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

[disneydentist]

Originally posted by auntpolly
OK then, I give up, you've convinced me -- all kids should do marching band whether they want to or not. Kids don't know their own minds, so let's just get them out there to band camp!!!!!

Sarcasm aside, nope, wrong. This thread has drifted from the original question, can the school make the child be in marching band if she wants to take band FOR A GRADE? She doesn't have to take the course. Band isn't for every kid, just like sports aren't for every kid. If she takes the course then she has to follow the rules. The OP didn't do her research before DD applied and now there is a price to be paid.

If the concert band rehearses after school hours then I fully believe the the child should be allowed to participate on a non-credit basis. She, and her parents, need to accept the fact that, as others have stated, she will remain an outsider. That's life.

Again, I don't blame the school here. They have rules. Despite what some have been posting, rules are a good thing. You don't have to like them, you just have to follow them. This is the lesson that the OP's DD should be learning.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I don't get it. Do you all think that there is never room for improvement with rules such as this? It seems there is a blind devotion to them! Don't you ever question and make suggestions at work or in your childs educational institution for changes that might just make sense?

Or is this just another case of "if you don't agree with me there is something wrong with you?"

 

[JPN4265]

Time to leave the Government school behind and enroll in a private school.

 

[Madi100]

I'm just curious as to the people who are against this rule if you were ever involved with band where marching band anad concert were the same. Anyone want to share on that one?

 

[meandtheguys2]

I was in choir which included a traveling choir also. Many of the same rules except no hot sun, TG! We had to be available for extra practices and for weekend travel and competition. Did that keep some out? A few.

So, I answered you question, how about mine? Is there never any room for improvement in these rules? Is it necessary to be dogmatic and legalistic about them? And exactly what is the issue everyone seems to have about someone questioning them?

I am thrilled that you all liked marching band, but it seems a whole lot of people feel the need to make sure that the next generation marches in the heat, etc. It seems like there has been a ton of hostility here when there is no cause.

No one that I can see is suggesting the OP sue the school or anything else. Everyone has pretty much said live with it, you didn't do your homework, etc.

 

[septbride2002]

So, I answered you question, how about mine? Is there never any room for improvement in these rules? Is it necessary to be dogmatic and legalistic about them? And exactly what is the issue everyone seems to have about someone questioning them?

There is always room for change. However - change should not come about because one kid doesn't like the way it works. And what about schools that can't afford 2 different teachers? One for marching and one for concert? Or they have one teacher but now they are stretched between the bands and the different competitions? Or how about the kid that does want to do both and now has to take up 2 credit hours a semester to do band instead of just one? I guess we will have to come up with different curriculum for every circumstance! The school has a system you either deal with it or you don't.

As far as Marching Band goes - it is not just about standing around in the heat. It is very techinically and musically challenging. It teaches displine, teamwork, and another veneu of music besides the standard concert requirement. My band was good at both Marching and Concert and went on to be one of the best in the country and THE BEST in the state. It requires the same dedication that any sports player would have.

~Amanda

 

[Madi100]

Well, of course, there is always room for improvement. If it is something that the parents think is an issue then they should get together as a whole group and take a vote. It would be great to have a band to support all likes of all high school students. There could be a country band, an alternative, rock, Christian, metal, and pop. I'm sure that the school wouldn't have a problem taking money away from the football program to help fund these bands. Truth of the matter, it's not going to happen. The band program is probably one of the last to be funded in a lot of the smaller schools. If it's a problem with a lot of people, then change it. You can't change a program for one person who thinks the world needs to adapt to them. I'm not saying that is the case of the OP at all. I think this thread has turned into something she could have never imagined.

When I asked the question of whether or not the disagreeing bunch had ever been in band I wasn't asking so I could say that you all don't have a clue what you are talking about. I asked it because I'm curious if there is anyone who was involved in it all thinks that it should be changed.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Madi, sorry I sounded defensive!

SB2002, I uderstand all of those things. But what about the school that does have the resources, but just hasn't thought it through recently! I am thrilled you loved band. Most kids I have known loved it and it was one of the best part of school for them. But why in the world are you all becoming so defensive over a simple alt. suggestion, is my point? Just because you (in general) did it doesn't mean it is the best plan for someone else.

I guess the only reason I became involved in this is that I have such a respect for those who can play an instrument well because I can't! I vote for levies even though we don't use the public school system because of things like band (and texts and buildings etc!)

My statement all along was to look for avenues to play if the kid didn't want to be in band.

 

[septbride2002]

meandtheguys2 - IF the school had the resources to completely restructure it's musical program then I would be all for it. But for most school districts you will find that they do not.

I am not defensive at a different suggestion - and if one was to propose the suggestion to the school with actual factual evidence that the new program would be better for the masses and not just one particular student then that would be fine. The OP is talking about wanting to change a program so it better suits her child's need - and while it would be wonderful if they could- I doubt that they will.

I am defensive about how dismissive people are in regards to a Marching Band program - it is not just a bunch of dimwits walking around in August. And I should have made it more clear that I was not directing my last statment in my previous post specifically to you but to everyone - so if you felt that hostile was directed only at you I apologize.

~Amanda

 

[meandtheguys2]

Okey dokey! I guess that I never got the feeling anyone thought the MB was full of dimwits. I hope that wasn't how I came across.

As you can tell, I am not a big one for institutional rules! I have had to fight them as a teacher, as a case manager, and even now as an advocate for our women's shelter. I probably over-react to generalized rules for this reason.

Have a nice evening!

Michelle

(I do wish the funding was there for options, though!)

 

[jimmiej]

Originally posted by JPN4265
Time to leave the Government school behind and enroll in a private school.

Many private schools cannot offer near the quality that a public school can in music, sports, dance, etc. The private schools around here either don't have aband or have VERY few kids involved. It's more like a small ensemble than a band.

 

[jimmiej]

Why not offer Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphony/Orchestra and Metal Band?? Sure, the Metal might not think much of the Marching, and the Symphony might look down on Metal, but at least within the Band to which one "belongs", there is a place for these students who might not feel like they belong anywhere else.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$...

 

[Talking Hands]

Originally posted by auntpolly
OK then, I give up, you've convinced me -- all kids should do marching band whether they want to or not. Kids don't know their own minds, so let's just get them out there to band camp!!!!!

Sarcasm aside they do have other options, but they are not in that program. Some schools have concert band and no marching band. There are community bands and orchestras that do not march. If they are involved in a church it may have a band or orchestra. The options are out there but she may have to look a little deeper to find what she wants.

 

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by jimmiej
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Maybe I should have said it your way.

 

[Laura]

Originally posted by meandtheguys2
I don't get it. Do you all think that there is never room for improvement with rules such as this? It seems there is a blind devotion to them! Don't you ever question and make suggestions at work or in your childs educational institution for changes that might just make sense?

Or is this just another case of "if you don't agree with me there is something wrong with you?"

Not all schools have the same rules regarding marching band. They make decisions based on many factors. The size of the school, the number of students interested in music, what instruments they play, etc. If a lot of students at the OP's daughter's high school wanted to play in the concert season only, I'm sure the school would permit that.

In my high school, many students left after marching season and didn't participate in concert season. Marching band was just more popular. Nobody was forced to do concert season. And if you had extenuating circumstances, you weren't forced to march. And a private swim club wouldn't have counted among those extenuating circumstances. Many of my band friends were in sports, but they couldn't do fall sports because of marching band. They made that choice. People in fall sports couldn't march, the football team couldn't march. That was the decision made by my school. There have been some posters who have said that football players could participate in band at their school, but it was not the case at my school.

Just to illustrate some differences:

I actually participated in five different types of bands at one public high school: marching band, concert band, symphonic band, jazz band and pep band for basketball season. The soccer team asked us to play during their games, but we just didn't have time! My school also had orchestra (which the best students from band also occasionally practiced with during concert season) and several choirs. The orchestra students COULDN'T march because they rehearsed during band practice.

At my brother's private high school (we didn't go to the same one) my brother played percussion in band. They didn't march during football season, they were more like the basketball "pep band" I was in, sitting in the stands playing the fight song and such. They didn't have the $$ for the students to march and get uniforms, etc. I don't think they had an orchestra at all.

 

[helenabear]

I've read through some of the posts here... and as someone who played in marching band, concert band (both levels), orchestra, jazz band and pep band (among other music classes) I'll throw in my two cents...

If the rules stated I was required to do concert band in order to march, I would have had to readjust my schedule my first year in HS to do it, but I would have. Or if I only wanted to play in orchestra & concert band but would have been required to march in the fall I would have. Honestly if those were the rules of the school, that would have been it for me.

I did, in fact ONLY march my first year of HS and didn't do concert season the rest of the year. And I was a part of orchestra in addition to concert band (read many hours of practice ) but fortunately my school allowed for that. I also, my last year, was required to give up part of my lunch every day for jazz band (the school changed that rule for that year going forward). I didn't like that rule, but I loved jazz band, so I did it

I was mostly lucky with my school's rules for band and all. Many people did just marching band and a few did concert season only. If you were in marching band and in orchestra, you were excused the first quarter (provided you were a wind instrument) to march and joined up later in the year to practice. They also let people who did certain sports to march as long as they didn't miss a practice or a game. It wasn't easy for some of my friends, but they did do it.

I will say though, it wasn't a written rule, but I was not in one of my desired chior groups because the director felt it was just too much for one kid to do all that I did with music (it was the only band/chior class I didn't sign up for). It made sense to me, and that was the one I was willing to sacrifice (though hard) for all my other classes.

I do think it would be nice if your school allowed for the same kind of rules, but they don't. I would ask about it, if I were you, but I wouldn't push it. She will have to make a choice if that is the only way. Not necessarily fair, but I know some of the choices I had in classes I took in HS weren't fair either. Good luck though