Can School Force Daughter to be in Marching Band???(Longgg, sorry)

[mars315]

I hope itis OK to ask this here. We are having an issue: My daughter starts HS in a week and a half. She is going to a HS other than the one for which she is districted because she applied to the IB (International Baccalaureate) program, and for IB she is SUPPOSED to go to HS X. Anyway, DD has played the flute for the last 3 years, and is quite good. She also considered another HS program called Early College, which is similar academically to IB, but it does not have all the trappings of a regular HS, so no band. DD went back and forth on her choice, and finally decided on the IB HS, so she could have band (main reason, but there were some other issues). We had been to a band concert at our districted HS in the Spring, and I still have a copy of the program which listed all the band offerings at the districted HS. It states in bold letters: Marching Band is Optional. I had no reason to think it would be any different at any other HS in our county.

About 3 weeks ago a neighbor said to me, "How about all the time the kids have to do Marching Band?" I said that my DD was not doing marching band since it is optional. Neighbor stated that she had heard that it was mandatory. I looked into it on the school website, and I finally found where it said that everyone who was in concert band HAD to be in marching band. Here's the thing: MArching Band practices from 6-8 PM on Tuesday and Thursday, and then the kids have to be in the band room by 6:00 every Friday night for the football game, which starts at 7:30 and ends at probably 9:30. So three nights a week I am forced to drive my daughter to school and back. PLUS, both my daughters are swimming with a private club, and practices are every night from 6:15 to 7:45. DD cannot make every practice, but the two nights that both my daughters can swim at the same time are Tues. and Friday. We have already paid our swim club fees for September-December. DD NEEDS this exercise, as she plays no other sports.

Football players are exempt from Marching Band, because they are busy doing something else (quite obviously). Well, my argument is #1. My DD is busy doing something else, and #2. How can a school REQUIRE that a student spend 7 and 1/2 hours plus commuting time after school in order to take a class (Concert Band) which is offered for credit? If she simply does not go to marching band she will get an "F" for that portion of her grade, and obviously she will not be able to get a very good grade overall.

She would definitely have decided to go to the other HS if we had known. Now it is too late to switch back (the application process was almost like applying to college). But regardless, Can they legally say that in order to be in a regular course you MUST take part in an afterschool activity? What if the Algebra II teacher said everybody taking Algebra II has to stay after school 3 times a week to do math olympics. We live in NC, and I really need some advice.

We have appealed to the band teacher who said he "could" grant an exception if we showed him our daughter's schedule, which we did and then after 2 weeks he said "no" last night. My husband has spoken to the Principal, who is of little help. We have a county school system and it is not a county policy but rather a school "tradition".

All you legal experts out there, what can we do?

Thank you, please excuse the long post. I am very upset.

 

[Microcell]

Yeesh! I cannot believe that if you don't want to do it that she should! I am not sure about legalities, but I would make a big stink!

 

[OhMari]

welcome to the world of band and marching band. I would have another talk with the band teacher and principal. Why are football players exempt with no failing grade.

Our school is the same way, They have to be at all home games for football.

Our band director sends out a schedule at the beginning of the school year. All winter long they play at basketball games, wrestling matches. it can add up to 3 nights a week, Dec. Jan. & Feb.

Then in March, they are expected to participate in solo ensemble. If you don't you get an F. This isn't fair, cause you are in class every day the whole 3rd quarter, but you still have to do solo's duets and group ensembles to receive an A.

You are going to have to decide if playing the Flute is worth it. I'm sure you are not the only one struggling with this. I bet a lot of parents have kids in volleyball, soccer, but yet they have to be in Marching Band for the precious football games.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

That is absurd! I played in concert band in HS, and never did marching. They were two entirely seperate things! Marching was extra-curricular. Even more, kids could play in marching even if they did not play in concert band. As you said, it's an extra 7 hours a week for the same amount of credit as a normal class!

Well, one solution is if it's not too late, she can drop concert band and take some other class. Sort of defeats the purpose of playing an instrument, though! But maybe it proves a point!

 

[Tiggeroo]

At my dd's school they went together. But at my son's school they don't. Also at my dd's school football players did marching band. They would run over during half time and play in their football uniforms. They would also play before and after the game.

 

[BrerMom]

They're a combo here, too. The required all-day-Saturday band competitions are a pain, also.

 

[Carl]

Way back in the 50's I was in band and band was band. You were expected to play every time there was a performance - concert or at football games. Plus there were rehearsals after school.

 

[Madi100]

I was very involved in band. OK, you can call me a band geek. Our band instructor was awesome. The year she came we won awards in parades. We went on tours and performed at different places. When we went to ensembles we always received the highest rating. Band was band. You couldn't be in concert band or marching band. It was band. I know that band is considered a class because you receive a grade for it. However, it is also very extra-curricular. You are not forced to be in band. It is an option. When I was in band, you did not miss a football game. It was mandatory that you showed up. If there was a parade to perform in, you were there. My parents are divorced, and I was not allowed to miss a football game to go and visit my father every other weekend. The reason that our band was good was because a lot was demanded out of us. She was very strict on what she wanted. For marching band, black shoes. If you wore black shoes with a little stripe of white, the band director got her can of spray paint out and painted them black. She didn't care if your mother just spent $300 on them. You don't get first place by having mismatched shoes and half a band. You get first place by all being there and being uniform.

It's funny, but no parent ever complained. Not even my dad who had to sit through all of our hometown football games to wait for me to get done. There were some people that quit. But, those of us that stayed accomplished a lot in those four years of high school. I've never had more demanded out of my and felt more rewarded in my whole high school career. No one ever hated our band director. She earned the respect of everyone in town. Band went from being something boring and geeky to being something to be proud of.

So, although it is too bad that your daughter didn't know that it was demanded of her before starting, you do have two options. You can let your daughter being fully involved in something and feel the pride, or she can quit. I'm not saying quitting is bad, but she doesn't have to be in band. And, look on the bright side, marching band doesn't last all year long, just the fall.

 

[Kirby]

Have you looked into athletics? Maybe your daughter could get on the swim team? Or is there a jazz band? Most of the members of our jazz band do not perform with the marching band but some do both. Some of the jazz band members are in athletics.

We have Concert, Symphonic and Honors band also. Concert does not march but Symphonic and Honors do. Also marching band is a 1/2 credit of PE, so if your daughter isn't involved in that she will probably have to fill in that area with PE.

Our band members are required to stay after school until 6:30 three days a week and it depends on whether we are at home or away on what time they have to be at school for a game. This year we are playing teams over two hours away and so will probably have to leave before school is out.

I would get with the band director and principal again. But if your daughter is really good, they will want her in their program.

 

[orvilleair]

Originally posted by OhMari
I bet a lot of parents have kids in volleyball, soccer, but yet they have to be in Marching Band for the precious football games.

Legally, can a public school exempt football players from band but not soccer and volleyball? I played soccer and praticed just as much as the football team. Soccer and volleyball play 2 even 3 times a week. Definitely more than football. Check into it. If soccer and volleyball is exempt, then steer your daughter that way. I've read that your daughter just knows swimming, but she could play on the junior varsity or freshmen soccer teams. How about your daughter joining the football team as an athletic assistant(trainer). The team around here usually has 2 or 3 helping the doc/trainer out.

I don't think there is time to challenge the rule. Try to find a loophole. Band pratice started last week.

As for me, Marching Band was not mandatory if I took Concert Band in the winter. Marching Band = $ too. My high school travelled all over the Midwest. Good luck.

 

[peachgirl]

Why are football players exempt with no failing grade.

Since football players are in the middle of a football game while the band is on the field, it would be impossible to require them to march in the band. Having other activities that you're involved in outside of school isn't quite the same thing.

I'm only familiar with schools in my area, but all that I know of require all band students to participate in marching as well as concert band. Concert season is in the spring after football, so it doesn't conflict.

Imo, you don't have an argument. Band is not a required subject. In fact, in this area, it's considered an extracurricular activity just as football or cheerleading is. Football players and cheerleaders are required to participate in all areas of each sport. Parents of these students are just as inconvenienced making sure they are there before school, after school and on game days. I don't see why band students should be any different.


There are a lot of band students who love band, but would give anything to get out of the work of marching. They all have busy lives and so do their parents. It would hardly be fair to allow your daughter to opt out. I would say you have 2 choices. Have her drop band or let her particpate fully just as every other band student is required to do.

DD NEEDS this exercise, as she plays no other sports.

Just a thought, but she'll get more than enough excercise during band practice!

 

[Madi100]

The reason football is exempt is because marching band plays DURING the football games. The football players are currently involved in something. Same as doing the pep band during a basketball game. The basketball players don't have to play in band because they are in the game. It has nothing to do with the sport being better.

 

[BostonTigger]

I have a music degree and believe all kids should have some kind of music, however, if they are forcing your child to be in both when she clearly doesn't have the time, then I would think twice about being in band. This just isn't right.

 

[sharbear]

When I was in band, you had to also do marching band. I liked marching band but by the time I was a senior, I wanted to hang out with my friends so I didn't play that year. Marching band is a pain but.... your daughter is coming out of district to a new HS. The best way to fit in and make great friends is going to be in marching band. What I would do is have her do marching band this year, I know you have already paid for the swimming and you have to pick her up 3 nights a week. But it was your choice to go out of district and not to have that support of car pools. I'm not saying that I wouldn't do the same thing you are doing, in fact I would send my DD across town to be in an IB program. But understand you also have to make sacrifices because of that. One of those sacrifices is picking her up and doing marching band.

My DD is in band too. (also plays the flute). Playing at the football games and basketball games is part of her grade. If she doesn't want to do football, she can sign up for only one semester. Last year she had a scheduling conflict and could only schedule band for winter semester. She missed out on a lot of socialization, also she could not try out for district honor band which she did the year before. She loved honor band and was so bummed that she could not try out. This year she has band the whole year.

Another thing to think about is how your DD will be looked at by the other kids in band if she is exempted out of marching band. I think that the other kids will be irritated and I don't think that it would be helpful, esp. as she is starting a new school.

Also marching band is quite a bit of exercise, so that might make up for the lack of swimming. And football games are only in the fall, so she will have plenty of the year to swim.

 

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by BostonTigger
I have a music degree and believe all kids should have some kind of music, however, if they are forcing your child to be in both when she clearly doesn't have the time, then I would think twice about being in band. This just isn't right.

If there's only one band, it isn't a matter of making her do "both". She'd be sitting half the year with nothing to do and there would be a lot of other students being very resentful that they had to march while someone else got out of it.

If she doesn't want to do football, she can sign up for only one semester.

We weren't even allowed to do this. Some kids thought of doing this and they promptly put a stop to it. At our school, concert band was the "fun" part. Everyone wanted to go on the trips, but most hated the work of marching. The deal was, if you wanted the fun of competition and all the traveling that went with it, you marched in the fall.

 

[sharbear]

We weren't even allowed to do this. Some kids thought of doing this and they promptly put a stop to it. At our school, concert band was the "fun" part. Everyone wanted to go on the trips, but most hated the work of marching. The deal was, if you wanted the fun of competition and all the traveling that went with it, you marched in the fall.

I agree, but at my DD's school, it's not always possible. Sometimes they just can't fit band into the schedule no matter how much they want it. It was the case last year, she had certain classes that are required and it conflicted with band.

 

[CarolA]

It was required in my high school that you do marching band to do concert and vice versa.

Our main competetion had a rule that you had to participate in concert band to be in marching (Cut down on the number of kids who couldn't play and just wanted to do flags or something!)

At this stage you know what the options are. YOu and your daughter just have to make the decsion. I would NOT throw a scene or proceed further. (I mean do you want everyone in your daughter's new school to know her as "The girl who thinks she is special" Not a good way to start!)

 

[jimmiej]

I didn't read all the posts, so forgive me if this has been mentioned. Not ALL students at your HS are required to be in marching band, just those in "band." Is that correct? I've been a Texas band director for 22 years at three different school districts. Every band director I know would require the same as your director. It's a band & this is what we do-you can't join in the middle. We see it as one continuous event. If kids can't handle one part of it, they just have to quit. Life's all about choices. Peachgirl put it pretty good IMO.

 

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by sharbear
I agree, but at my DD's school, it's not always possible. Sometimes they just can't fit band into the schedule no matter how much they want it. It was the case last year, she had certain classes that are required and it conflicted with band.

I see what you're talking about and I don't see a problem with that at all. Our school allowed this as well, but it was only in cases like you describe. They were very strict about it though. When academic classes conflicted with band class, they did make exceptions for accomplished band students. They didn't allow kids to adjust their schedules so that they could "get out" of first semester band and join for concert/competition season. It had to be a class that was offered at no other time and one which they were required to take.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DD plays sax and plans to do band in HS next year.

0551 Symphonic Band (1 Unit)
Symphonic Band is a yearlong course, designed to further refine the skills that students learn in High School Beginning Band or Middle School Band. Members are chosen from the general school population by audition and consent of the Band Director, the spring prior to any given school year. Membership in Marching Band is required of all Symphonic Band members, unless exempted by director.

0553 Jazz Band Grades 10-12 (Grade 9 under special circumstances with the teacher's approval) (1 Unit)
Jazz Band is a yearlong performance based course designed to be a highly select performing group. Membership is by audition only. It is suggested that the student also be enrolled in Symphonic Band or Symphonic Wind Ensemble. The traditional Jazz Band instrumentation will be used. A variety of Jazz Styles will be studied and performed. Emphasis will be on listening to the art of jazz improvisation. Extensive performances are required. Attendance at performances will be required as part of the student's grade. (Prerequisite: Audition and Instructor Approval)

So it appears that Marching Band is mandatory here too. I hadn't looked this up yet so I got an education today!

As far as your situation I would either drop band or eat the swim costs. What does your dd want to do????