Band vs Football: I need your thoughts. (long post)

[mbw12]

I'm surprised the football players were able to manage football along with band in the first place!! How'd they find the time to do both during the same season? I would figure the boys would have to make a decision between one or the either and not force the band to reschedule the trip.

Exactly my thoughts! I have never heard of students that can participate in both band and football during the same season??? Most schools make you pick one over the other. One activity per season.

 

[Kitty 34]

Exactly my thoughts! I have never heard of students that can participate in both band and football during the same season??? Most schools make you pick one over the other. One activity per season.

We're a small school so probably the reason kids can do both. You should see the football players take off their helmets at half time and come over to perform in the band's show. It's actually kind of cool.

 

[Sparx]

I think the band trip should overrule football. you have 10 football players, and 90 people who aren't football players. the band's trip has BEEN planned. the football game is a "I think we can make finals" thing. what if they lose? then you changed everything for nothing.

 

[WDWFAN9]

Wow! If I was a band parent I'd be really upset - to change the dates and increase the cost at such a late date seems really unfair, especially because the football team making the finals is not guarenteed.

What if a family can't come up with the extra expense in three weeks? What about the families that arranged their Thanksgiving plans around the band schedule? What if some of the parents can't make the trip now because of the change in plans? I'm sorry but for the Super to unilaterally make this change so close to the actual date seems amazingly unfair.

 

[Kitty 34]

Wow! If I was a band parent I'd be really upset - to change the dates and increase the cost at such a late date seems really unfair, especially because the football team making the finals is not guarenteed.

What if a family can't come up with the extra expense in three weeks? What about the families that arranged their Thanksgiving plans around the band schedule? What if some of the parents can't make the trip now because of the change in plans? I'm sorry but for the Super to unilaterally make this change so close to the actual date seems amazingly unfair.

My sentiments exactly....that's why I told the committee that the Super needs to head our parent meeting......not us!

 

[JPN4265]

I don't think the band would miss ten members. I say let the band go to WDW and the football players should go to the game if they make the playoffs. If they don't make the playoffs, then no problem. Just another thought, if the football team made the playoffs, don't you think the band would want to be at the game?

 

[JPN4265]

Hi. I'm back from our meeting. It was already set in stone that we were moving the trip...not a meeting to decide if we were. My mistake.

The band director and his wife did a lot of calling and we will be flying now, not taking busse (a plus) and cutting short our trip by two days (a minus )
We have decided to hold a parents meeting this coming Monday to drop the bomb that the trip has been changed and it will now cost $100 more. For families that have 4 and 5 members going....that's quite a jump especially when it's all due by Oct 22.

I told them the person that should actually start the meeting and weather all the "comments" that I'm sure will come down is our Super. The committee agreed!

To answer you, Foolishmortal. We were just going down to march so no it's not a state function at all.

The change has been made. You are now obligated to refund in total to all parents that cannot make this trip. I would think you have a bigger problem now?

 

[Bob Slydell]

My HS was never a good football school (playoffs maybe twice in the last 15 years, but they never cut it has it still brings in revenue, and the basketball team (top 3 for many years) brings in more revenue then anyone could ever imagine.

I think you can pretty much drop the revenue argument. If it's as small of a school as Kitty's describing, we're not talking about a football program that's bringing in revenue.

Let's face it, there's maybe a handful of football programs in each state that are big enough and popular enough to bring in any actual revenue. You're thinking like all these football teams are Division I college programs. The reality is that 99% of high school football games have a couple hundred people at them, everyone paying a couple bucks to attend.

It kind of sucks that everything had to get changed and everyone's going to have to come up with the extra $$ for the trip. I just hope the football team does actually go as far as they're expected, because if not, I'd imagine there will be even angrier people.

 

[Pam]

It kind of sucks that everything had to get changed and everyone's going to have to come up with the extra $$ for the trip. I just hope the football team does actually go as far as they're expected, because if not, I'd imagine there will be even angrier people.

I wonder if they would have done this for the Water Polo Team (if there was one) or the Cheerleading Squad or Dance Line (can we all say, "NOT!").

 

[Kitty 34]

I wonder if they would have done this for the Water Polo Team (if there was one) or the Cheerleading Squad or Dance Line (can we all say, "NOT!").

Last winter when we first started planning this trip, it was brought up about the girls basketball team going to regionals at that time (Thanksgiving) but our Super said "oh well". I remember those words exactly. But we certainly won't turn this into a sexist issue.

 

[LadyBears]

To answer you, Foolishmortal. We were just going down to march so no it's not a state function at all.

When I was in HS, going to WDW to march was an honor - from what I remember, not every school is just allowed in. Will they still be able to march? Disney has their schedule set months in advance also.

I would more than happily be on the side of the band if that were the case here, but this is a band trip not a state finals competetion (at least that is the way I read the OP). Again leisure for 1 group opposed to state playoffs for the "school". I vote for the school. Now please OP correct me if I am wrong but this isn't a state sanctioned competion they are going to WDW for right?

I live in MA - we didn't have state competitions being performed at WDW - we performed for the honor of it. Performing in Disney is just as important to the band as it is for a band to be chosen to march in the Macy's New Years parade. When I was in HS 15 years ago, we had to audition to get a spot. It's not like we went & said "ok, where here - where do you want us to perform?" It isn't fair to make 150 other kids & their parents suffer for a POSSIBLE 10. Let those 10 make the choice between football & band.

I don't think any of the parents or the kids are going to be too happy about the change & the extra money & the 2 days less than what was planned. Not every parent can change vacation time - especially around the holidays - very easily!!

Good Luck!!

 

[CapitanCook]

Why not leave it up to the ones directly involved? Let the football players decide with their parents if they want to play in a game that may or may not happen, or go on the trip? I wouldn't make the whole band suffer a change and more cost on something that may never happen.

Life is full of tough choices. I say leave your trip as is. The super is a little late in the game to make you change. He should have anticipated a conflict between schedules. That is why they make the big bucks, right?

Having played football in HS, there is no "choice" for the players. They made a commitment to team. If I were the parent of one of these players/band members, I'd make sure that they were at the game and in uniform, but really, I don't think I'd have to say anything at all. When you're on a team and get to the state finals, you WANT to be there.

I agree though, you can't plan around everyone. You said 100 band members right? Do it cheap, and stick to your current plan. AND HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[#1hockeymom]

I am sorry the trip had to be postponed, but I do have a few thoughts on the subject. This is more to the comments than the OP. I am so thankful that there were students who were able to do both football and band! Why should a student really have to chose between them? Sure, there are rough moments, but they're kids! I know in school I ran between band and pom at basketball and football games. My daughter ran between band and cheerleading when she was in HS, and my son currently plays football and hockey. I don't know what he might overlap with hockey when football is over for the season. Sure, life is crazy, but we make a few rules, talk to the coaches, and set priorities. They were/are both honor roll students so I have no complaints.

Kitty34>> Please PM me your school! I'm on the edge of suburban Detroit/mid Michigan. I know it isn't our HS, but I'd love to watch the news and see how far yours goes!

 

[bobcat]

My question is was this trip ok'd by the school board, I know our's have to be. If so then making a change without their ok could mean trouble. The board also might have been on your side about not changing your dates and transportation costs. Since the decision and change is done and over now you need to figure out how to finance the change. My suggestion is to put pressure on your Super to help offset the new cost differences. Having 100+ parents show up to the board meeting can have a huge impact!

Good luck and after all this I sure hope the team does make it to the playoffs. If not the Super will have a lot of ill will to make up for. Small communities have long memories.

 

[Galahad]

Miss football playoffs for a band trip, you've got to be kidding?

I wouldn't be kidding. There is nothing intrinsicly more valuable about a football playoff than a band trip - one which was planned a year ago.

 

[Galahad]

Having played football in HS, there is no "choice" for the players. They made a commitment to team. If I were the parent of one of these players/band members, I'd make sure that they were at the game and in uniform, but really, I don't think I'd have to say anything at all. When you're on a team and get to the state finals, you WANT to be there.

I agree though, you can't plan around everyone. You said 100 band members right? Do it cheap, and stick to your current plan. AND HAVE FUN!!!!

But there is also no choice for band members in most schools. Their grade depends upon doing all of the activities.

 

[Galahad]

I would more than happily be on the side of the band if that were the case here, but this is a band trip not a state finals competetion (at least that is the way I read the OP). Again leisure for 1 group opposed to state playoffs for the "school". I vote for the school. Now please OP correct me if I am wrong but this isn't a state sanctioned competion they are going to WDW for right?

1) I many cases, success in a music program is measure differently. A "trip" for a band could very well be the equivalent to a championship for a sports team. If we just flush programs that don't have "community support" then all you will have left is football and basketball for most schools around the country. Not a very well rounded educational experience.
2) A playoff win is no more "for the school" than a band championship is. These days, they are both more about the resume' of the coach or band director.

 

[Galahad]

Also, the parents of those 160 band kids have likely been working hard for over a year to raise the money for the trip. It is very unlikely that the school is paying for the trip to any large extent. Telling those parents their efforts on behalf of the school are not valuable because the are supporting a less-than-sexy endeavor teaches a lot of great lessons.

My son's H.S. WON the Grand Nationals at BOA last year. The football team was mediocre but still got more press. It would be absurd if it weren't so humorous.

 

[foolishmortal]

1) I many cases, success in a music program is measure differently. A "trip" for a band could very well be the equivalent to a championship for a sports team. If we just flush programs that don't have "community support" then all you will have left is football and basketball for most schools around the country. Not a very well rounded educational experience.
2) A playoff win is no more "for the school" than a band championship is. These days, they are both more about the resume' of the coach or band director.

valid arguements IF:

1) It was a trip for a comptetion not just for a wdw honor to play

2) If it was really for the school why does the whole school not have a chance to go? At least football playoffs the school can participate by going to the games showing support, that is for the school...this trip is for the band, not the school.

 

[Galahad]

valid arguements IF:

1) It was a trip for a comptetion not just for a wdw honor to play

2) If it was really for the school why does the whole school not have a chance to go? At least football playoffs the school can participate by going to the games showing support, that is for the school...this trip is for the band, not the school.

1) I disagree completely. You get the honor by being good enough to be invited. There is competition in that in itself.

2) The whole school can go. What if your Football team was invited to play a regional or national game? Nothing but money is stopping people from going. One huge difference between performing arts groups and athletic groups in H.S. is the $$ that performing arts groups have to shell out just to do their thing. I'll bet football parents don't have to pay a few hundred dollars for every playoff game their kids have to play.

If there were a required class activity in say, Chemistry, planned at the beginning of the school year, announced at the beginning of the school year and then football playoffs roll around and it conflicts, should those kids not be required to do the class activity?