Editorial Volume 169, Number 5, May 2010
®
PUBLISHER
Sidney L. Davis
sdavis@symphonypublishing.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
“That’s Another Rick Kessel
rkessel@symphonypublishing.com
EDITOR
Fine Mess You’ve Gotten Me Into” Christian Wissmuller
cwissmuller@symphonypublishing.com
R
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Eliahu Sussman
arely a day passes when NAMM’s Scott Robertson’s “Your Daily News” newsletter esussman@symphonypublishing.com
does not carry an item relating to a school music program struggling to survive a ASSOCIATE EDITOR
district or state budget shortfall. Whether it’s little “Rhody” looking at a possible Denyce Neilson
$38 million reduction in school services or Texas facing a 5 percent decrease to offset dneilson@symphonypublishing.com
a $4.3 billion budget gap, the arts and electives continue to remain on the back burner ADVERTISING SALES
regardless of party affiliation. In 2002 the Bush administration introduced No Child Left Iris Fox
ifox@symphonypublishing.com
Behind which, in summary, affected what students were taught, which tests they must
CLASSIFIED AD SALES
take, and the way money is spent on education. Many critics termed it a “one size fits all”
Maureen Johan
approach to education that emphasizes testing in reading and math without much regard mjohan@symphonypublishing.com
for elective courses such as music and the arts. Fast-forward to this year and the Obama PRODUCTION MANAGER
administration’s Race To The Top, which continues to emphasize a national standardized Laurie Guptill
test that will measure student’s “critical knowledge and higher-order thinking skills.” lguptill@symphonypublishing.com
Viewing both initiatives I am reminded of the comedy team of the ‘20s and ‘30s, Stan GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Laurel and Oliver Hardy, and the catchphrase most associated with the comedy duo: Andrew P. Ross
aross@symphonypublishing.com
“Well that’s another fi ne mess you’ve gotten me into.” After the tumultuous program
cutbacks of the ‘90s, sparked by voter propositions restricting larger than 2.5 perce