Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Save the Music

Earlier tonight, I attended a district school board meeting. It was a critical one for there were easily over a hundred attendees, most of whom came in regards to the key agenda of the evening: the potential removal of the music departments across the district due to budget crisis. Throughout the evening, students, parents, and teachers took the podium and spoke. With a three minute time limit each, they individually expressed a singular voice: Save the Music. I saw tears throughout the room as young elementary students spoke nervously on the mic, begging for the program to continue. The speakers expressed passion and shared how inspiring music has been to their lives. It was uplifting to see students being passionate about education. I only wish I could inspire such passion in my class. (Though I'm sure I can inspire tears in my students if I assign more math problems.) 

As a math teacher who missed out on music education, I wholeheartedly support our school's arts program. Our band director Mr. Murdock is amazing, the band kids are often some of my top students, and their performances are breathtaking. Go Band Go!

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