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Today's Poll: Who should pay for music programs in schools?

By Howard B. Owens
jason reese

Talk about falling from grace. Have you family's really disgraced this country. When their was true leadership not photo ops or brown nosing, we didn't even have these types of conversations. Now look at our country, nothing more than one big ghetto nation. And whose fault is it? Yeah that's right, The United States Government.

Jun 10, 2011, 7:29am Permalink
Bob Faulkner

1st; why should parents pick up the cost? They already are paying through taxes.
2nd; In my opinion, music programs should be cut only if sports are cut, too. Think of the cost of sports programs!

Jun 10, 2011, 8:28am Permalink
matt riggi

GREED!!! This wouldn't be a problem if people weren't trying to line their pockets! Let's cut programs so we can afford those $200,000 salaries!

Jun 10, 2011, 8:41am Permalink
Phil Ricci

I agree Bob, not all of football is paid through boosters. You have to pay coaches, league fees, buses, equipment, refs, etc.

Music has boosters as well, they hold fund raisers and parents have to pay for equipment rentals, so they already are paying for it.

If you're going to cut out "extras" as I've heard it, then do it across the board. I mean why not? Then we can all pay a lot of taxes to have partially educated and undeveloped children, but hey! At the least the angry people will feel accomplished.

Jun 10, 2011, 8:52am Permalink
Julie A Pappalardo

Oh my gosh!! I am always alarmed when talk of "cutting the music program" gets discussed.

What would this accomplish? Music teaches math skills, teamwork skills, commradery. When the band does a performance the musicians feell a great sence of accomplishment :). A lot of times the music department is the only place for certain kids to "fit in". ( even if the jocks harrass them constantly). Music is THE thing that they shine at. It teaches them disapline and respect as well.

Sports seems to get all the money which is wrong. I know what I am about to type might be a bit unpopular with some, but I'm going jto say it anyway (or I wouldn't be me). What does football teach kids? Teamwork.....ok. Commradery.....ok. But how about bullying and how to take steroids (which is just cheating anyway) . You see, band kids don't bully ( they are usually the victims), and don't take "performance enhancing drugs". They do what they do with raw TALENT. There is no cheating in band.

Music also stays with a person forever! A person can still play their instrument when they are older just as well as when they were older, maybe even better!,. In sports, older people are relegated to the side lines, watching other people play.

I recently had a conversation with someone about my trip to the UK a few years ago. She said "What's in Liverpool? Why did you go there?". I had to walk away.

There are full credit college courses about the Beatles. Are there full credit courses for football??

Anyway, music needs to stay!! This is why VH1 Save The Music works SO hard to keep music programs in school. Feel free to donate to them.

Cut sports cut sports cut sports!!!!!! Says the girl who pays school tax on WAY too many buildings....

Sorry for spelling errors .... I'm a terrible speller""..... But a GREAT musician :)

Peace

Jun 10, 2011, 9:15am Permalink
Michael Fraser

Julie, you hit the nail right one the head! As a professional musician (real musician...not glorified garage band LOL), (concert organist and classically trained second tenor), and a *younger* individual, I know all too well about how the funds are takekn away from the music and arts and funneled to the sports programs. Music and arts teach individualism, creativity, allow for the continued use of ones imagination. I agree with Julie's question.. just what exactly DO sports teach? aside from brute force, reinforcing and expanding the already too large social cliquing and stereotyping that exists in schools..And YES, indeed bullying. I know some parents may argue that the kids NEED the sports programs to stay physically fit and healthy. Guess what... that is what Gym Class is for. The kids that are interested in sports programs are already physically fit and healthy, and want to participate in those programs, because it gives them a 'boost' and makes them feel more macho.

With that said, and probably irritating a lot of sports parents on here, (and not really caring), I am going to close my thoughts with:

If anything, there should be MORE funding sent to the music and arts programs, and LESS to the sports programs.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

Jun 10, 2011, 9:59am Permalink
matt riggi

Really Michael? With the bashing of the sports programs? Thats a little ridiculous, bud. Why can't it be equal? Have the same amount sent to both programs! The only "bullying" I see is you bashing the sports programs.

Jun 10, 2011, 11:24am Permalink
matt riggi

Julie- im sorry, but sports doesnt teach "bullying" and "steroids"...that is a completely ignorant statement! What about the crap they see on tv/movies, the internet..?? How about a little parenting?!! This poll is about music programs, dont use it as an opportunity to "bully" the sports programs.

Jun 10, 2011, 12:05pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

The music and sports programs are both important in my opinion. Having both in the education system helps to make a well rounded student. Both programs provide a benefit to the students while they are in school and to the community as a whole.
I have an issue about one of the poll questions and the amount of responses it gained. The question suggesting that parents pick up some of the costs. Well for those that don't know, the parents already do pick up some of the costs in addition to the school tax they pay. Just like parents that think music is stupid and sports is more important who pick up some of the costs of their kids participating in the sports programs.
How about instead of bickering about which program is more important, maybe we can utilize some of the skills we all learned as young students years ago and try to come up with a compromise that wont negatively affect the current generation of students.

Jun 10, 2011, 12:45pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

I too think music and sports programs are important equally. Not only do they teach the skills as mentioned above but they can also provide scholarships to colleges to get someone who might not otherwise be able to go to college.

The salaries and golden parachutes that the administrators enjoy are excessive and unwarranted in todays economy and financial environment. Be nice if any of them would have the nerve to cut their salary some to help fund some of these desired programs. But since their concern is NOT the children or the school but themselves they will stay silent and not demonstrate any kind of concern for anything but their own selfish needs.

Jun 10, 2011, 3:59pm Permalink

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