KLCS LAUSD May 1999

Public Meeting Board Of Education

Board Recognition Program Transcript Excerpts

Deborah Leidner: "As a Cluster Administrator ; when I review with principals

results of test scores and I see test scores that have gone up, my first question is

why. I didn't have to ask why in this case because I know about "Songs That

Teach"."

district standards."

definitely seen a carry over into their work. For instance, if they can't remember

if it's odd or even, I say sing the song in your head and they get it right away.

Same with the vowel songs . And learning the state songs has been absolutely

incredible. The first time Mr. Rosenthal showed us the songs, I said, there's no

way they're going to be able to learn all those states in alphabetical order and sure

enough, they learned them. And they've learned them every year."

Barbara Haas: Special Education Teacher "You want children to develop

positive self esteem and this a very big step toward it. Plus, their parents feel their

child fits in ... My child doesn't stand out. Because, many parents are very

resistant to labeling their child as special in any way. So this way, the child fits in

and this helps them being mainstreamed. The hope of the program is to graduate

them and put them back into regular education."

Julie Korenstein: Currant Board Member "Well, I'm delighted, being that I'm

the board member representing the school. So, I'm really happy having you down

here this evening. But, what I was wondering is weather or not we share this with

other schools or does it remain just within the cluster or your school. I would like

to know that. But, what you've done is made learning fun. I mean that's what

children love. They want to have a good time. And if you can somehow ... you

know... just ... It's very gentle manipulation so that they think they're having fun

but they're learning at the same time. And, that's really the best child psychology

you can present to the children because, it's not that they have to sit there and

sweat multiplication tables if they're singing a song about it, then it's fun. And

that's what you've introduced... and the scores going up are really wonderful. I

congratulate you all. It's very very exciting, good news."

Debbie Leidner: "In terms of sharing it, we have within the cluster a very active

involved literacy cadre and most of our educational development is done cluster

wide, where we bring in, by grade level, teachers from all of our elementary

schools. And we have twenty three elementary schools. As we kick off the new

year, Mr. Rosenthal's program will be a part of our pre-service for all of the

teachers and our new teacher training within the cluster."

Julie Korenstein: "I was going to say that this is so important, especially for the

brand new teachers that are coming in. We have so many emergency credentials.

Can you imagine if they have something to go to like this that they can

immediately start doing lesson plans, I mean it really helps a lot. So, that's great

and I hope we are able to expand it further. But it will be interesting to see the test

scores. So other schools in your cluster are also going to be getting this material?

Okay, good, I'm looking forward to that. My granddaughter's in that cluster

(laugh)"

Victoria Castro: Former Board Member "I'm glad your granddaughter is going

to be there... I want to go to the class ..."

George Kiriyama: Former Board Member "I'd just like to thank you for

presenting this to us. I know that anytime you bring in music, we know the scores

go up. And so that once you put it into curriculum and have music behind it... it

just..we can tell...if you go up eleven percentile in language and five percentile in

math we know that it is effective. and I congratulate you on that."

Arnold Rosenthal: "The only difference being between all grade levels...music.

That's the only difference - ("wow!" from the panel) that's what that showed."

Barbara Boudreaux: Former Board Member "I'm excited about it too. And as

a second grader, and having taught second grade, I know they're excited about

learning. No wonder the scores went up, with your enthusiasm and theirs. You

know we talk about integrated subjects, you have truly integrated all of the core

subjects in your music program. And I would hope that you'd be able to maybe,

Debbie, when you have all of the cluster leaders getting together that you could

pass the message on from your cluster to all of the other cluster leaders, so they

can take that message back because we have some other talented teachers, like

yourself, and you know, pass that message ... teachers like to copy good stuff. I

think that's wonderful. I enjoyed and I wish my four year old could be in your

class."

Valerie Fields: Former Board Member "I'm only sorry that I didn't bring the

little pin I have sitting on my desk at home that says, "The Arts Are Not An

Elective." And you have proved it. Great job!"

Victoria Castro: "Congratulations ... really ... so proud of your work."