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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be irritated that ds was not allowed to go to his instrument lesson today?

107 replies

SixImpossible · 07/05/2014 18:37

Apparently they had a maths test,and "maths is more important than music". TBH I'm not sure whether those are ds's words or his teacher's. He has one 20minute violin lesson every week, which we pay for. What right do the school have to prevent him attending? The music company will not reimburse or replace missed lessons unless they themselves cancel.

OP posts:
KatieKaye · 07/05/2014 21:17

Most of the musicians I know (including myself) are useless at maths.
There's a huge difference between understanding that music has a mathematical component to it; being able to sight-read and actually being able to do anything other than basic maths.

trixymalixy · 07/05/2014 21:25

I used to have my flute lessons during school time and totally disagree with 3littlefrogs. I won the flute section of the local music festival 3 years in a row and played to grade 8 standard just through lessons in school time.

However I do think a maths test even at that age is more important than a music lesson. If you have paid for the lesson though, you should be reimbursed.

BrianTheMole · 07/05/2014 21:31

Dc's school operate a similar system and I would ask for the money back if they did this. Fwiw dd had a 20 min piano lesson once a week. She's been doing it since November and is doing really well with it. Absolutely not a waste of time at all.

saladfingers · 07/05/2014 21:56

National testing this week for all children Y2-6 blame the Government not the school

saladfingers · 07/05/2014 21:59

Or this might just be in Wales?

titchy · 07/05/2014 22:01

Saladfingers - not true. Schools can choose when year 2 do them.

Littlefish · 07/05/2014 22:01

Salad - in England, there is no set date for SATS in KS1. Also, no statutory testing for children in years 3-5.

OP - the school should have re-arranged his lesson and swapped it with a child in another year.

titchy · 07/05/2014 22:03

To all the naysayers perhaps 7 year olds should no longer do any art, singing, PE, drama, or external visits either, as these take away valuable maths time Wink

ICanSeeTheSun · 07/05/2014 22:08

Math is more important.

You can get a scholarship in music, sports, acting ect but part of the parcel of that scholarship is always about the core subjects.

I may be a bit biases as I don't believe that these lessons, which parents have to pay for, should be available in public school hours.

I think it's unfair that because of money that all children in a public school don't have the same opportunity within schools.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/05/2014 22:15

I would ask the school to pay for the lesson, if they're anything like my ds's lessons they're a bloody fortune!

mrscog · 07/05/2014 22:16

To those saying 'maths is more important than music' do you realise how ignorant you sound? Music is so mathematical that it actually boosts maths attainment in children.

Oakmaiden · 07/05/2014 22:18

Was it a teacher set maths test, or was it SATS/nfer tests? If the latter, then the teacher probably had no choice.

MostWicked · 07/05/2014 22:21

No one is suggesting that a child should do Music instead of Maths, Both are important as they teach very different skills.
One should never be sacrificed for the other.
So the Maths test should have taken place during Maths time and the Music lesson should have taken place at the scheduled time.

If the test was that important (which it wasn't) the music lesson should have been rearranged. The school need to refund the cost.

There is such ridiculous snobbery over the academic subjects being the be all and end all of education.
Who earns more, a Mathematician or a Musician?

intheenddotcom · 07/05/2014 22:22

In our school, secondary mind you, the rule is that the child asks permission to miss part of the lesson and MUST catch up. If what is going on in class is more important and/or cannot be caught up at home then the child does not go to the music lesson. This is particularly important in Yr11. In reality I've only once had to say no, and it is very uncommon for children not to be allowed out. I said no to a Yr11 when we were doing the prep. for coursework - as this could not be caught up.

Pipbin · 07/05/2014 22:24

I have to stick my oar in and say; don't forget your child's teacher and school will be having to justify why every single child that is not making the expected progress in maths is failing.
For the class teacher to say 'well he misses maths to have music lessons' is not going to cut any ice and the teacher will have to make up the loss.

Although I agree that music lessons, like art, singing, PE etc are important, OFSTED couldn't give a flying fuck. Given that your school could end up in special measures if they don't make the required progress in maths and literacy I can see why the teacher had this attitude.

And as for the 'what maths can be so important in year 2?' Well there is a lot to learn, especially in the new curriculum. Children in year two will be expected to be able to count backwards in 3s starting from any number under 100. The pressure now is ridiculous.

trixymalixy · 07/05/2014 22:26

Mrscog, I have no problem with music lessons taking place in a normal maths lesson, but this was a test.

And I say that having got high banded As in both higher Maths and Higher Music, so hardly ignorant of the interaction.

WilsonFrickett · 07/05/2014 22:30

The irony is that music is maths....

3littlefrogs · 07/05/2014 22:31

I guess some schools are better than others at making sure children get their lessons and not making a huge deal of the work missed.
I have probably just been unfortunate.

mrscog · 07/05/2014 22:32

I don't think missing one maths test at 7, will unduly affect a child's progress in maths. If the lessons were scheduled at maths time every week I'd think it more of a problem. Glad you're aware of the connection between the two Trix, although I suspect many people don't.

ICanSeeTheSun · 07/05/2014 22:35

If math is music then teach the whole class.

ICanSeeTheSun · 07/05/2014 22:38

Got to laugh at the comments that 1 math test wouldn't make a difference, but surely 1 violin lesson missed would make a difference also.

RussianBlu · 07/05/2014 22:48

SATS?

titchy · 07/05/2014 22:51

They do maths with a teacher every day. If a child doesn't understand something the teacher can pick up on it straight away. If a child has one music lesson a week that's a fortnight between lessons if they miss one, so two weeks of not quite knowing what or how to practice. Or worse still spending two weeks doing it wrong and having to unlearn, then relearn.

And yes, instrumental lessons should be available to all irrespective of cost, but if they're not don't punish those kids whose parents scrape the money together just so you can make your point.

Goldmandra · 07/05/2014 22:51

Got to laugh at the comments that 1 math test wouldn't make a difference, but surely 1 violin lesson missed would make a difference also.|

The two don't really compare when they learn maths for an hour every day and only have one 20 min violin lesson a week.

Music very much supports maths at this age and one isn't more important than the other. My DD's school lessons have led to her taking Grade 7 this term which will contribute UCAS points.

My DD2 has guitar lessons arranged by and promoted by the school and paid for by me. They have made sure she doesn't have one booked during SATs next week so we won't be charged. It isn't difficult if the school has the will.

thepurplepenguin · 07/05/2014 23:00

We had exactly this yesterday!! DD's class were doing mock SATs so the violin students missed their lesson.

The teacher is very kindly making the lesson up, but at the price of the lessons I'm still rather narked with the school...