Despite receiving additional information on the proposed cultural musical course titled Beginning Mariachi Ensemble, the board tabled the matter to seek additional data.
Kerry Bryant is seeking to help instruct the course as an elective at Apalachee, along with the assistance of other teachers, including band instructors and foreign language teachers. The course consists of students learning the history of, as well as how to perform, cultural music of Mexico. Apalachee High School officials would like to begin offering the class as an elective in the spring semester 2009.
Bryant first spoke to the BOE during its September work session and was asked to return to on Tuesday night after looking into how many students might be interested.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Bryant said initially he believes from 15-20 students would be interested although he could research the matter in more depth.
Board member Lynn Stevens has expressed the most concern over the course.
At first, Stevens said she wasn’t sure if a course aimed primarily at Hispanic students should be offered. At the work session last month, she said she feared it would “open the door” for “illegal immigrants” to come to Barrow County like they have in Hall County.
Bryant stressed the class would not be open to just Hispanic students although he did say it would give many Hispanic students a chance to participate in an extracurricular activity in school as many of them currently do not.
Grants for the instruments and music in the class have been obtained, Bryant said, taking away the cost from the board.
At Tuesday’s meeting, board member Larry Ballard asked Bryant why a school system like Hall County’s, with a heavy Hispanic population, has not offered this.
Bryant said he did not know, but speculated it could be because the teaching of Mariachi is just now making its way to the Eastern part of the country and to the South in particular. Bryant said it was first taught in the Western part of the United States.
“Hall County may not have anyone who has been qualified to this point to teach it, I don’t know,” Bryant said. “I would be glad to call and see why they haven’t offered it yet.”
Stevens said she wanted to know how many students at Apalachee High School are English As A Second Language student and how many other minority students there are at the school.
“What are you planning to offer other minority groups?” Stevens asked.
“I am only planning to offer this course,” Bryant said. “It is open to everyone.”
Apalachee High School principal David McGee, in a letter of recommendation to the board, said the course would be beneficial.
“I believe the Mariachi Ensemble course will put our school and school system at the forefront in the state of Georgia in recognizing and acting upon the cultural gap that exists for many Hispanic families, preventing their participation in extracurricular concerts and events,” McGee said.
Bryant said currently no school system in Georgia offers this course.
Why do Hispanics live a higher class of life than American?
Because 10 families live in the same house, which is no sanitary to our society.
They receive Welfare, which is US Money.
They receive Free or Very Low Loans.
Many pay not taxes, but receive ALL THE BENEFITS OF HARD EARNED AMERICAN DOLLARS.
When is America going to take care of their Elderly, Needy, Handicaped, etc., people?
We are America and should not accomodate all the Foreigners.
It is clear from this report and these comments that some readers and board members have chosen to either remain ignorant of American history or were not provided the quality free and public education so many local educators are striving to provide today. Perhaps if they had taken responsibility for their own education they would not be as vulnerable to propaganda and out-right lies. Attitudes and erroneous beliefs such as these are what truly threaten the freedoms, opportunity, and rights that make up the foundation America was founded on. This type of ignorance is also what perpetuates the stereotype of the uneducated and racist Southerner.
God help us all.
lynn.stevens@barrow.k12.ga.us
--I don't agree with you on that. As much grocery shopping that I do at different places , I have never been in line behind a Mexican that is using "ebt cards" and everytime I pass by the "welfare office", all I see are whites or blacks going in and out. Lastly, no I am not Hispanic.
"When is America going to take care of their Elderly, Needy, Handicaped, etc., people?"
--I do agree with this (but not in reference to the way you are saying it), because there are a lot of people who receive benefits that doesn't deserve it and some who do deserve it, can't get any help.
In the 50's and 60's it was the blacks were the damnation of this country. OMG -- let them into "OUR" schools and they are going to corrupt "OUR" children.
Now it's the Mexicans! These people are the HARDEST WORKING people I know!
They take care of their own, the fathers are involved with their children. You won't find to many that will refer to their children as by baby mom number 1, baby mom number 2, baby mom number 3.......
AND they send money back to Mexico to care for family members there!
Hell, our government is having to bail out whites and blacks that don't know how to live within their means!!!!! Maybe those people need to live as an extended family in one house (as most Mexicans do) so they can actually save money.
Give me a break!!!!!!!!! Barrow County is full of bigoted rednecks.
How will Mariachi music classes help improve our school rankings? Let's focus on the basics and spend more time explaining the real world. In the real world a person's performance will be measured and have a direct impact on self-esteem, income, and happiness. I guess if all else fails, you could fall back on Mariachi music....Please wake up and let's get real about our education efforts.
This current financial crisis is a direct result of too many people never having been taught the basics of personal finance, either at home or in school.
A personal finance class should be mandatory for all high schoolers. Debating about Mexican music is a waste of time, when people don't even know how to balance their checkbook, and continue to accumulate debt that they cannot possibly repay.
We have many people even in Barrow County that are legal
U.S. citizens who are Hispanic. I am continually
disappointed by the narrow-minded and dogmatic views that
run rampant in our community, much less by a Board of
Education member. A person in that position speaks
volumes for a county.
How can you be surprised when most of Barrow County get their news from FOX and Rush Limbaugh who spew nothing but hatred and out-right bigotry against anyone who is not white?
What is being done for the MANY unemployed?
What is being done to care for the elderly?
Money is the,route of all evil, yet that is what you want your life based on?
If you feel, Barrow County is full of bigoted rednecks, then why are you associated with the county?