‘Drummed Out’; Selling Candy

I find it unfortunate that our court system is having to be involved with decisions regarding a high school drum major and a high school band director. Yet, what I find more disturbing is the fact that our communities will not support a band program adequately. I have yet to answer the door to find the local high school football team out selling candy for new uniforms or the basketball team asking for donations toward new laces for their high tops.

Year after year music educators in our public schools are put in the situation of “fish fry” coordinator, “bake sale” director, or candy hustler in order to keep a program going that we seem unwilling to support.

I suggest that if we see the need for good public schools that we work toward funding those programs we’ve deemed important, so that our teachers can deal with the curriculum for which they are trained. Our alternatives are to demand that our universities add fund-raising experience to the music teaching credential programs; cut out what is considered “extra curricular” from our schools, or continue sending “baton vs. bonbon” suits to our courts.

REED GRATZ

La Verne