You are getting your money's worth with Kalispell schools

We have a Kalispell Public Schools general fund levy coming up on May 8. Our community has a great record of supporting our children through our public schools, and for this I am proud and grateful. We have a superior school district! I believe the tax dollars we have provided have been used wisely and well in a difficult and growing environment. I encourage a yes vote on the levy. Paying $5 or $6 a month is certainly a worthy investment in our children.

Although most in our community support our educational institutions, there have been a few who have voiced concern that school tax dollars are not being spent properly, that we’re not getting our “money’s worth,” and that “teachers” have some sort of “left-wing agenda.” In answer to this, I offer the following.

For the last several years I have volunteered to help with the beginning bass players in the Kalispell Middle School orchestra program, since that is my area of expertise. In that capacity I have seen first hand what kind of return on our investment we are getting from the teacher of that program. This year Mrs. Eileen Iams had 68 students in her beginning orchestra class; one moved away and one goes for special help, so 66 students remain and it is nearly the end of the year.

I have been a member of the American String Teachers Association for about 50 years, and have taught in other public schools for 35. It is from that experience that I can say that the optimum number for a beginning string class would be about 15 (fewer if possible). Think about it, even with 15 in the class the teacher has 60 strings to tune before she/he can even start class! (Beginning students cannot be expected to tune their own instrument for at least a year or two.) Maybe you don’t even want to know how many strings Mrs. Iams has to tune before she can start class. Figure it out!

So if you’re wondering by now how she does it, I can only say, you have to see it. I observe the students filing into the orchestra room at the beginning of the period, knowing exactly what to do and what is expected of them, and yet being friendly and courteous, while still being normal and “busy” 12-year-olds. I see Mrs. Iams helping students tune and exchanging pleasant words with students. I see a pre-planned order for the day on the board in front, and a friendly but no-nonsense move into the day’s work. I’m not sure you can call it a rehearsal; these students are still learning to hold the bow and the instrument. How do you teach that when most students are three and four rows away? You have to see it! And when you do, you will see a master teacher at work!

I only help out in the KMS orchestra program, so I can’t speak for other teachers or departments, but I’m guessing that the kind of mastery teaching that is going on in the Music Department at KMS is typical of other areas of this school and other schools in our community. The “agenda” that these teachers have is to bring their students to the highest level possible in their area, and help them grow into fine human beings. The young folks that I see in my time at KMS are doing just that.

So, to those wondering if we are getting our money’s worth, it is my opinion that we are getting a four-fold return on our investment in the KMS Orchestra, and I wouldn’t doubt that that is the case throughout our school system.

Please vote yes on May 8!

Don Beller is a resident of Kalispell.