Remembering Mrs. Dailey

The hallways were silent in Buker School these last couple of weeks. What you DID hear among the noises were the shuffling of feet, the unloading of backpacks, conversations amongst classmates. What you DID NOT hear were the sounds of music drifting out of the backstage area known as the music room.

 Kathleen Dailey has left the district to pursue a job with a Salem school that has a focus on the arts. Why would she leave our incredible school district? Because she was a part time employee.

 If you had seen Kat at 7:30 meeting the volunteer Recorder Ensemble you would not have thought she was part time. If you had attended last years 5th grade play (at ANY of the 3 grade schools) you would not have thought her a part time employee. If you had noticed that she was teaching classes at both Buker and Cutler schools you would also probably not have thought she was a part time employee, but she was.

 If you had a chance to speak with Kat about the students she could not have been more energetic and supportive. I know she helped not only my children, but many of the students with getting by in their day to day school life. She empowered them with music; made them feel a real accomplishment in overcoming those challenges when learning an instrument.  She got performances out of the quietest children in the 5th grade class last year, so much so that parents were stunned at their own children’s performances!

 There were tears in both students and parents’ eyes when the announcement came. I think the school board and superintendent should have acknowledged Mrs. Dailey’s contribution in some way. There was not a soul she met that wasn’t touched by her dedication and enthusiasm.

 I’m sure the next music teacher will be well intentioned, but if this job is kept part time how will we expect to get anyone with a proper Music Education background? These people are teaching our children. A music performance degree does not qualify someone to teach children in school. This is 2013 in Massachusetts and not a place to survive on part time jobs (especially ones where they are really spending 40 to 50 hours a week actually working).

 It’s too late to fix this situation, but we need to rectify this going forward.

This needs to be a full time position. Our children deserve to have the best!

The new xylophones need to make beautiful music again, not lie in dust at the back of the room.

We need to have someone qualified with a Music Education degree, not a “well intentioned” performance graduate.

 Make your voices heard and thank Kat for the wonderful job she did in the short time that we had her here.

 And let’s hear the music once again.

 Brian Doser

Aka The Music Man