestro realize that he could be more than a bungling idiot on the podium. The man was focused, and seemed to have boundless energy. He not only taught Mr. Maestro how to be a better conductor, he served as a role model that would help Mr. Maestro organize his efforts with a determination that bordered on obsession. For the first time in his life, Mr. Maestro took pride in his classroom, and kept it clean and efficient. His filing cabinet was up-to-date, his inbox was cleaned out almost hourly, and his turn-around time for parent communication was half of what the school required. Maestro felt good about himself. He was well-liked by his students and his colleagues, and he felt lucky to have a job that he loved.
Eventually Maestro parted ways with his friend and mentor. Though they fell out of touch, Maestro always remembered his time with his teacher fondly, and he gave homage to him often. However, eventually the Maestro became somewhat complacent at Old Republic High School. He stopped working as hard as he had before, and he started to let things pile up in his classroom. But what did it matter? - He had already proven himself as a quality musician and teacher.
Then one day a new principal came to Old Republic High School. She came with the promise of doing great things, and taking the school and it's community to new heights - the Maestro was very excited. Soon, however, he realized that the principal had her own agenda - one that used the teachers and students to further her own career ambitions. She began transforming the once thriving campus that was Old Republic in to the cold, efficient machine that would be Empire High School for the next four years. She made many attempts to bend the Maestro to her will, but he resisted.
Although she never managed to break his spirit, she did succeed in siphoning off a good deal of his morale - to the point where he no longer felt enthusiastic about working at Empire High, and began looking for other employment options. He stopped working late, stopped keeping his classroom clean, and let his voicemail go days, and even weeks unchecked.
Eventually, he began to doubt his own abilities - just like he did at CowTown High School. But after some soul searching he realized that he loved Empire High School, and would not leave her for the sake of escaping a tyrannical principal. He put faith in the idea that she would someday leave Empire High, and that peace would come again to the galaxy.
Eventually his faith was rewarded.
The tyrant principal did indeed make her way to other 'greener' pastures (of course, every other pasture is greener when you've burnt the one you're standing in to a cinder.) And the Maestro found his new principal to be much kinder and more supportive. But after a year, the Maestro felt that he was still running at half speed. He wasn't sure if it was residual trauma left over from his former principle, or if he had simply been removed from the influence of his friend and mentor for too long. Furthermore, the addition of Maestro Jr. to his life caused a shifting of priorities - one that made him winder if he would ever be the same teacher again.
Then he did some soul-searching over the Summer and came to the conclusion that in order to be a whole person, he had to be the best musician, the best teacher, the best husband and the best father he could be. A gap in any of these areas would diminish his spirit -as it already had.
The problem was - he wasn't sure that he could pull all of that off. He started slowly - just rewriting his syllabus. The next thing he knew he was back to alphabetizing the books on his bookshelf, and organizing the action figures on his desk by height. Once again, he found himself clearing out his voice mail hourly, rather than weekly (monthly at his lowest point)... and found it difficult to leave his office before tidying his desk.
This time, something was different - The Maestro sensed the grand pattern beneath the fabric of his life. He began to understand that there was no happy-ever-after, only happy-until-the-next-challenge. At the same time, he took comfort in the fact that like the good times, the bad times don't last forever... and thus, emerging like Persephone at Winter's thaw, he set about celebrating his happiness, but preparing himself for the day when the leaves would fall again.
The community at ORHS took him in and made him feel wanted and special. Then, he met a man who would go on to be his friend and mentor for the next three years - and exemplary musician and conductor who would help Mr. Maestro realize that he could be more than a bungling idiot on the podium. The man was focused, and seemed to have boundless energy. He not only taught Mr. Maestro how to be a better conductor, he served as a role model that would help Mr. Maestro organize his efforts with a determination that bordered on obsession. For the first time in his life, Mr. Maestro took pride in his classroom, and kept it clean and efficient. His filing cabinet was up-to-date, his inbox was cleaned out almost hourly, and his turn-around time for parent communication was half of what the school required. Maestro felt good about himself. He was well-liked by his students and his colleagues, and he felt lucky to have a job that he loved.
Eventually Maestro parted ways with his friend and mentor. Though they fell out of touch, Maestro always remembered his time with his teacher fondly, and he gave homage to him often. However, eventually the Maestro became somewhat complacent at Old Republic High School. He stopped working as hard as he had before, and he started to let things pile up in his classroom. But what did it matter? - He had already proven himself as a quality musician and teacher.
Then one day a new principal came to Old Republic High School. She came with the promise of doing great things, and taking the school and it's community to new heights - the Maestro was very excited. Soon, however, he realized that the principal had her own agenda - one that used the teachers and students to further her own career ambitions. She began transforming the once thriving campus that was Old Republic in to the cold, efficient machine that would be Empire High School for the next four years. She made many attempts to bend the Maestro to her will, but he resisted.
Although she never managed to break his spirit, she did succeed in siphoning off a good deal of his morale - to the point where he no longer felt enthusiastic about working at Empire High, and began looking for other employment options. He stopped working late, stopped keeping his classroom clean, and let his voicemail go days, and even weeks unchecked.
Eventually, he began to doubt his own abilities - just like he did at CowTown High School. But after some soul searching he realized that he loved Empire High School, and would not leave her for the sake of escaping a tyrannical principal. He put faith in the idea that she would someday leave Empire High, and that peace would come again to the galaxy.
Eventually his faith was rewarded.
The tyrant principal did indeed make her way to other 'greener' pastures (of course, every other pasture is greener when you've burnt the one you're standing in to a cinder.) And the Maestro found his new principal to be much kinder and more supportive. But after a year, the Maestro felt that he was still running at half speed. He wasn't sure if it was residual trauma left over from his former principle, or if he had simply been removed from the influence of his friend and mentor for too long. Furthermore, the addition of Maestro Jr. to his life caused a shifting of priorities - one that made him winder if he would ever be the same teacher again.
Then he did some soul-searching over the Summer and came to the conclusion that in order to be a whole person, he had to be the best musician, the best teacher, the best husband and the best father he could be. A gap in any of these areas would diminish his spirit -as it already had.
The problem was - he wasn't sure that he could pull all of that off. He started slowly - just rewriting his syllabus. The next thing he knew he was back to alphabetizing the books on his bookshelf, and organizing the action figures on his desk by height. Once again, he found himself clearing out his voice mail hourly, rather than weekly (monthly at his lowest point)... and found it difficult to leave his office before tidying his desk.
This time, something was different - The Maestro sensed the grand pattern beneath the fabric of his life. He began to understand that there was no happy-ever-after, only happy-until-the-next-challenge. At the same time, he took comfort in the fact that like the good times, the bad times don't last forever... and thus, emerging like Persephone at Winter's thaw, he set about celebrating his happiness, but preparing himself for the day when the leaves would fall again.
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