Klarinet Archive - Posting 000433.txt from 1997/04

From: Lord Rob <rteitelbaum@-----.EDU>
Subj: RE: Ammo for Music Teachers
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 08:59:04 -0400

All the arguments that have been presented here are excellent, and I wish
I had had them in my "arsenal" 6 years ago, when I got up in front of my
high school's School Board to keep them from cutting band. All I was
really able to think of was to point out that, apart from the director's salary,
the band was completely self-sufficient, our $15,000 yearly-budget being
financed entirely by fund-raisers. (This would have been the opportune
time for the Reverse Economics argument Michael Moors was talking
about.)

But in spite of the lack of strong arguments (the other speeches weren't
much better than mine), our band program wasn't cut, and I think the biggest
reason was the presence of 1000 school district band parents (and students)
at the meeting. It was standing-room only. I'm sure there would have been a
lynching (maybe the first in CA history?) if they had cut the program then.
I tell you all this because I think it's an essential component in winning the
fight to keep a music program intact. No matter how effective the arguments,
until the would-be cutters of music programs actually SEE all the people
(all the VOTING people) their decision will affect, I don't think it really hits
home.

Rob Teitelbaum
Claremont McKenna College