Concerto in Combat Mode
Yesterday was the first day of spring, heralded by chilly weather, long lines at Rita's, and Peanut's annual spring concert. Traditionally, the spring concert is themed - Barnyard Moosical or The Amazing ABCs! This year was Recorder Karate. In case you've forgotten, the recorder is that instrument that looks like the abandoned love child of a flute and a clarinet. They're generally cheap, plastic, and dysfunctional. They have a bunch of holes, yet it's impossible to get any of them to change the pitch. But not for the kids of Recorder Karate! They can actually make those things play real music. Hi-ya!
At this point I'm sure you're wondering what karate has to do with the recorder. Unfortunately, the answer is not that recorders make excellent weapons. Even though they do; I can attest that the recorder, in the wrong, little hands, can deal a cracking blow to one's head (add it to the list of 'improvisational weapons one can buy at the dollar store'). Except for acknowledging the kids' progress with "belts", Recorder Karate has nothing to do with martial arts whatsoever. It is merely a senseless comparison between musical achievement and fighting. It's obvious why this would appeal to kids, but it doesn't jibe at all with the no-tolerance, anti-violence environment of the school administration. In a culture where kids are suspended for wielding vaguely gun-shaped pastries, one might think that these branded curricula would avoid references to combat sports. Now, I'm sure there are people out there who will disagree and defend karate as self defense and a study of discipline and inner balance, etc. But please. No kid takes karate to find his chi. It's a fighting sport and we all know it.
That's not to say that I have a problem with karate - quite the opposite. I believe that self defense is a critical part of any person's education, whether they learn how to out wit a bully or clock him in the nose is all a matter of preference. I'm merely annoyed that someone thinks music needs to be partnered with fighting to make it interesting to kids. It seems gratuitous - music is not something we should have to dress up in costume. Music appeals to nearly everyone in its own way; it is part of the human soul. It doesn't need to be equated with The Karate Kid to be relevant to today's youth.
Granted, I have not seen an uptick in Peanut's combative tendencies since he started Recorder Karate. And I'm probably getting my knickers in a twist for nothing. But since we are forced to live in constant fear of violence in schools, and to a great extent the dire consequences that innocent mistakes can have for our children - like bringing a butter knife to class to cut one's birthday cake - I think it's worth pushing back when schools go against their own zero-tolerance policy. Damn it, if kids have to mind how they eat their Pop Tarts, our music programs should be free of martial arts references.
As much as I'm glad that my children are less likely to suffer the kind of bullying that was common during my elementary school years, I miss the days when a good kid could throw a good punch and solve a world of problems, where bullies could get what's coming to them instead of getting hugs.
The Brady Bunch. I miss the Brady Bunch.
Peanut's a black belt in recorder, by the way. Don't mess with him.
At this point I'm sure you're wondering what karate has to do with the recorder. Unfortunately, the answer is not that recorders make excellent weapons. Even though they do; I can attest that the recorder, in the wrong, little hands, can deal a cracking blow to one's head (add it to the list of 'improvisational weapons one can buy at the dollar store'). Except for acknowledging the kids' progress with "belts", Recorder Karate has nothing to do with martial arts whatsoever. It is merely a senseless comparison between musical achievement and fighting. It's obvious why this would appeal to kids, but it doesn't jibe at all with the no-tolerance, anti-violence environment of the school administration. In a culture where kids are suspended for wielding vaguely gun-shaped pastries, one might think that these branded curricula would avoid references to combat sports. Now, I'm sure there are people out there who will disagree and defend karate as self defense and a study of discipline and inner balance, etc. But please. No kid takes karate to find his chi. It's a fighting sport and we all know it.
That's not to say that I have a problem with karate - quite the opposite. I believe that self defense is a critical part of any person's education, whether they learn how to out wit a bully or clock him in the nose is all a matter of preference. I'm merely annoyed that someone thinks music needs to be partnered with fighting to make it interesting to kids. It seems gratuitous - music is not something we should have to dress up in costume. Music appeals to nearly everyone in its own way; it is part of the human soul. It doesn't need to be equated with The Karate Kid to be relevant to today's youth.
Granted, I have not seen an uptick in Peanut's combative tendencies since he started Recorder Karate. And I'm probably getting my knickers in a twist for nothing. But since we are forced to live in constant fear of violence in schools, and to a great extent the dire consequences that innocent mistakes can have for our children - like bringing a butter knife to class to cut one's birthday cake - I think it's worth pushing back when schools go against their own zero-tolerance policy. Damn it, if kids have to mind how they eat their Pop Tarts, our music programs should be free of martial arts references.
As much as I'm glad that my children are less likely to suffer the kind of bullying that was common during my elementary school years, I miss the days when a good kid could throw a good punch and solve a world of problems, where bullies could get what's coming to them instead of getting hugs.
The Brady Bunch. I miss the Brady Bunch.
Peanut's a black belt in recorder, by the way. Don't mess with him.
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