HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 21, 1981 (42)LETTER RECEIVED
FROM MUSIC
TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION
RE BUSINESS
LICENSE
REQUIREMENT
The City Clerk presented the following letter,
which had been received from Mrs. Peggy Robertson,
President of the Music Teachers Association of
California:
"We would like to protest the business license
now being required of music teachers in the
City of Lodi. All music teachers have not
been requested to pay this tax - but those
who have been listed as belonging to the
Music Teachers Association of California.
(The MTAC is a non-profit organization which
requires high educational standards and encourages
continuing education of its teachers.)
Music is fully recognized in law as an educa-
tional subject. Yet; licensing seems to be
basEd upon the false assumption that private
teaching is more a business than an educational
activity. Since music teachers are educators
they should be exempt from license fees just
as the public school teacher is exempt.
The license has other ramifications which
concern our members. We do forsee higher
license fees - including the possibiltiy of
county fees, as well as possible zoning res-
trictions. Because we teach in our own homes,
and because we want to see every interested
child have the advantage of a musical educa-
tion, children in Lodi from every economic
strata have had the opportunity to learn a
skill which will serve them in adult life as
recreation and as a means of participation in
community life. Churches and many other
community organizations depend upon those
skills taught by the independent music teacher.
Please help us to keep our lessons affordable.
Although we are not paid by LUSD, but by pri-
vate citizens of Lodi, we strongly feel that
we are and always will be teachers - not
sellers - and we ask you to reconsider the
appropriateness of requiring music teachers
to have a business license."
A lengthy discussion followed with questions being
directed to Staff and to Mrs. Robertson. No
formal action was taken by the Council on the
matter.
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