there is nothing worse in school districts than...

[legoalex2000]

...losing Music programs due to overspending. now luckly my high school district is the 14th richest in the nation (not to seem spoiled or anything), but all the middle & elementary school districts in the area are in trouble. We have 4 middle & elem. school districts here and 3 of them are in a deficeit. 1 saved the music, but the other 2 are going to cut them, just because they are extra-cirricular. there is nothing more moraly wrong than cutting one of the most important programs in schools. and cutting it only makes things worse in time. if the small districts close, then 4-5 years it becomes the high school's problem, 4 years after that, the college's problem, and then it becomes a worldwide epidemic. now i was one of the people who saved a district from throwing away it's music, but the problem just keeps getting bigger.

Now I need a solution. there is a board meeing tommorow night to discuss the budget. I have every intention of going. my good's are: I have my high school, as well as the other 5 high schools in the area supporting what I believe in (well, "we" (band kids)). 2 problems however, 1: Me any my group do not live in the school' district's area, and 2: we cannot vote (not legal yet). I need advice on how to convice these people not to close the music. mind you, this is the first thing most districts decide on when in a budget situation.

any advice, cause I need the help, badly. this affects me as much as it does the kids who are in this district.

[The Ruptured Duck]

IN KANSAS, oh nvm.

Here they have cut JROTC, and drivers ed completely.  Fine arts has had a cut, but its still here(I feel responsible for them having to cut spending for band.  Why?-120 new band uniforms@$500 each, 150 embroidered band shits @$20 each, 2 major band trips to Dallas($65000) and orlando($20000), new band director @ approx-$40k/year,5 new euphoniums @$1200 each, +some more that takes too long to talk about)

[Smoke2much]

if the small districts close, then 4-5 years it becomes the high school's problem, 4 years after that, the college's problem, and then it becomes a worldwide epidemic.

The world does not begin and end at the borders of the USA.  In the UK music is seen as a valuable part of the national curriculum and is compulsory at least until age 14 and offered as a funded GCSE and A Level .

I would suggest you write them a letter explaining your feelings on the subject and perhaps suggest alternatives to cutting out the music programs.  I agree that this is a serious and sad state of affairs and I wish you success in protecting this part of your areas' education.

[Hagar]

Things might be different in the UK now &, as Will points out, music is indeed on the National Curriculum. I'm not sure quite what this covers or how comprehensive it is. It looks pretty basic to me & not all children are interested in music. Unless the school has a fine arts background I think it's natural to assume that this will be the first to suffer from any cutbacks. I don't really see how you can argue against that as I would put academic studies at the top of my list.

When my daughter was at school she received every encouragement from the head of music as did any child interested in music, no matter how talented they might be. This did not include specialised tuition in playing an instrument. The school owned some instruments but the really interested pupils were expected to have their own & also pay for their own tuition from a private music teacher in their own time. Band, orchestra & choir rehearsals were also held after normal school hours, as were the many concerts & functions they performed at.

PS. Her music teacher was recently awarded a well-deserved MBE for his services to music over a long & distinguished career. http://www.boundstone.w-sussex.sch.uk/news.htm

[legoalex2000]

i meant an epidemic coming from anywhere, my apologies, not clear enough.

well, i'm glad the programs are doing ok in your area. and they should be doing fine here if it wasn't for the dumb admin, we get so much troubles because of them.

[Felix/FFDS]

My opinion?  School districts should concentrate on actual teaching of the basics - 'reading, 'riding, 'rithmetic, and forced participation in non-academic programs, dedicated to multi-pluralism, and other "-isms"  Then, with music appreciation part of an actual educational experience there would be less of a problem with music programs.

Example -

Reading  - read the history of music, and how music shapes people's ideas and how music reflects what people are.

'riting - express what you learn, what does music really MEAN to you?

' rithmetic - admit it, if you don't know 'rithmetic, you won't be able to make sense out of music, the timing, the combinations, the engineering that goes into making music....

and in the meantime, LEARN to enjoy and play music.

[Scottler]

Having benefitted from the music program and the athletic program in my own school days, I have to admit, I'm bothered by the thought of those programs being cut completely.  I learned a great deal about life (surprisingly) in those programs....


THAT SAID, I do feel that if a school needs to make cuts at all, I'd much rather see the music program or the baseball team get cut rather than fire a very good history teacher or english teacher.

It's sad, but sometimes they need to make cuts.  I agree that if you've got the funds to keep the progams up and running, you absolutely should...but I also think that when times change, and you have to make cuts, those should be the first to go.