Ontario elementary schools losing music teachers: report
Posted April 22, 2013 11:35 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ontario’s public school students are losing music teachers as boards across the province grapple with budget cuts, according to a report from advocacy group People For Education.
“In one-third of elementary schools, students don’t have the opportunity to work with an artist, be in a musical group, or learn an instrument,” according to the report, which was released on Monday.
Only 44 per cent of Ontario elementary students had access to a music teacher in the 2012/13 school year but the figures were much different four years ago: In 1998/99, 58 per cent of students had access to a music teacher.
School principals told People for Education that part of that drop happened when the provincial government eliminated the Program Enhancement Grant, which provided arts funding.
When arts funding is cut, parents and school staff alongside students make up the difference through fundraising and that gives wealthier schools an unfair advantage.
“Elementary and secondary schools with higher fundraising are more likely to report that students will see live performances. At the same time, schools with higher average family incomes are much more likely to offer opportunities to participate in a band, choir, or orchestra,” the report read.
People for Education also found that not only does access to music programs vary due to income level, it varies across the province.
In the GTA, 62 per cent of schools have music teachers, but that plummets in northern Ontario, where only 26 per cent of elementary schools have music teachers. In eastern Ontario, it’s 32 per cent.
People for Education is recommending changes to policy and funding “to ensure that every elementary student has the opportunity to learn an instrument, and/or perform in a choir, band or orchestra.”
The report comes less than a week after Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustees said they were considering cutting music programs taught by part-time instructors. The TDSB is facing a $28-million deficit.
Currently, part-time instructors – 47 band, 29 string, seven steel pan and 24 staff development instructors – teach 1,661 hours a week.
Trustees are deciding whether to reduce that to 713 hours a week.
Trustees will vote in June.
How has your school’s music program been affected, if anything? Let us know in the comments.
