The Transition Years
The Early 1970’s were transition years both for the District and the Arts.
Sixth Grade Center Plan
The U.S. District Court ruled the first school district plan for integration unacceptable. In April 1971, the School Board approved the Sixth Grade Center Integration Plan proposed by Superintendent Dr. Kenny Guinn. Sixth grade students and Kindergarten children from the black Westside residential area stayed in their zoned school. First through fifth grade students were bused to other schools in predominately white residential areas. Many schools in the valley, taking into account transportation time for students, sent their 6th graders to the designated Westside schools that became known as Sixth Grade Centers. The emphasis on the arts in these Sixth Grade Centers helped make this an effective integration plan. The centers offered band, orchestra, choir, art, and other curricular options. They were taught by personnel who held a license in the specific subject. However, classroom teachers in grades K-5 were expected to teach music and art as part of the grade level curriculum. The junior high schools and high schools had art, vocal, and instrumental music electives from which to choose. They were taught by licensed personnel. An issue during this time frame was the disparity between elementary and secondary schools in preparation periods. Secondary teachers had 250 minutes of preparation each week and elementary teachers had 185 minutes a week of preparation time.
The development of music, art, and physical education programs at the elementary level afforded the opportunity to provide students with fully-trained teachers in these areas and to give some preparation time for elementary teaching staff. However, curriculum needed to be developed and teachers trained.
First Elementary Music Curriculum Document
William Moore, Coordinator of Curriculum, and the team of Bonnie Gaston, Kit Carson Sixth Grade Center, Esther Lowman, Madison Sixth Grade Center, Raymond Barnes, Ronzone Elementary, and Eldine Stevens, Adcock Elementary, developed the Music Activities Book for Kindergarten Through Sixth Grade. This first music curriculum document was printed and distributed in 1974. The book contained the first printed piano accompaniment of the state song, “Home Means Nevada.”
Orff Process is reviewed
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Sue Morrow’s attendance at Music Educators National Conferences brought back to Clark County both new ideas and the basis for developing a music curriculum. A new concept based on the ideas of the composer, Carl Orff, caught her interest. She conferred with the Orff clinician and publisher, Grace Nash, and brought these ideas back for review.
Federal Grant Funds Orff Instruments at Dearing Elementary
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In the 1974-75 school year, there were four elementary general music teachers and seven music specialists in sixth grade centers. Laura Dearing Elementary School principal, Dr. Edna Hinman, and the music specialist, David Williams, received a federal Title III mini-grant to fund Orff instruments for the first school in Las Vegas. David attended Grace Nash workshops and implemented this new program.
“Music is universal. It weaves a common thread through people of all nations and helps us understand one another.” Chris Burke, Actor
Jan Morgan
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Jan began working as a choral teacher in Clark County in 1966. In 1974, she was appointed as the Music Resource Teacher with responsibility for all music teachers in kindergarten through high school. She initiated a new teaching format which included elementary music Orff teachers in elementary schools, band and choral teachers in middle and high schools, and after-school non-licensed string teachers in an after-school program at the junior high school level.
Grants Department Assistance
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Dr. Dennis Ortwein, Coordinator in the Grants Department, wrote grants and monitored other grant writers. Among his many contributions, he introduced program evaluations which were vital to the ongoing music program. Dr. Ortwein served as a school principal and is a member of the Archive Committee. He is also a working vocalist in Clark County.
Title IV Federal Grant Assistance
In 1974, a Title IV federal grant focused on Orff philosophy in elementary music as well as dance as one component in elementary physical education. This grant provided staff development materials and Orff instruments for fifty-three schools. Expert teachers from across the country came to Las Vegas to provide Orff process instruction for our elementary music specialists.
Using Orff in the classroom presented many challenges. Teachers were unfamiliar with the curriculum developed using the Orff philosophy and needed time to absorb what was expected to be taught in the classroom. At the same time the music curriculum was evolving, the band program was moved to 6th grade. Before that decision, band was offered at the 4th and 5th grade levels.
Space and time for preparation became issues that involved bargaining units. Elementary Assistant Superintendents Theron Swainston, James Pughsley, and Kay Carl were involved in promoting the Orff philosophy and settling the preparation issue. These superintendents worked with teachers and the bargaining team to provide the same number of preparation minutes to elementary teachers as teachers in the middle and high schools, 250 minutes. A plan for schools to cover preparation times was implemented and supervised by Dr. Carl. Teachers of Art, Physical Education, Music, and Library taught a class while the classroom teacher had a preparation period. Computers were later added to the mix.
The Orff Philosophy and teaching strategies were accepted by music teachers for all K-5 students by the end of the Transition Years.