The TDSB is considering cuts to almost 50 of the 107 Itinerant Music Instructors (IMIs), who provide enrichment programs (strings, band, and steel pan) and staff development programs (for recorder/orff/vocal music ROV). This represents a loss of 713 hours/week out of a total 1161 hours. All hours will be lost for the ROV staff development program, where an instructor works with a maximum of 3 classroom teachers and students for half a day/week. For this program, the IMI is in a school for 2 years, and then the teacher is qualified to teach the ROV program, thus considered a staff development program. Both the students and the teachers gain from this program. The hours lost for Band and Strings will be 24.3% and 27.5% respectively. Some schools will not have a reduction, while others will lose up to 4 hrs/week.
We are all aware how music positively impacts all students. Intellectual and emotional development is enhanced through music (Ontario Curriculum, 2009), and so much more. Cuts to these programs would take away access to music for many students. For more information, go to www.cupe4400.org and sign the petition.