173 | Are Before:After-School Ensembles Equitable? - HD 720p
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[00:00:00] Bryson Tarbet: Let's talk about equity in before and after school ensembles. You're listening to That Music Podcast with Bryson Tarbin, the curriculum designer and educational consultant behind That Music Teacher and the Elementary Music Summit. Each week, Bryson and his guests will dive into the reality of being an elementary music teacher and how music can truly be transformative in the lives of the students you serve.
[00:00:28] Bryson Tarbet: Show notes and resources mentioned in this episode. Can be found at that music teacher. com.
[00:00:40] Bryson Tarbet: Hello and welcome back to this episode of that music podcast today. We're going to talk about something that might make some of us a little bit uncomfortable. And I want to start off by saying I'm not here to try to shame anyone or to say that anyone is doing anything inequitable on purpose, but I've noticed some trends over the past few years when it [00:01:00] comes to Ensembles, especially in elementary school.
[00:01:04] Bryson Tarbet: Um, it's when it comes to beginning band or, you know, after school band or choir or anything like that, or if ensemble modern modern band, I've noticed something that, while definitely not intentional. Is a little bit worrisome to me and I want to at least bring attention to the issue and that is transportation and equity based on parental and family status.
[00:01:31] Bryson Tarbet: First of all, I think that whenever we are able to offer extra things to our students. So maybe it's an additional ensemble or an orphan ensemble or acquire something about that is always. And I love that, and I think that is so important to allow our students to be well rounded individuals and musicians in that way.
[00:01:50] Bryson Tarbet: Something I've noticed, however, is that equity sometimes is The second consideration if it's considered at all for [00:02:00] instance One thing that I see common is having a an ensemble like choir happen before school or after school Which having been in a school I understand how that works, right? Especially if there's mixed grades How are we going to just fit it into the school schedule and it often turns into before or after school however, a lot of times this puts Participation based on the prerequisite of transportation and, you know, for instance, in the school that I taught it, we were a title one school and if I, um, wanted to do a before after school ensemble, one of the things that we would have to figure out is how transportation is going to be available, you know, how are we going to, you know, are we, are we able to offer a bus that goes an hour later?
[00:02:44] Bryson Tarbet: Are we able to, um, Are we able to to figure out carpooling or whatever a way to ensure that a student that wants to participate Isn't hindered based on the fact that their parents might not have a car or you know Their parents are still at work or [00:03:00] whatever now I know that sometimes there is just no way we can get everything to work right in an ideal world We would have a bus that would drop everyone off after school and they would just wait around But I also know that districts That's not happening a lot.
[00:03:15] Bryson Tarbet: And a lot of times districts are just hurting for bus drivers in general. So getting 1 that would be able to do a little bit later just isn't in the cards. So what are some things that we can do? 1st of all, I want you to take a look at the system and see if there are any big changes you can make. Um, so I think there's always room for a conversation of.
[00:03:34] Bryson Tarbet: Can we make transportation happen, especially if you are in a Title I school, there might be different funds, um, that you could use to make this more accessible. Um, so that's the first thing I want you to try. And I'm fully aware that that will not end the vast majority of this conversation because the answer is going to be no.
[00:03:50] Bryson Tarbet: I'm fully aware of that. So some other things that I would recommend. If you are not able to make, you know, universal transportation or transportation [00:04:00] available to those who need it. What can we do with our policies to make them more equitable? For instance, I know that a lot of, um, Additional ensembles, you know, before and after school ensembles have some sort of attendance contract or things like that.
[00:04:15] Bryson Tarbet: Um, and I understand where that's coming from, especially, you know, when you have an ensemble, you don't want someone just not showing up for six weeks and then showing up before the concert. Um, but I've also seen that some are like really strict. Like if you miss two, you're done. And I think some time, you know, what can we do to at least build in some.
[00:04:34] Bryson Tarbet: Flexibility within these contracts, right? Um, so, for instance, if we're not able to provide transportation and we know that a student might have to figure out transportation or figure out carpooling, or sometimes, you know, maybe their students not able to attend because they have to get picked up because mom has to work or whatever.
[00:04:52] Bryson Tarbet: What can we do to have flexibility in our policies so that we're not Accidentally kicking out people aren't [00:05:00] students based on things that they don't have control over. And again, I know this is a balancing act of understanding that you need to have people in the rehearsal on a consistent basis and understanding the other side of things.
[00:05:11] Bryson Tarbet: So just. That's kind of where I want us to leave, you know, if you take nothing else out of this episode, it's first of all, I know that there are no perfect answers, so I know that we're not going to be able to solve all the problems all at once and just poof, everything's better, um, because I know that's not how that works, uh, but I want you to at least have these conversations, start the thinking about this and think about ways that we can, we can help this out.
[00:05:37] Bryson Tarbet: So, for instance, if you, for whatever reason, you have to have your rehearsals before or after school. And you're not able to get transportation provided by the district, which is probably very, very real thing for a lot of us, you know, can we reach out to the PTO to see if they would help facilitate or be open to facilitating a carpool arrangement?
[00:05:58] Bryson Tarbet: Um, so maybe there are students [00:06:00] who their parents aren't able to pick them up early and drop them off early at school, but their neighbor might, and maybe they can go with them. I know there are some whole, you know. Liability and things like that that might make it difficult, um, but even a PTO might be the great way to kind of bridge that gap, um, to help make sure students have the ability to join this if this is something that they, that they.
[00:06:22] Bryson Tarbet: That they feel strongly that they want to do. Um, so that's something you can do. Um, but also thinking about your concerts too. Um, and this is a whole bigger conversation than anything else. Um, but I saw on a Facebook post today actually that there was somebody whose winter program was rescheduled and then rescheduled again.
[00:06:40] Bryson Tarbet: Like it was clearly not a great situation in general, but it ended up getting rescheduled to a Sunday. And I know that That would not really work in the school district that I was in, um, based on the population, but also based on the lack of transportation. Um, and again, no shade against this teacher at the school.
[00:06:58] Bryson Tarbet: It's clearly [00:07:00] not a good situation and they're making the best of what they could. Um, but what can we do to make any performances that we're going to have in these ensembles a little bit more accessible. Um, so for instance, you know, if we had this before and after school ensemble and there's only a performance after school, Maybe that's not going to be the best for all students at the very least.
[00:07:23] Bryson Tarbet: Could we have a performance during the school day and then went after school? So at least, you know, if, if a student isn't able to come for the performance after school, they're able to still be a part of it. And I, I think that there's some, probably some of you that are, are, are listening and are pushing back a little bit because they're like, well.
[00:07:40] Bryson Tarbet: If they can't come to the performance, why are they a part of, you know, why are they, you know, they need to be good at the performance. That's, that's the whole end goal. And to that, I would push back a little bit because I think, you know, there's, there's definitely something to be said about performance and about sharing music and about being able to show the final product.
[00:07:56] Bryson Tarbet: But I would argue the bigger reason behind having [00:08:00] these additional ensembles is to give our students more musical experiences, right? And I would think I, I would go, I would argue that the majority of us have that as kind of a core understanding is that the goal is to just get them to make music. And I know there's logistical things and community expectations and admin expectations that, that kind of make that a little difficult.
[00:08:22] Bryson Tarbet: But I would just urge you to take a step back, think about different policies you have in place, different, um, You know, the scheduling things and transportation considerations and just see what you can do. I'm fully aware that there are things that we can't do. I'm fully aware that we will never be able to make this type of arrangement 100 percent accessible based in the systems we have.
[00:08:48] Bryson Tarbet: But what steps can we take to try to make it a little bit more equitable? Again, starting conversations, um, reaching out to organizations like the PTO. Um, you know, maybe there's a [00:09:00] local business that would love to be able to help out or something. I don't know. I don't know the, all the answers, but my challenge for you is to look, you know, if you're in one of these programs where you have Quote, unquote, extra things going on.
[00:09:14] Bryson Tarbet: Look at the policies you have placed. Look at the scheduling considerations you have and the transportation needs that would need to be made, but also look at the community that you're in and see what you can do to make it just 1 percent more equitable. What conversations can we get started? What partnerships can we see if we can form and sometimes just what changes do you need to make in your own flexibility to ensure that things that have nothing to do with making music and the students musical ability and their, their want to be there.
[00:09:48] Bryson Tarbet: Don't get in the way as always. Thank you so much for listening to this at week's episode. If you have not left us a review on iTunes or whatever you are listening, it would mean the world to us if you would leave us [00:10:00] review. Not only does that help us just get the podcast in front of new listeners, but it also helps us understand what you are enjoying and what you want more of.
[00:10:08] Bryson Tarbet: So I know this is another short and sweet episode, but I think there's a lot to think about a lot to dive in on and a lot of ways that you can think about how you can make your program just a little bit more equitable with that being said, thank you so much for listening. And in case nobody has told you lately, thank you so much for making a difference in the lives of the students that you teach.
