Ram band back in town
The Cheshire High Ram band (NH Register, by Luther Turmelle) is back to school already.
Tim White
State Representative nominee (R-89)
Bethany, Cheshire & Prospect
TimWhite98@yahoo.com
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
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20 comments:
I, for one, am tired of hearing about the band. They have a 7-8 minute routine which they practice over and over again. When you only have one "play", if you practice it often enough, it should be perfect. Athletes, on the other hand, get looked down upon, and have to play one hour or more making split second decisions about whether to pass or run, swing or let it go by, shoot or pass off. They practice just as hard as the band (if not more) and get no class credit for their effort--not even for PE which, after all is required by the state (music is not). The parents build the backgrounds, etc. for the band and the kids get a grade in this "class". The parent are WAY too involved for a graded class. With the new Ass't principal having a music background, it will only get worse. How about hiring an Ass't principal with a math background so he/she can figure out what's wrong with that dept? The rumor of CHS becoming a music magnet school may have some truth to it after all.
I agree, enough about the band. And speaking of "passing or running", I'm tired about hearing about one particular supposedly good coach. There's been more complaints by parents, yet the adm. kept him around serveral years longer than they should have. Now they want him out, but they're letting him coach this one last upcoming season and are letting him leave on his own terms. Where's the honesty in the adm. and when will they really be putting kids first? It's just one big joke the way they do things. What a game they play.
The comment from the first person posting on this subject is a sad commentary on how small midned some people are.
The kids at Cheshire High School, whether they are athletes or marching band members, deserve credit for being good at what they do. It's sad that some people feel the need to pit one side against the other.
And let's consider the poster's comments:
1)"I, for one, am tired of hearing about the band."
Oh, and Cheshire High athletes never get any newspaper coverage. What a joke!
"They have a 7-8 minute routine which they practice over and over again. When you only have one "play", if you practice it often enough, it should be perfect."
If practice made perfect, nobody would make mistakes and there wouldn't be a need for erasers on pencils.
2) "Athletes, on the other hand, get looked down upon..."
C'mon dude, what world are you living in. Athletes get put on a pedestal throughout our society. And while a numermous Cheshire High athletes have gotten full scholarships to college, when was the last time you heard of a marching band member getting one?
Underappreciated? I don't think so.
3) "The parents build the backgrounds, etc. for the band and the kids get a grade in this "class". The parent are WAY too involved for a graded class."
Oh, and the parents of CHS athletes aren't way too involved? Who do you think was the driving force behind the Community Pool getting built. CHS Swim Parents. And who engineered a turnout of more than 75 people when an artificial turf field was being discussed? Parents of CHS athletes.
The bottom line is that music and sports are both important elements of a high school education. I for one respect the work that kids in both groups do.
During the last municipal election, the voters rejected the candidacy of a certain candidate who has a clear bias in FAVOR of soccer and against the music program. Tim, I'm dissappointed that an open minded polotician such as yourself didn't rebuke this poster for being so divisive.
Anonymous #1 made a good point, though. The band is a credit course, athletics is not. By that definition, the athletes are being told by the BOE (or the public or administrators) that their activity is not as important as music. And the candidate about whom I think you are referring made it clear that the issue was not about whether music was more or less important than sports but that they should be treated equally--as non-credit after school activities--not a credit course. I for one, found that to be a credible argument. And was there a Register article about how the athletes "are back in town"? Correct me if I am wrong, but I've heard that that reporter has a child in the CHS marching band.
And there is certainly one current BOE member who makes her distain of sports quite obvious. Where were all those athlete parents voting her out of office?
And, quite frankly, every Republican candidate on the ballot paid the price for the zero growth budget of two years ago. Not one of them had a chance. Remember the t-shirts...? "We will remember in November." Gerry Brittingham and Bill Kunde were the two best candidates out there--at least based on my observation of the BOE debate-- and they came in last. The Dem candidate who did not participate in the debate won. As did the Dem candidate who did not know what the term "intelligent design" meant. That should tell you right there that the electorate voted along party lines and not based on individual candidate's positions on the issues.
The fact that Tim would even post the article speaks volumes about the attention the band gets.
Look, I'm don't agree with band being a for credit course, but to making whipping boys (and girls) out of high school kids because of an individual's political viewpoint is just gutless. That's like saying because CHS hasn't had a winning football team in several years that we should eliminate the sport (or at least cutback spending on it).
I'm all for reducing taxes in town, but when it comes the Cheshire school system, there needs to be a middle ground. The board should be more receptive to making cuts to the Mr. Florio yearly budgets, but not to the point that it hurts the kids.
Some of the candidates for the board in the last several elections have made the music program a central target. Witness a recent story in the Republican-American. There are plenty of things that need fixing in the Cheshire school system; why target the music program.
I'll tell you why. Because Cheshire is like most communities; people only run for school board because they have personal agendas, not because they have the real interest of the kids at heart.
And as a result, you get people who attack certain areas of the district's while ignoring others. You also get candidates recommending slash and burn cuts to education budgets while ignoring the long term impact that they have on property values.
You should be happy that the kids in marching band (and athletics) are busy doing something constructive and not getting into trouble. But some people are too parochial (or is it short-sighted) to see things that way.
So, Tim, why did you post the article? Was there any negative commentary intended?
I seriously doubt Tim intended any negative commentary. But consider this: It was an article not to notify the public of an award or honor (which is appropriate and does happen for sports teams, too)but simply an article to alert people that the band was back in town. C'mon. Have we ever seen an article that the girls' swim team was "back in town"? Besides that, anyone who lives within a mile radius of the school knows when they're back in town...trust me on that one.
I disagree with Anon 4:27. The people who run for office wouldn't put themselves through the long hours, endless meetings, etc. if they did not have the best interests of the children and town at heart. (Ask Tim.) Most of the BOE members do not even have children in the school system. Why would they put themselves through the abuse people like Anon 4:27 give them if they were not principled people who care about our community. And no one made a "whipping" post out of the children. No one said there shouldn't be marching band. I think Anon 4:27 is a bit too sensitive turning this whole issue into a political issue. It really wasn't a newsworthy story and seemed a bit odd to be mentioned in this blog but it would be interesting to know if the reporter does indeed have a child in the band. Doesn't anyone know one way or the other?
WOW. Where do I start?
Anon 1:24pm…
Please understand, I treat my blog similarly to a phone call. I try to respond asap, but that’s not always immediate. Anyway, I do see your point, so here are some thoughts…
I agree with you (anon 1:24pm) about athletes not being underappreciated. I certainly don’t feel that CHS athletes are underappreciated and agree with the points you laid out. However, on the flip side, if the anon 8:05pm comments were intended (as anon 3:17pm suggested) to be directed at the apparent inequity between band students getting “class credit” for their efforts, I agree with that particular point. When I was at CHS, I never understood why I ran track and cross country, but couldn’t get out of gym class. (probably because of the state mandate?), although it was never a burning issue for me… really more of a curiosity. Regardless, I do feel that is a valid point in suggesting that athletes are “underappreciated.” Although on the whole I disagree with the idea that athletes are underappreciated. Just look at the CHS Hall of Fame. Going off of memory, most of the inductees are athletes. Then there are a few non-athletes, such as one of Cheshire’s (and America’s) true heroes, Barney Barnum. (although I could be wrong about background of the inductees. That may simply be who I happen to recall).
Bottom line to me… athletes are not underappreciated. However, there are things that make no sense, such as band getting credit and sports not getting credit. I’ve never investigated this, and there may be good reasons. But on the surface it makes no sense to me.
anon 4:07pm & 4:28pm... seriously... I had absolutely no idea that this post would generate any discussion at all.
For years now I've heard very limited rumblings of discontent with what some people consider to be an overinvolvement of parents in the band (and in sports). Conversely, some parents have quietly said that other parents should be more involved. But this level of discussion is kind of blowing me away.
I simply posted it as it was an article that related specifically to Cheshire. I try to post articles that are specifically related to not only Cheshire, but also to the two other towns I hope to represent... Bethany and Prospect. I also post articles that are related to CT or the US... I do postings on whatever comes to mind and I often jump around on the internet and look at what's online for the local papers. I try to post things that I think will be of interest to people.
There was absolutely nothing in my mind about this posting being any more (or less) likely to generate any positive or negative comments than any other posting. I do however appreciate the fact that this has generated a discussion... a discussion that I had no idea was out there waiting to happen.
I just don't get it. Anon 8:05 started all this and no where does he say athletes are underappreciated nor under-recognized. He is just trying to say (I think) that the band gets an undo amount of publicity and attention. Also that the school treats the two (music and sports) differently and he doesn't agree with that. What do you think would have happened had the BOE appointed an ass't principle who was a former gym teacher? I think there would have been much more public comment than the lone voice of Jim Sima who felt an Ass't Prin. with a more academic background might have given more balance to the administrative team at the HS. I agree with him.
This is getting a bit lengthy and I don't want anyone to feel as though I'm simply ignoring your thoughts/comments, so... if anyone has any questions/concerns which you feel have gone unaddressed by me, please point it out specifically.
And for whatever it's worth, Jim Sima is a band parent. But I suppose some people would hold that against him.
Thank you, Tim, for posting all articles that are of interest to Cheshire residents.
I, for one, am always happy to hear about constructive and creative activities being engaged in by Cheshire's youth.
I don't think that music programs and athletic programs should be in competition with each other. One of the terrific things about our town is that there is such a wide variety of things for kids to do --whether in sports, the arts, or whathaveyou.
To those of you who are criticizing the music program, please remember that music is a core curriculum class according to state education guidelines. The marching band parents are indeed involved and raise much-needed funds to supplement this endeavor. All parents -- in the athletic and music programs -- raise much-needed money that the Board of Ed is not able to provide. Why should parents be attacked for that?
I would like to see more articles in the New Haven Register about any and all positive activities for the young people of Cheshire!
It depends on how you define "core curriculum". CHS (and the state) require 2 credits of PE to graduate. There is no requirement to take a single music elective; ie; kids can graduate CHS without ever taking a music credit. To me, that makes PE core and not music. But that being said, I do think (and I am Anon #1--I am blown away by all the attention this has rec'd and thanks to everyone for trying to explain my comments) that both are important offerings to students. But I do think that they are treated inequitably--that was my main point. For God's sake, they just started practice as did the myriad of sports teams. Big deal. Not really news. As far as the candidates go, give credit to candidates who speak their mind (like Tim and Jim) even if it is not the popular opinion or who just say what they think the voters want to hear. We need more like them.
You obviously don't read too many local newspapers if you think that a marching band gets too much coverage. Three daily newspapers cover Cheshire on a regular basis (Register, the Waterbury paper and the record journal). At the most, the band gets one or two full length stories in each publication. Contrast that with the sports coverage that all three papers give to all sports at CHS. I think it safe to say that with all the sports there are each season, the papers must publish more than three full length stories with photos.
And to further put it in perspective, the story about the band would seem to me to be no different than a preason story on the football team or the swimming team.
Riddle me this, then: Why is a story about preseason band camp not really news, but a preseason sports team story somehow is news. the answer, in the large scheme of things is that neither story is really hard important news, especially when compare to young men and women fighting and dyinng in Iraq for a war that has essentially become this genration's Viet Nam. But these are small town feature stories designed to make people read whatever newspaper is publishing it.
But our original poster is too small minded to see that, too busy trying to forward his own personal agenda. I can only hope you'll be so holier than thou when the first sports stories about CHS sports start showing up if this fall. And if you are, you'll be doing a disservice to an equally fine group of kids.
all... again, this is a pretty long blog and I'm not going to address every point here (although I will still try to address specific questions), but...
I do want to try to keep this civil and not personal. My rule of thumb is to avoid saying anything that I wouldn't say on the record during a public meeting.
Everyone can still make their feelings known anonymously, but it should also be done respectfully.
Perhaps the best example of making a point while being respectful was spoken by Winston Churchill. He once said of his opponent Clement Atlee... "He's a very modest man with very much to be modest about."
Tim,
I respect your concerns about civility, but this is where there is a huge double standard in blogging.
Our original poster wouldn't have dared utter what he said at a public meeting - particularly how tired he was of hearing about the band - because he would have seemed petty and would have had to face the music from people who didn't share his views. But in the blogspgere, he gets a free pass. So, to that extent, I think what you're saying is a double standard.
If he can't take pointed criticism, then perhaps he ought to think twice about what he says.
anon 2:59pm... criticism is fine with me. I think that's fair game. My main concern is about bringing family into this discussion. Although in the past I've also said that I'd prefer to leave the press alone... but family is a bigger concern for me.
I always thought it was inappropriate when anyone raised questions about either Clinton or Bush in relation to their daughters. And I think the same applies here. I don't like to see family brought into any discussion.
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