Hello! I was just curious about some of the not-obvious differences between large and small schools. I know that large schools generally have more directors, students, and resources; however, what are the drawbacks to working in a large school? What are things only large districts have to deal with? This is my first year teaching, and I work in a smaller school. Weighing the option of moving to a larger district in August (especially to teach middle school).
I've done both. Started my career at a small 2A, now at a 6A.
Bigger school means bigger band, more logistics. More buses, more gear to move, more money to deal with. Ordering 300 t-shirts at once instead of 30. Better opportunities to differentiate the instruction - beginners in classes by instrument, 3 performing groups at the MS, 4 at the HS, and the staff and facilities to support that (small school there was one beginner class with everyone, one MS band, one HS band, MS students walked over to the HS band hall for class). Less chance that your 1st chair trumpet is also the starting quarterback. More procedures. At my small school I could walk next door to Bernice in finance and get her to write a check the morning of an event. Now they only write checks on Fridays, so the PO has to be approved by Thursday, so I have to get everything to the FA secretary by Monday. In my small school I was the only one advocating for the performing arts, but I was on a first name basis with the superintendent. He came to say hi to the band at every football game, usually came to marching contests and concerts. I've been at my large school for 6 years and I've never had a 1-on-1 meeting with the superintendent, but I have a Fine Arts Director who fights hard for the arts in the district. Small school I practically owned the auditorium and managed the scheduling, large school I have to fight for a concert date around all of the choir, dance, senior meetings, middle school graduation, elementary school choir program, one act play, everything else.
Biggest thing for me is the community politics is not such a hassle. At my small school there were only 3 last names. Everyone was related to everyone, by blood or by marriage. Nobody ever moved into that town. I pissed off the wrong person over some minor slight. Unfortunately the main street in town was named after her family, her great-great-great-grandad signed the city charter back in 18-whatever, she was on the city council, and more importantly on the board of the Baptist church (I went to the Methodist church in the next town over), and I was suddenly no longer welcome anywhere in town and resigned at the end of the year to avoid a non-renewal. Much less risk of that in the bigger school environment.
I spent my first 10 years in 3A to 4A schools. Now I am at a 6A. I found less school politics that effect Band in 6A. It's still there, but there are a lot more levels to break through.
Depending on the program, the hours spent in big school maybe more. Usually smaller schools share kids with other activities, so it is harder to do a lot of outside of school practices. Usually less hours practicing. Although, the smaller schools I work with were incredibly competitive and directors put in 50+ hours a week, 70+ in marching season. At the 6A I work at, I am still putting in the same amount of time. Middle school directors in my cluster do not have high school responsibilities, so generally their hours are much less.
Band program success depends on the expectations placed them, big are small school Grass is green where you water it. There are 5A and 6A bands that's struggle to find success, just as any small school. The battles that you face as a director do not depend on the school size, but support you receive. You need to be open to finding directors that can mentor you and work with them as long as you can. Real teaching is hard, especially in music education.