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Thursday, May 25, 2006

Popular 'Guitarchestra' May Fall Silent

By Matt Gomez
Mountain View Telegraph
    Roosevelt Middle School students in Bill Brodsky's "guitarchestra" haven't just learned to play guitar— they've also learned to pay attention to subtle, nonverbal cues Brodsky sends their way.
    Brodsky leads students through complex ensembles, timing crescendos and more difficult rhythms with only a gentle nod of his head and the sway of his body to the rhythm.
    He calls the group a "guitarchestra" because it isn't just a bunch of students playing one part for an entire piece, he said. Instead, the rhythm, bass and harmony are split among the students, making for a more complex sound.
    But this year's students might be the last to experience Brodsky's "guitarchestra."
    Brodsky, who has taught a guitar class at RMS for the past five years, was informed by Albuquerque Public Schools the day before spring break that he would need a different license to keep teaching the class, he said.
    He has a III-A teaching license, which classifies him as an educational leader, and has his endorsement in special education to teach gifted students, he said. To keep teaching his guitar class, Brodsky needs a regular education license and a music endorsement, he said.
    Brodsky has a master's degree from UNM in special education with a concentration in gifted and has worked for APS for 15 years, he said. Before that he taught guitar privately, he added.
    "All together I've taught guitar 35 years," Brodsky said. "However, my endorsement ... was not specifically in music, but in gifted education— that was not an issue before."
    Brodsky's guitar students have been disappointed that the class will no longer be available, he said. Despite the class being cut, Brodsky said he will make the class available over the summer for his seventh-graders at no cost.
    "The school system thinks of us ... it's a factory model, and we're all replaceable parts," Brodsky said. "There's no difference between Albert Einstein and Joe Schmo if they're teaching math."
    Rigo Chavez, director of communications for APS, confirmed that Brodsky needs a regular education endorsement to teach regular education students.
    "He currently has a special education licensure, which does not qualify him under state regulations to teach regular education students," Chavez said.
    According to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, a teacher must be highly qualified in order to teach core academic subjects. The arts, including music, dance, theater and the visual arts, are considered core academic subjects.
    The U.S. Department of Education's No Child Left Behind Web site states that a highly qualified teacher must have obtained full state certification or licensure, must hold at least a bachelor's degree and must have "demonstrated subject area competence in each of the academic subjects in which the teacher teaches."
    The Web site also states that "experienced teachers," those who were hired and have been teaching since at least the 2002-03 school year, must be "highly qualified" by the end of the 2005-06 school year.
    "No Child Left Behind allowed states to allow what standards would be used for 'highly qualified,' '' Chavez said. "According to them, you have to have the certification and endorsement to teach whatever subject you are teaching, so (Brodsky) needs a music endorsement plus he needs a regular education license to teach regular education students."
    James Ball, assistant secretary for educator quality with the New Mexico Public Education Department, said urban schools that do not meet federal standards under the No Child Left Behind Act by the end of this year will face federal funding cuts.
    "Basically the No Child Left Behind Act is based on the only thing the federal government can use as a stick, and that is federal aid to education," Ball said.
    "It's sad ... especially for Mr. Brodsky," said Patsy Shirey, the mother of one of Brodsky's guitar students. "The kids love it, the parents love it and just because of a technicality it has to end."
    Shirey said her son, Eric, has been in the "guitarchestra" for three years and has definitely benefited from the program. The class opened her son up and helped him overcome his shyness, she said.
    "It's such a shame that other kids won't be able to benefit from this," Shirey said. "It's such a unique program."
    LeeRoy Martinez, the RMS principal, said it's unfortunate that the school will be losing the guitar class, but said the "guitarchestra" may be available as a club next year.
    "The key thing is that schools are finding themselves in difficult situations, especially our school, due to changes in enrollment and budget, and part of that is making sure everyone is (highly qualified) in their content area," Martinez said. "All of these things start to affect all schools to the point where you might not be able to do things like you might have.
    "I just know that teachers like Mr. Brodsky, when we lose them and a program like that, it affects the kids ... they're going to be disappointed," Martinez continued. "It's tough to be in public education right now because we're telling teachers that have taught for years that they're not (highly qualified) ... but my job is to keep this school moving in a good direction and try to keep good programs like the guitar program. There are no bad guys here, just maybe bad interpretations. Everyone is doing their job and trying to make sure the kids are successful."