I appreciate your responses:)
Many teachers around here(Northern PA)do want what's best
for the kids. The biggest problem comes in getting rid of
tenured mediocrities. The drop-off in our music program
here demonstrates this. The elementary teacher is a GREAT
teacher and loves kids. The middle/high school teacher also
loves kids, but is a mediocre teacher with little ability
to control a classroom.
We do have an option here, besides homeschooling. There are
two schools just across the border, in NY, that have
excellent music programs and superior vocational education
programs. We are in the process of investigating them right
now for our ten year old.
We just suffered with a poor music teacher at the 4-8 level who all but killed a program that used to be incredible. It was awful. She's still here, but folks aren't done with her yet...a dynamic teacher at the high school is garnering all kind of support and this is what will ultimately be the other teacher's undoing.
More than one way to skin a cat : )
Good luck!!