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Paterson Chapter Wins Back School Music and Arts Programs
Paterson chapter leaders win award from the NJ ArtPride Foundation for their work to bring music and arts back to the schools; pictured from left, organizer Fernando Martinez and leaders Lillian Branch and Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman
When her daughter's school laid off their music and art teachers, Lucy Roche, PEOC member, was concerned. Her daughter is an accomplished musician, and Ms. Roche worried about the cost of paying for private lessons. She brought the issue to PEOC, and as PEOC members learned that many schools in Paterson, particularly elementary schools, had cut their music and art programs, the group formed a campaign to reestablish these programs in the schools. “That's what really got the fire going under the campaign,” explains PEOC parent leader Linda Reid, discussing the group's reaction to Ms. Roche's story.
Throughout the campaign, PEOC members wrote letters to the Paterson Board of Education and Superintendent Evans, met with Dr. Evans, testified at state Board of Education budget hearings, and organized three demonstrations at the local Board of Education meetings. At one demonstration, children played the violin, sang, and danced to demonstrate the importance of keeping the arts in the schools.
There were times that PEOC members felt no one was listening to them or appreciating their efforts, and they got brushed off by several officials they tried totalk to, but, Ms. Reid explains, “it never stopped us; it made us want to continue more. We felt it was a strong enough campaign that we weren't slowing down.” In the face of this reaction at the start of the campaign, the group appreciated that Dr. Evans acknowledged their letters and took the time to meet with them.
PEOC members' hard work eventually paid off with a campaign victory when Dr. Evans promised to bring music and arts back to the schools for this coming September. PEOC members are savvy and persistent, so, explains Ms. Reid, “Wherever we go we still mention it to let him know it's not going to be forgotten. We're going to make sure they do the right thing.”
Download our whole newsletter from the summer of 2011.
