love thy neighbor

[EggbornHatchedrotten]

or not

Shade Township
Posted: Tuesday, April 8, 2014 10:21 pm | Updated: 10:56 pm, Tue Apr 8, 2014.

By AMBER ROSADO Daily American Staff Writer amberr@dailyamerican.com | 0 comments

amberr
Posted on Apr 8, 2014

by AMBER ROSADO

This will be the last year students in the Shade-Central City School District will be able to take a music class.

At Monday’s school board meeting, members voted 5-4 to remove the music program from the curriculum, citing declining program enrollment.

“In an effort to be frugal,” board member Robert Mulcahy said during the meeting, “we will be eliminating the music program beginning next year.”

Board President Steve Sesack said the program’s elimination has been discussed within several board committees, including personnel and finance.

“It was discussed at subsequent meetings when we eliminated home economics and shop class,” he said.

The elimination of the music program could lead to the two music teachers, Robert Lane and Melanie Shiley, losing their jobs.

Board member Scott Andrews, who voted to keep the program, said the financial difficulty the school district is experiencing doesn’t justify eliminating the program.

“I know the math’s not in our favor, but we owe it to the kids to keep the program,” he said.

Andrews said he voted to keep the program because he is a firm believer in the positive impact of music on the intellectual development of children. He has three daughters who are involved with the program.

“Without this program we’ve pretty much lost all the extracurricular programs,” he said.

Board member Dorothy Gindlesperger voted to keep the program. She said it is an important outlet for students who aren’t athletic.

“Not all kids can play sports and music is their only outlet,” she said.

Gindlesperger said she believes removing the program will have a negative impact on some students.

“We need to represent the needs of all the students, not just select activities or classes,” she said.

Board members who voted against the elimination of the music program are: Gindlesperger, Andrews, Michael Knapp and Brian Maldet.

Board members who voted to eliminate the music program are: Steve Sesack, Robert Mulcahy, Randy Kiser, John O’Ship and Cecelia Corradini.

[Ylyrra]

[Ishtass]

Should make them watch Mr. Holland's Opus

[Zargut]

They closed the music program at my local high school. Claimed they couldn't afford to keep it active for the dwindling number of students. That very next summer they spent over a million dollars on athletics. New field, bleachers, track, parking lot, and snack bar place. I guess they think their kids are all destined to become rich pro sports stars. A pure tragedy if you ask me. I have gotten more in my life out of my musical training than anything else I can think of. Let me know if your same school suddenly has plenty of funding for sports...

[Alsmack]

Is that your school, Eggy? I didn't see your name mentioned there.

[EggbornHatchedrotten]

not my school

[Alsmack]

not my school

Well that's good, but it still sucks. Music education was a huge part of my childhood, I'd have been devastated.

[Cheetaara]

They've done the same thing for all extracurricular activities in my school too. My art teacher, which I loved as a teacher, and knew his daughter well, lost his job after working there for over 40 years. The music teacher who lost her job the following year worked there for 12 years. It's a shame that the activities that bring money coming in like basketball and football can continue, while the activities that can help people in an intellectual way gets scrapped.
I understand having money problems, and having to get rid of some things. but in most my experience/reading, the school board/principal etc truly don't try to raise the money through other ways to keep these classes open. It's like 95% of them take the easy way out, with the smallest of effort.

[Kunynn]

I find it funny that most of these schools can find money for sports but not arts/music or something that would be beneficial to learning

[Cheetaara]

It's more the other way around, these sports finds money for the school through game tickets, consession stands etc. with music/art, it is much much harder.

[Lorai]

Sad that is happening so much around the country these days.

Music and Art are the "spice" of life.

[Cheetaara]

Pretty much. If people can find a good way that people can make money consistently for art/music, it would change things drastically. The thing is for schools to go music/orchestras from high schools etc, it does not attract enough people/money.

[Sangwen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOsbyuLyPbE

Life would be better if everyone would just eat their Raisin Brahms