Music Scholarships for Independent Schools, Do they encourage child abuse? Options

[Alicia Ocean]

We have a few local independent schools - not specialist music schools, that's rather different - that offer a discount on fees by way of a scholarship in various fields. There's generally a maths scholarship, an academic scholarship, a sports scholarship and a music scholarship.

I know an eight year old entering for grade 5 piano this term. It's essential to the parents that this child continues to show outstanding achievement to maintain their music scholarship and hefty discount at their school. The child gets back from school at 7pm (no homework as it's done at school) and then has time for tea and practice before bed and then doing it all again the next day. I can't say whether the child is enjoying this routine but I know the mother is very, very strict about practice. Isn't this sort of pressure on a child a form of abuse? Are the music scholarships perpetuating this? Any thoughts?

[tonedeafmum]

Even with a scholarship I (and a huge number of other parents in this country) wouldn't be able to afford to send my children to an Independent School so I have only really been reading this thread with casual interest. However, I would like to say a word in favour of the mediocre Comp.

Daughter goes to just such a State School. They teach all comers (rather than a specially selected few) and on just under half the funding per pupil of the average minor Public School. It takes the promise of expensive treats and the threat of court action to keep a large number of the children in school on a regular basis and it's a good year if half the children manage to acheive a C grade in English and Maths. I never wanted my daughter to go there and I considered myself to be a failure as a parent and a provider when I realised that there was no other viable option for her.

However, every one of the teachers I have encountered there is a hard working and dedicated educationalist, not a cynical wage-slave waiting on early retirement. They put in enormous amounts of effort to help the less able and to stretch the more able. They have an annual budget of ?120 for extra-curricular music but somehow they have already managed two concerts, two musicals and a thoroughly awful but much enjoyed "Britain's Got Talent" this year. Among those staff members and their associates who have volunteered to help out with the school band on a regular basis are the Head of Music's wife, the Deputy Head, and one of the school cleaners.

The school have been very supportive of Daughter's Music, allowing her teacher to use the school music facilities for extra lessons outside of the usual peripatetic timetable, allowing Daughter out of school for concerts and rehearsals, and even to attend concerts because they accept that is an important part of her musical education. She is allowed into the Music Department to practise or just to hang out with other interested musicians every lunchtime and there is an informal performance opportunity every week during lunchbreak. The general standard of musical ability at the school is much lower than at most private schools but the level of interest and appreciation is as high as you could hope to see. Yes, there is teasing, and Daughter is thought of as "posh" for playing the violin but she takes it in her stride and the school have responded very quickly to any of my concerns.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that Daughter would make quicker progress academically and musically at a private school but she is coping just fine where she is. She came home from school yesterday very happy because the Head Teacher made a point of introducing her to a new member of staff with the words, "I don't think you've met our musician."

I'm sorry that so many of you seem to have had poor experiences with the Comprehensive system but there are plenty of state schools and a huge number of state school teachers out there doing their best under very difficult conditions.

[sadrap]

Your daughters very lucky to have such a wonderful school that encourages music. You shouldn't presume that those who send their children to fee paying schools don't make huge sacrifices. I haven't had a holiday for 4 or 5 years. We have a banger for a car, our house is run down. I buy the economy range from the supermarket and my kids shop at primark. We have chosen this in hope our children have opportunity's that we never had.

[tonedeafmum]

Your daughters very lucky to have such a wonderful school that encourages music. You shouldn't presume that those who send their children to fee paying schools don't make huge sacrifices. I haven't had a holiday for 4 or 5 years. We have a banger for a car, our house is run down. I buy the economy range from the supermarket and my kids shop at primark. We have chosen this in hope our children have opportunity's that we never had.

No - I don't "presume" but please don't you presume either.
I don't own a house or a car and we have never had a family holiday. I have nothing left to "sacrifice" to pay for what I cannot, under any circumstances, afford. We don't even have a Primark! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And I don't think there is anything I have said about my daughter's school which makes it sound so very "wonderful." It doesn't have an orchestra or a choir. It has a band (one keyboard, 2 singers and 3 violinists) and a few ad hoc groups that are set up now and again to provide fodder for the Music Btec. I just wanted to redress the balance a little since so much mud seemed to be being thrown at hard working teachers who are doing their best.

[sadrap]

"I think a decent education is sadly a privilege not a right. Not because of bad teaching but simply because of large class sizes and the stress secondary teachers are under"

This is what I said earlier, teachers are under way to much pressure and bureaucracy. I have great admiration for anyone that can teach and inspire the younger generation.
I'm sorry your daughter is not receiving the music education at school she obviously deserves, but that is exactly why my child became a Chorister. My child was fortunate, but I am fully aware a lot of very talented children who aren't so lucky. Sorry to have misunderstood you earlier.