In the past two to three years, there have been large numbers of cuts in the Schalmont school district. Most of them have been to arts program — by an enormously unfair amount. These cuts have been widely within the band and choral programs each year. Recently, we discovered that another music position is being cut. [Music teachers] Robert Renzi, Sean Lowery, and our new middle school band director, Justin Godlewski, have done everything they could to ensure that the music program did not plunge in the least bit — whether it’s Mr. Renzi teaching both music theory and rock history every day, as well as his chorus and concert choir rehearsals; Mr. Lowery teaching in the high school Periods 1-5, then leaving to teach the 5th grade band at Jefferson Elementary; or Mr. Godlewski teaching all of the bands and giving each section lessons in middle school, as well as directing the high school marching band. But the proposed budget cuts for next year, which could possibly include the combining of the concert band and wind ensemble, [went too far]. Mr. Lowery has worked for years to make both of these bands prosper to their fullest, and he has drawn the line on cutting here. He has promised to do anything it takes to make sure the two band programs do not get combined. According to the 1999 College-Bound Seniors National Report on childrensmusicworkshop.com, “Students taking courses in music performance and music appreciation scored higher in the SAT than students with no arts participation. Twenty out of 23 members were on honor roll or high honor roll. I know Mr. Lowery, Mr. Renzi, and Mr. Godlewski will do anything to keep this band alive, but they may not be enough. We need support from anyone and everyone around us; students, parents and members of our community [They] should do this because it gives children good values to follow, as well as a chance to be creative.
JOE HAESSIG Pattersonville The writer is a senior at Schalmont High School.
School taxes are paid by ALL homeowners, not just ones that have kids in school...in fact, many have been paying them for years and never had any kids period. In this economy and in this State, if parents want extras like Music and art, they should pay for it. High taxes and the lack of good jobs have caused 1.4 million to leave the State in the last 10 years. If that doesn't tell you things should be changed, nothing will.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Yes, taxes are much much too high. Spending money on music when kids can't read and write is just plain stupid. The purpose of schools is to educate kids in the basics. Schools are not supposed to be providing all the extras that parents don't want to pay for, like sports and arts. Nor should schools be feeding kids because parents spend money on electronic toys.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
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