[TPIN] Convince the Administrators ...Why Teach Music !!!

[Nanette Kappus]

Ellis is right on in-regards to the Music program / Administrator problem / 
Coach egomaniac.  Years ago, my father got along with the coaches of the 
school he was music director at, but now days, having had three kids 
graduate, the music / coach problem is much worse.  Everyone is always 
fighting for a free weeknight for a game or a concert.  Throw in the 
administrators personalities, [oxymoron ] and you have a constant cat fight. 
It is at the point where the parents square off with one another, arguing 
that his "Johnny" is more important to the school as a football star then 
her "Jenny" who is in the All-state band. I got so sick of it.  It is a 
proven fact that no other skill uses more of the brain at the same time as 
music does, yet the school music program has become a constant threat to a 
school budget.  God forbid we should cut the football program.  My brother 
is a music director in a high school also and after 35 years the one 
constant in his career has been a terrible school Administrator or a coach 
who doesn't care about anything but the next win.
Keep fighting the budget cuts! Go to the School Board meetings and make your 
opinion heard. Our kids will be hurt by a future without school music 
programs and I want to some day attend my grandkids concerts, plays and yes, 
sports programs.  {That is, when I have grandkids. I am much to young for 
that now!}  :>)

Nanette L. Kappus
Power Up of Western New York
binak at rochester.rr.com
www.binak.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ellis Workman" <elw at workman-net.org>

> Unfortunately a disproportionate number of school administrators
> are ex-coaches who care little for such things.
>
> But we'll keep trying. Music is the only thing in school that
> requires a high level of sustained concentration for a long
> time. What is the duration of a football play?
>
> -Ellis