As Chair of the Board of Governors of the Gaelic College Foundation, I am writing this letter in
response to a recent article posted both in print and social media titled “The End of an Era at the Gaelic College”. We wish to assure the public that there are no plans to cancel and/or phase out any programs currently being offered at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts.
The Gaelic College is a learning institution that was founded in 1938 by A.W.R. MacKenzie as a school devoted to the study and preservation of the Gaelic language and Celtic arts and culture. We will celebrate our 75th anniversary in 2013 at the Gaelic College and, as a board, we are proud of the institution.
As an organization, we have had a year of transition at the College with the addition of new board members and a new administration. It has also been an exciting time for the College as we develop more interactive programming and hands on experiences for our visitors. The year has been extremely busy and now is the time for reflection and planning for the future.
The board of directors and management will be spending time in planning sessions early in the new year. Therefore, we can assure you that there are no plans to cancel and/or phase out any programs being offered. In fact, we are re-establishing the pipe band at the College that has not been active for a number of years.
We hope that readers will visit the website where all courses and disciplines are listed and scheduled for 2012.
For more information, please contact:
Maureen Carroll, Chair
Gaelic College Foundation
1-902-444-3108
Maureen@mcarrollconsulting.ca
Rodney MacDonald, CEO
Gaelic College Foundation
1-902-295-3411
ceo@gaeliccollege.edu
Kelly MacArthur says
Here's the link to see the comparison formats in PDFs of March Break Programming 2011 and 2012.
Also, the original article that started all this. With quotes from the DOE re the program ideals and the new Pipe Band format:
http://eastcoasters.ca/pdfs/
Copy and Paste and click each separate.
These misleading statements have to stop~!
Own up to this, tell the truth, and take the outrage Board and Directors. I have. I have told the truth only, and I have not backed down.
Iain McPhail says
As you can see below, the curriculum for the upcoming 2012 Summer Session (that was copied from the GC website), there isn't courses offering Traditional Piping or Drumming.
Please DON'T be misinformed by the article above, quoting Maureen Carrol, "Therefore, we can assure you that there are no plans to cancel and/or phase out any programs being offered."
FiddleF1,F2,F4,F5
Gaelic SongG4,G5
Step/Square-DancingS2,S3,S5
Cape Breton PianoP3,P4,P5
Cape Breton PipingBP3,BP4,BP5
Pipe Music on the FiddleF1,F2
Guitar AccompanimentG1,G2,G3,G4
GAB 1/GAB 2(See GAB Guidelines)
Gaelic in Nature & Sports(See GAB Guidelines)
Highland DanceH5, H4, H3, H2,H1
Gaelic DramaSee Guidelines
Bodhran (Week of July 30th only)B5, B4
WeavingW5, W4, W3
Glenn Graham says
Actually, the fifth discipline, in descending order, is traditional piping in the local Gaelic context/idiom. It could arguably use a different title; that was discussed in the other forum re: Kelly's letter.
Kelly MacArthur says
They simply can not have a competition style Pipe Band ~ as in the past ~ if they are not having studnets in piping and drumming! They have to stop with this misleading information to appease the public. News for them…the public are not stupid.
Michelle V says
It seems like there are a lot of mixed messages being provided from select members of the board. As a former student at the college I feel very disheartened by this. If mixed messages are being provided as a means of deterring the limelight from what is actually going on and as a way to hide behind previous statements, then shame on you. If there genuinely is a miscommunication then why is it not being dealt with properly? If new committee members are making such important decisions about the college and its future without knowledge or consent of the board and even members of the Gaelic College community, then perhaps it is time to properly address said members. It is not appropriate to allow a very small, select group of people determine the course of the college (perhaps for their own agendas?) when it is blatantly obvious that their personal views do not match those of countless members of the Gaelic College community and cultural preservation societies.
Kelly MacArthur says
There have been extreme program cuts to the March Break Curriculum in 2012. Call them what you like ~ they are cuts. There is no instruction in Great Pipes, Pipe Band Drumming, Bodhran or Harp. This is a completely different format in comparison to previous year's ~ which included these disciplines. Added to the 2012 roster are Cape Breton Piping, Gaelic Integration, Gaelic Theatre. The program online now for summer also has no piping, drumming, or harp ~ and only one week of Bodhran. This can be seen online: <a href="http://www.gaeliccollege.edu” target=”_blank”>www.gaeliccollege.edu
The Highland Dance Competition WAS canceled by the Director of Education in a phone call to me, and in a message left with another instructor who inquired. The competition was only re-instated when these issues were exposed to the public in the article. CEO has stated that the Highland Dance Competition is running for the summer of 2012, but its future is doubtful. He admitted that would be the Board's decision, however, he will make his suggestions with regards to his views on competition ~ which he does not believe in. Apparently it does not foster growth in education. All these statements are available to the public through news media.
It is misleading to the public to call these 'changes', in an effort to make it look like there are no 'cuts'. Bottom line, these programs are CUT from the 2012 program, and possibly re-instating them in future after public outrage and insult will be very difficult. Especially noting students will go elsewhere for this instruction, off the Island and Province.
If all policy issues ~ such as changes in the program ~ are to be decided on by the Board (as the Chair and CEO have claimed), why is it that they were unaware that these program changes and cuts were already made by the Directors for the March Break Program? How did the directors make these cuts without consulting the Board?
Also misleading statement by Board Chair Maureen Carroll ~ her statement 'we are re-establishing the pipe band at the College that has not been active for a number of years' Very misleading, as this is NOT the same style of Pipe Band that the College has cherished and educated for years. This is not in comparison to the World Champion style Pipe Band of 1994. This is a Cape Breton style of Ceilidh Band that happens to include pipes of the 'Cape Breton' style. This is NOT a competitive style Scottish Pipe Band in any way. It is insulting to the public to make such inaccurate statements.
CEO is standing behind his push towards a 'non competitive' format at the College. Interviews can be seen t back this claim. Statements were also made to make the College look more towards teaching Cape Breton style culture. I'm wondering how the rest of the non Gaelic speaking Cape Breton communities, and the rest of the Province ~ particularly Pictou County ~ feel regarding this?
I will also tell you that not all Board members were contacted when the original article was circulated, there was a select discussion amongst certain members only.
Appealing to the Board may not be worthwhile it seems, as they seem to not have all their communications in order. I am appealing to the Province, as well as having these issues looked at from many other perspectives. Please contact me if you would like any of these interviews, correspondences or news articles.
kelly@macarthurdance.com
guest says
As an outsider, who is not in anyway associated with Kelly Mac or the GC, let me offer this advice:
Kelly Mac, it's a whole new board that has been elected — probably because of their credentials, creativity and past works. Change will eventually happen with everything (not just GC). Change helps to translate old idea's, traditions & cultures to new generations. I'm sure the old board did a great job, but, time for a change has come. Don't fear change, give the 'new' board a chance to shine on their own, nothing happens overnight.
GC, stay the course guys, show us how great you can carry the 'traditional' to a whole new generation. You've got big shoes to fill & you'll never please everybody.
Cheers,