4 years of band was critical to my son in high school and I believe helped him be successful n college- participating in marching and symphonic band in a top university as well as double majoring in Econ and engineering. Please reconsider this choice.
S
Susan Robinson
3 years ago
This is so stunningly short sighted. My son is a W-L junior. Although I am a professional musician, I have no expectation that my child will become one, and yet his musical experiences at this time are foundational to SO many aspects of his life, as a scholar and a human being. To deprive many of your brightest students this opportunity is frankly shocking.
W
Will Granger
3 years ago
I was in the IB program at Justice High back when it was Stuart. I also participated in marching band and played flute in the concert band. Music helped me manage the stress of academics and led to me playing flute throughout college as well. I have lifelong friends who I met in band. Taking music away from high achieving students is cruel. Making it impossible to participate in music education as well as the IB program devalues music as a future education and career choice, essentially telling students that being smart and being musical are mutually exclusive when the reality is the opposite. Is an enormous disservice to your students. I urge you to reconsider this decision
S
Sue Walton
3 years ago
Expanding TOK without incorporating other changes first will destroy the W&L band. Music and arts education is critically important to our kids. Please don't do this without considering all the unintended consequences.
K
Karen Scanlan
3 years ago
In 20 years none of the kids will even remember this TOK thing - but they will remember how their music.
S
Susan Senn
3 years ago
Please keep both the Art (Music) and the IB programs intact and available to all!
L
Lucy Anderson
3 years ago
I am a member of the WL band and a full IB student at WL. I took USVA and EPF over the summer in order to be able to take 2 year TOK/CORE and band. I spent much of TOK playing games, or completing assignments that did nothing to augment my education. The time I spend in band class, in contrast, has always been incredibly enriching and productive. Many students who come to WL from international schools rely on both the IB program and the band program to fulfill graduation requirements and make friends. Students shouldn't be forced to sacrifice arts education in order to participate in a rigorous academic program.
K
Kendra Anderson
3 years ago
This is a travesty! The arts provides so many outlets for both students/performers and the audiences. W-L, you can do better!
S
Stephen Young
3 years ago
The schools should not force students to choose between the arts and a good education - the two go hand-in-hand. A well-rounded student can excel at both. Please find a way to make the schedule work for all.
M
Meghan Good
3 years ago
Forcing students to choose between artistic pursuits and a more challenging academic schedule is a tragedy for both the student and the program.
C
Carey Johnston
3 years ago
Why would W&L HS disincentive music participation? Makes no sense.
D
Duncan Price
3 years ago
The music program at WL has been so important to my son, who is also an IB student. Please don't limit what students can take !
N
Nicholas Coughlin
3 years ago
I came to WL for IB in the premise that I could take one year TOK
S
Suzanne Smith
3 years ago
Please reconsider this curriculum decision as it will--for many students--end their engagement with the arts. The arts have proven that they can support mental health both through engaging in artistic creativity and through the vital social communities that students develop while participating. SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH!!! Not adding stress with a singular focus on academic achievement.
T
Tom Bolles
3 years ago
I graduated from the full IB program in 2019 and was in symphonic band, marching band, and jazz band all four years. Some of my fondest memories and strongest friendships from high school are from band. Live music performance is an important and enriching part of the human experience and should be accessible to all. While I am no longer in band, my time with the W-L band cultivated an appreciation of live music that has stayed with me as a young adult and led to wonderful new experiences and friendships. In fact, I am hosting a house show featuring my friend's jazz trio next week! And you better believe I'm going to see John Williams in concert with the LA Philharmonic later this summer. Being in band certainly shaped who I am and has had a positive effect on my life. I hope future students can continue to have that experience available to them while doing the IB program to help prepare them for college (It certainly helped me).
B
Benjamin B Reed
3 years ago
Our kids should have the opportunity to take Arts classes (band, orchestra, chorus and theater) and still pursue an IB degree. To do otherwise will significantly undermine those programs at W-L and reduce the number of kids who participate. APS needs to get this right.
G
Greg Brozak
3 years ago
Please do not allow IB to eliminate the arts and Band.
E
Eve Reed
3 years ago
Please do not make this change but instead allow time to incorporate the Arts into the IB curriculum. This would deprive kids of the ability to pursue both band and IB, which many do, and be a tragedy for the Washington Liberty band by making recruiting and retaining talented young musicians even more difficult than it has been.
P
Peter Karapetkov
3 years ago
Please, keep the arts!!
J
Jeremy Daross
3 years ago
I pay taxes in Arlington, and this further slap in the face to the already under funded and under supported music program is completely unacceptable. Please stop this from happening.
4 years of band was critical to my son in high school and I believe helped him be successful n college- participating in marching and symphonic band in a top university as well as double majoring in Econ and engineering. Please reconsider this choice.
This is so stunningly short sighted. My son is a W-L junior. Although I am a professional musician, I have no expectation that my child will become one, and yet his musical experiences at this time are foundational to SO many aspects of his life, as a scholar and a human being. To deprive many of your brightest students this opportunity is frankly shocking.
I was in the IB program at Justice High back when it was Stuart. I also participated in marching band and played flute in the concert band. Music helped me manage the stress of academics and led to me playing flute throughout college as well. I have lifelong friends who I met in band. Taking music away from high achieving students is cruel. Making it impossible to participate in music education as well as the IB program devalues music as a future education and career choice, essentially telling students that being smart and being musical are mutually exclusive when the reality is the opposite. Is an enormous disservice to your students. I urge you to reconsider this decision
Expanding TOK without incorporating other changes first will destroy the W&L band. Music and arts education is critically important to our kids. Please don't do this without considering all the unintended consequences.
In 20 years none of the kids will even remember this TOK thing - but they will remember how their music.
Please keep both the Art (Music) and the IB programs intact and available to all!
I am a member of the WL band and a full IB student at WL. I took USVA and EPF over the summer in order to be able to take 2 year TOK/CORE and band. I spent much of TOK playing games, or completing assignments that did nothing to augment my education. The time I spend in band class, in contrast, has always been incredibly enriching and productive. Many students who come to WL from international schools rely on both the IB program and the band program to fulfill graduation requirements and make friends. Students shouldn't be forced to sacrifice arts education in order to participate in a rigorous academic program.
This is a travesty! The arts provides so many outlets for both students/performers and the audiences. W-L, you can do better!
The schools should not force students to choose between the arts and a good education - the two go hand-in-hand. A well-rounded student can excel at both. Please find a way to make the schedule work for all.
Forcing students to choose between artistic pursuits and a more challenging academic schedule is a tragedy for both the student and the program.
Why would W&L HS disincentive music participation? Makes no sense.
The music program at WL has been so important to my son, who is also an IB student. Please don't limit what students can take !
I came to WL for IB in the premise that I could take one year TOK
Please reconsider this curriculum decision as it will--for many students--end their engagement with the arts. The arts have proven that they can support mental health both through engaging in artistic creativity and through the vital social communities that students develop while participating. SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH!!! Not adding stress with a singular focus on academic achievement.
I graduated from the full IB program in 2019 and was in symphonic band, marching band, and jazz band all four years. Some of my fondest memories and strongest friendships from high school are from band. Live music performance is an important and enriching part of the human experience and should be accessible to all. While I am no longer in band, my time with the W-L band cultivated an appreciation of live music that has stayed with me as a young adult and led to wonderful new experiences and friendships. In fact, I am hosting a house show featuring my friend's jazz trio next week! And you better believe I'm going to see John Williams in concert with the LA Philharmonic later this summer. Being in band certainly shaped who I am and has had a positive effect on my life. I hope future students can continue to have that experience available to them while doing the IB program to help prepare them for college (It certainly helped me).
Our kids should have the opportunity to take Arts classes (band, orchestra, chorus and theater) and still pursue an IB degree. To do otherwise will significantly undermine those programs at W-L and reduce the number of kids who participate. APS needs to get this right.
Please do not allow IB to eliminate the arts and Band.
Please do not make this change but instead allow time to incorporate the Arts into the IB curriculum. This would deprive kids of the ability to pursue both band and IB, which many do, and be a tragedy for the Washington Liberty band by making recruiting and retaining talented young musicians even more difficult than it has been.
Please, keep the arts!!
I pay taxes in Arlington, and this further slap in the face to the already under funded and under supported music program is completely unacceptable. Please stop this from happening.