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

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by septbride2002
I don't know how other schools worked but for us the Marching Season went until mid November. We worked on Marching music and training until that time. Only when Marching was over did we head into the classroom to do Concert band. If a student didn't want to do Marching Band but wanted to do Concert Band then what do you suggest they do for half a semester while everyone else is out on the marching field?

~Amanda

study hall? volunteer work? we always had classes that were only one semester...

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by auntpolly
Boy is this not fair! Because you want to play an instrument in an orchestra or stage band you're lazy or something because you don't want to do marching band? I really don't think you're taking different personalities into account. And I'll bet most of these kids do exactly what you all are saying -- they just don't do band.

What you are saying is "Be like us or don't do music in school at all - this is how kids get disenfranchized and we lose some of them. I was in the marching band (didn't love it - but there weren't many options for girls in those days) -- my DH would have literally quit school before someone made him do it. Call him a quitter or whatever if you like, but he was just different, that's all. And there wasn't a place for him in the main stream. (I won't roll eyes at you! )

This is the problem we have today. Everyting doesn't have to conform because a couple of "different" people want to do something. It's part of the watering down process in my opinion. Not everyting is for everybody, and before we end up as a monolithic society we need to take a step back, and realize we are all different, and there are many other activities for those that don't want to conform to a group activity.

 

[Pinnie]

Gee, I wonder what the football coach would say if one of his player's walked up to him and said, "I want to be on the team, but I can't make the practices on Tuesday and Thursday because I want to take private golf lessons"

Want to bet what that coach would say?

Band is a commitment. If the student isn't ready to make the commitment then they should NOT expect dispensation. It's that simple.

Like I said in an earlier post, there are some excellent examples of kids making and sticking to commitments in DCI. Coach Rick, I envy you MARCHING in DCI! What a thrill that must have been to march into that stadium and take 3 place in the WORLD. Kuddos to you!!! I will be thinking of you this week! Did you know that 05 DCI finals are going to be in the Boston area?

I have 2 more years of teaching before can I retire and I would love nothing better than to volunteer for DCI during the summer!

pinnie

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Coach Rick
This is the problem we have today. Everyting doesn't have to conform because a couple of "different" people want to do something. It's part of the watering down process in my opinion. Not everyting is for everybody, and before we end up as a monolithic society we need to take a step back, and realize we are all different, and there are many other activities for those that don't want to conform to a group activity.

But why can't we handle this individually? I'm not suggesting changing the band; it's for some people and not for others. I still say that a kid that loves music and would like to be part of the orchestra should not be forced to do marching band if they aren't comfortable with it. Like I said, I did marching band but I can sooooo see how it's not for everyone.

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Pinnie
Gee, I wonder what the football coach would say if one of his player's walked up to him and said, "I want to be on the team, but I can't make the practices on Tuesday and Thursday because I want to take private golf lessons"



pinnie

It's not the same at all -- orchestra and marching band are 2 different seasons and 2 different things. If a kid commits to one or the other they should be there and not miss practice, but what does one have to do with the other? I guess I'm glad that DD went to a school that let kids have choices.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Usually Orchestra is different from Concert Band. Again some schools may require you to do the Marching Band/Concert Band thing to be in Orchestra and in some schools Orchestra may be its own seperate thing. In any case, Concert Band does not equal Orchestra (I am sure there are exceptions, but for the most part).

 

[septbride2002]

study hall? volunteer work? we always had classes that were only one semester...

But Marching band only last through HALF of the 1st semester. So what can they do for only 1/2 a semester. And why should they get credit for a full semester of band when they only participated in half a semester.

While yes I agree with you Marching Band and Concert Band are two different things - the program is layed out already. You either make the commitment to do both or you don't do either.

~Amanda

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine
Usually Orchestra is different from Concert Band. Again some schools may require you to do the Marching Band/Concert Band thing to be in Orchestra and in some schools Orchestra may be its own seperate thing. In any case, Concert Band does not equal Orchestra (I am sure there are exceptions, but for the most part).

That's interesting -- thanks for posting that! As long as kids who don't want to do marching band have another musical outlet, I have no problem!

 

[Octoberbride03]

When i was in HS I did Bandfront for 2 years(the flags). But it was the same way in my HS. If you did Concert Band you had to do Marching Band and vice versa. If you did Jazz band then you had to Marching band. That's the way it was, and still is I imagine even though my band director retired shortly after i graduated.

But if its the exercise you're worried about. Trust me. Marching band is a whoooole lot of exercise. My band practiced everyday right after lunch time(without the bandfront) and at least 3 of those days they marched the formations on the field. There is a whole lot of cardio going on trust me. There was also an additiional run through on game days b4 changing into the uniforms. And band camp is a week long exercise camp. You march all day, every day, with and without instruments. Has your daughter's band had their camp yet? The local high school here had theirs 2 weeks ago. And if your daughter didn't do the camp she should just drop band now. Cause she'll never catch up if she didn't.

Sorry for your troubles, but my advice would be to have your daughter choose between swimming and band.

 

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by septbride2002
But Marching band only last through HALF of the 1st semester. So what can they do for only 1/2 a semester. And why should they get credit for a full semester of band when they only participated in half a semester.

While yes I agree with you Marching Band and Concert Band are two different things - the program is layed out already. You either make the commitment to do both or you don't do either.

~Amanda

I'm sure there's a study hall they could go to.

And now I'm beginning to remember how kids who don't fit in the way everyone think they should start to feel cut off -- and many times get in trouble.

 

[septbride2002]

So they spend half a semester in study hall, and half in the concert band - what do they receive credit for?

And now I'm beginning to remember how kids who don't fit in the way everyone think they should start to feel cut off -- and many times get in trouble.

Again there are other outlets for children who do not want to participate in the band. They can take private lessons, or join musical groups outside of school. The entire band program should not be changed because one child doesn't like how it works. Somehow everyone else that participates makes it work.

On a personal note - if a student had not wanted to participate in Marching Band but did join our concert band they probably wouldn't have the same realtionship with all of us if they had done Marching Band. We were a solid group by the time concert band rolled around and we wouldn't know that other person. I'm not saying this is right - but just the way that it truly is. Kind of like how military units train together - if you bring in an outsider - they'll always be the outsider.

~Amanda

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by auntpolly
But why can't we handle this individually? I'm not suggesting changing the band; it's for some people and not for others. I still say that a kid that loves music and would like to be part of the orchestra should not be forced to do marching band if they aren't comfortable with it. Like I said, I did marching band but I can sooooo see how it's not for everyone.

While I agree in principle that a kid should be able to still play music even though they don't want to march, but I understand why that band director might want to require the students to be in the total band. Personel is difficult to come by in some schools, and every body counts to set the big picture. As I mentioned earlier there are usually a number of community bands that a musician can participate in, so she doesn't have to give it up totally, but may not participate in the school band. As Pinnie mentioned, a football player can't go to his coach and ask to be relieved of football pracitce because he/she has a practice for another sport. That just wouldn't be fair to the rest of the hard working team that is there every day.

 

[septbride2002]

Coach Rick - you said that a lot better then I could!

~Amanda

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by auntpolly
I guess I'm glad that DD went to a school that let kids have choices.

The OPer's child has a choice, too. She can CHOOSE not to partcipate. It gets tiring when rules are bent so the tail wags the dog.

Pinnie

 

[auntpolly]

I understand that schools can't be everything for every student. It's hard, trying to accomodate everyone.

But this is my main point: Music is something that is important for all kids. Many kids who are struggling in school either scholastically or socially could be drawn in, made to feel like they are more part of school society, given something to do besides cause trouble or feel bad about themselves.

We should be trying to get these kids attention - not alienating them. Please understand this - there are kids that will never ever ever do marching band -- most of them you'll never know about it. They won't complain. They'll just drift off a little farther. For me, this is an example of a school choosing being "right" over helping kids.

How sad to have to choose between sports and music!

 

[Coach Rick]

Originally posted by auntpolly
I understand that schools can't be everything for every student. It's hard, trying to accomodate everyone.

But this is my main point: Music is something that is important for all kids. Many kids who are struggling in school either scholastically or socially could be drawn in, made to feel like they are more part of school society, given something to do besides cause trouble or feel bad about themselves.

We should be trying to get these kids attention - not alienating them. Please understand this - there are kids that will never ever ever do marching band -- most of them you'll never know about it. They won't complain. They'll just drift off a little farther. For me, this is an example of a school choosing being "right" over helping kids.

How sad to have to choose between sports and music!

Sad but true, and being a high school teacher I have a short speach I give my incoming freshman every year. "I am here not only to teach you this subject, but to prepare you for success when you leave in four years. I will do you no help if I allow you to break, or bend the rules of this classroom. Understand it is personal with me. I do care about you, and that is why I enforce these rules. When you do get into college or your career you will not be afforded the opportunity to bend or break rules, therefore while I have you for these four years, you will obey the rules set fourth by this school, and this class".

This band director is doing the same thing, and the school is rightly upholding these rules. A world without rules is chaos. Sure it may sound unfair, but to the vast majority that live by the rules, anything else would be unfair also. (boy this is a fun discussion )

 

[peachgirl]

For me, this is an example of a school choosing being "right" over helping kids.

I'm not sure why you think a school's main priority is being "right". Perhaps you've had a bad experience, but I've never dealt with a school where they ever put being "right" over doing what was best with the options they had available.

If a school only has one band, then those kids that perform in it have to do it all. Generally a school will have one band for one of 2 reasons. Either there isn't enough student interest to support separate bands or there isn't enough funding. I don't believe it's ever a case of a school refusing to have separate bands just so they can be "right". That makes no sense whatsoever.

I'm sure there's a study hall they could go to.

That's not always the case. Even study hall requires a teacher. Study halls aren't offered for every hour of every day.

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by auntpolly
It's not the same at all -- orchestra and marching band are 2 different seasons and 2 different things. If a kid commits to one or the other they should be there and not miss practice, but what does one have to do with the other?

I think a good analogy is saying that if you want to play football then you also MUST be on the track team. Most of the same arguements about why you have to have marching along with concert band would apply there too.

I'm not knocking the marching thing - I was on a drill team and did that 9-3 practice thing in the summer w/o a/c too. And practiced after school for hours. It's a ton of work.

Surely there are exemptions from marching band for students who have health problem that preclude the marching. Are they not allowed to take concert band?

I'm all for extracurricular activity and the bonding that it provides. And since the band competition is very serious it would seem like forcing an unwilling participant into the marching band would hurt the overall performance level.

 

[auntpolly]

I know this is going to sound mean, but it's just the truth. If my DD had been in the situation we're talking about and you'd made the speech you just described, we would have figured out what we were doing and not complained. She would have kept swimming and given up band and we would have found another musical outlet for her.

She has involved parents, so she's lucky. Others from not so great homes wouldn't have that advantage...

But the lesson DD would have learned is that adults aren't always fair or make good decisions, not anything about following rules. I guess that's a lesson they have to learn anyway.

And Peachgirl -- I understand what you are saying. I know that sometimes it can't be helped. We would understand that. I just don't understand "do it because that's the way it's done."

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Aunt Polly I understand what you are saying. Believe me I love music and it is a wonderful gift. I went to Cathoic school and it was NOT offered in grade or high school. I missed out too. In fact that is one of the reasons I choose "public" school over private for my kids. (They have the art/music gene on both sides of the family)

As far as orchestra the child has to have been playing for a long time. Starts in 4th grade here. It is totally seperate from regular band. No marching of course.

Lots of kids fall through the "cracks" in all walks of life with many different classes and activities. It does stink but it is reality. I begged my parents for private lessons and they wouldn't do it. So at 40 I hope to finally be taking up the piano along with my girls. We have set our sites on a piano for Christmas.