What a "great" teacher! (venting)

[Raman]

Sorry, I need to vent, even though it's not such a big deal.

I donated a bass to my son's primary school recently. It's a Squier Affinity P. That bass sounds and plays really well and I hesitated a lot before departing from it.
The music teacher, who is a pianist, was super happy about it. Though they don't usually play electric instruments, she had planned to do a rock-oriented project with the kids.

Yesterday, my son comes home and announces that the music teacher was absent. The sub teacher who came in her place is a bassist who talked a whole lot about bass and bass playing. Great, I thought! It's not often that kids get to hear praises about bass.

Naturally, I asked my son if the sub had commented on the shiny new bass that the class had acquired... Apparently, what the sub told the students about it is: "A shame that it's only a cheap bass made in Indonesia".

What a jerk! Of course, it's a bit personal for me, since I'm the one who gave it. But even without that, what kind of teacher goes into a classroom and tells the kids that their new instrument is garbage??? Great way to incite them to play, champ!

 

[roccobass]

Yeah, I too thought that was a bit unnecessary of the sub. You don't go bagging on something in a teaching situation. Just a bit of a snob.

Don't know how far you'd want to go for satisfaction, but if it were me, this what I would do. Explain what happened to the "real" teacher and I mean that person acted like a teacher. Thank goodness!

Maybe come in and do a little presentation on the bass guitar it self on its many positives? I did that once for my oldest back in the 90s. It was fun.

I don't own a Squier, but they've come a long way. By the way, thanks for donating to your child's school.

 

[JRA]

"A shame that it's only a cheap bass made in Indonesia"

i expect that sentiment here...sorry your kiddos had to endure such ignorance and poor judgment....hey, at least it wasn't made in china!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Maybe the sub isn't as much of a bassist as he thinks.
If an instrument plays well, it's origin only matters to snobs.
Be curious to know if he even tried playing it before badmouthing it.

 

[roccobass]

Lol! Just had a brainstorm. Like I said, this is just crazy me talking. You could go in yourself or perhaps get ahold of a local Fender/Squier rep. If there is one in town, and bring him (or her ) with you to explain the merits of this instrument. If not, maybe a knowledgeable tech. Hey, I would think Fender would dig it. Just an early morning thought.

 

[Raman]

Lol! Just had a brainstorm. Like I said, this is just crazy me talking. You could go in yourself or perhaps get ahold of a local Fender/Squier rep. If there is one in town, and bring him (or her ) with you to explain the merits of this instrument. If not, maybe a knowledgeable tech. Hey, I would think Fender would dig it. Just an early morning thought.

Your 1st suggestion, that I go in the classroom and do a little presentation with the bass, is actually something I'm planning to do later this year.

 

[Michedelic]

Sorry, I need to vent, even though it's not such a big deal.

I donated a bass to my son's primary school recently. It's a Squier Affinity P. That bass sounds and plays really well and I hesitated a lot before departing from it.
The music teacher, who is a pianist, was super happy about it. Though they don't usually play electric instruments, she had planned to do a rock-oriented project with the kids.

Yesterday, my son comes home and announces that the music teacher was absent. The sub teacher who came in her place is a bassist who talked a whole lot about bass and bass playing. Great, I thought! It's not often that kids get to hear praises about bass.

Naturally, I asked my son if the sub had commented on the shiny new bass that the class had acquired... Apparently, what the sub told the students about it is: "A shame that it's only a cheap bass made in Indonesia".

What a jerk! Of course, it's a bit personal for me, since I'm the one who gave it. But even without that, what kind of teacher goes into a classroom and tells the kids that their new instrument is garbage??? Great way to incite them to play, champ!

It's a shame that that person probably got their teaching credential from some state school(or maybe even a community college)instead of Harvard.

 

[Snert]

Good on you for donating the bass, but more importantly, making sure it was well set up.

Apparently, what the sub told the students about it is: "A shame that it's only a cheap bass made in Indonesia".

What a jerk!

Absolutely.
Never rag on kids or their gear. If your good as an educator you'll find everything positive to encourage and ways of correcting mistakes that make them feel good about learning.

Sidebar: there's sadly quite a bit of snobbery here around Indonesian instruments. I own several and they're great, or I would have stopped at one. My fanciest, a BTB, has been praised by non muso visitors who'd never seen anything beyond classic looking F and Gs. One is a very good amateur woodworker.

 

[MVE]

Yes, everyone knows that, every elementary school should only have Alembics, Wals, Foderas and Ken Smiths to introduce students to the instrument.

 

[Discount Bassy]

It's a shame that that person probably got their teaching credential from some state school(or maybe even a community college)instead of Harvard.

I'm from the US, but from a quick search, Quebec and the states both share the same requirements for substitute teachers, namely: there are none. No degrees are required. I mention this only because the best teachers I've had the pleasure of learning from are products of state universities and community colleges. I've never had the opportunity to learn from a Harvard grad, but I would figure that a condescending twit could be produced by any of the above methodologies or none at all just as easily.

 

[5StringBlues]

bunghole deluxe

 

[Confunk]

Yes, everyone knows that, every elementary school should only have Alembics, Wals, Foderas and Ken Smiths to introduce students to the instrument.

Ritters...you forgot Ritters.

 

[2112]

Apparently, what the sub told the students about it is: "A shame that it's only a cheap bass made in Indonesia".

Okay... which one of you Talkbassers was this?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

A friend showed up for his first bass class at Berklee back in the early 80's with his Ric 4001. The teacher literally kicked him out of class, saying "don't come back until you have a Real Bass". A "real" bass apparently meaning a Fender, of course. Some teachers get weird.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

When you give something away, you give it away. The sub didn't read the plaque on the back of the headstock, so no personal offense intended. There is also a school of thought that thinks beginners should begin on better instruments so as to not put up more barriers to learning. When my kid started trumpet in elementary school, the recommended instrument was a Bach 180S37, around $3400 now.

 

[Raman]

When you give something away, you give it away. The sub didn't read the plaque on the back of the headstock, so no personal offense intended. There is also a school of thought that thinks beginners should begin on better instruments so as to not put up more barriers to learning. When my kid started trumpet in elementary school, the recommended instrument was a Bach 180S37, around $3400 now.

This is a public school. They wouldn't have a budget for a high-end bass.
The bass I donated plays very well, has a good tone, keeps in tune, etc. It's more than perfect to learn on.
Going in the classroom and being a total snob about the new bass that the kids just got was only poopy attitude. The only thing it can possibly accomplish is turn the kids away from wanting to try the instrument. That's what irks me.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

This is a public school. They wouldn't have a budget for a high-end bass.
The bass I donated plays very well, has a good tone, keeps in tune, etc. It's more than perfect to learn on.
Going in the classroom and being a total snob about the new bass that the kids just got was only poopy attitude. The only thing it can possibly accomplish is turn the kids away from wanting to try the instrument. That's what irks me.

The schools here are pretty well funded, and we have the taxes to show for it. But I think you're taking the opinion too personal. You gave it, let it go.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

When you give something away, you give it away. The sub didn't read the plaque on the back of the headstock, so no personal offense intended. There is also a school of thought that thinks beginners should begin on better instruments so as to not put up more barriers to learning. When my kid started trumpet in elementary school, the recommended instrument was a Bach 180S37, around $3400 now.

There is also the phrase 'never look a gift horse in the mouth'. And never mind schools of thought. There are lots of real schools that can't afford instruments at all. The last thing any teacher should be doing is turning their nose up at an instrument given by anyone who cares about the instrument in principle, and made an effort to set it up properly. If people don't make the best of what they have, or can get at need, or by luck, do they warrant getting anything better?

I understand that a working bike beats a box of bits to learn from, and it should be acceptable as a basic standard, and by the same logic the origin and price of an instrument should not automatically exclude it. I remember when all the descant recorders were cheap and made of plastic in primary school, they worked well enough to learn from.

I originally rejected the Westone Thunder 1-A bass as a consideration because it was made in Japan and sold in Britain via mail order catalogs that were very easy to be snobbish about. I assumed I could easily do better. Fortunately it didn't take me long to rethink that thought and get a used one when a Status Graphite wasn't getting me what I wanted from it. There will always be 'better' instruments, but if I'd learned on the Westone instead of my first Status Graphite, I'd be better at playing them than I am now. It turns out that the Westones are very good basses, not just 'good for the money'. Less easy to play than the Status, but more rewarding of the effort.

 

[Dincrest]

Wow... what douchey, arrogant, elitism.

I educate in a fairly wealthy district and they're always over the moon to get any donated instruments in good condition. Made in Indonesia, entry level Soundgear? If it's clean and in good shape, our music department will happily teach a kid to play on it.

 

[Raman]

The schools here are pretty well funded, and we have the taxes to show for it. But I think you're taking the opinion too personal. You gave it, let it go.

I'll be fine without your psychological evaluation, thank you.