A Crisis of Economic Proportions: Part 2

Last week, I made a slight error. I said that the second furthest thing from my mind is the current economic situation. Yet, I still wrote an entire blog on that subject. What I meant to say was that, for the average person in my position (15, male, studly), the economy is not an important subject but that it should be. Now that we've cleared that up...

I must clear something else up. I need to clarify what the specific issue is within my school's budget problem. Mainly, the board is considering cutting the elementary school-level Orchestra and Band to only 6th grade. Additional things that the proposal proposes are cutting the cheerleading program (good riddance), utilizing more office space, limiting custodial duties, decreasing LRT positions, and a plethora of other cuts or reductions. Here's the skinny...

Where the heck did that phrase come from? Next blog will be about random phrases.

I am completely, 100%, full-fledged, head-on, gung-ho, topsy-turvy, two thumbs (way) up, stick-a-fork-in-me-I'm-done in support of musical education in the elementary schools. Back in my day, Orchestra started in 4th grade, Band in 5th.

I wouldn't be the person I am today without Orchestra. Orchestra has affected my life in the most positive way imaginable. Out of my fifteen years, ten months, two days, seventeen hours and eleven minutes on Earth (fact), I've been able to play violin for 7 years. It's the largest commitment I've ever made and kept with (the only things I've quit in life are soccer and debate, and those were for health reasons). It's taught me how to focus, how to break something down and figure it out, how to problem solve and deal with life issues. I take lessons over the Summer. I pick up my violin everyday (partially because I love it... and partially because I have class everyday). Some of my fondest memories have come from within the notes and sounds of the strings. I still hum portions of songs from my first concerts. I have a very close relationship with my past and current teachers. I've met my greatest friends in Orchestra, both young and old. My stand partner in Eighth grade became my best friend. Without Orchestra, none of this would have happened.

The next bit of what I want to say is very complicated:

The Oceanic 6 are the island's constant, that's why things go wrong once they leave the island. They "have to go back, Kate" to set things straight.

WOW, that was uncalled-for. Random Lost interjection, my bad.

My position on the board makes this difficult because, for some odd reason, I continually find myself siding with the board versus where my heart would regularly lay: with the arts. I don't know why this is, but part of it has to do with the fact that the board is being disrespected. The members are not being treated as members, they are being treated as a thing. Concerned citizens are addressing them as an 'it'. If you've read Anthem by Ayn Rand, you know how annoying randomly placed pronouns can be. Most of the public involved with this topic thinks the board members sit around at their workshops and rub their hands together mumbling "Precious" and petting their evil cats while discussing who's life to ruin today. This is so not true! Like I said in Part 1: no matter what decisions the board makes, they will make enemies. You can't satisfy everyone. This is what no one understands!

I just reread everything I've written so far. It's very scattered. Forgive me, but I've got a lot on my mind and I'd like to be going soon.

I have time for one last thought before I go. This means there will be a final part to this blog, Part 3. It will be written over the weekend.

To broaden the view and bring the topic back into focus on the economy in general and not just my situation, I'll close with this:

If I had such the experience with Orchestra that I described (which I did, I'm no liar), then I would want an even better experience for the future generations. I refuse to allow a stupid problem such as low state educational funding and budget cuts to prohibit someone from following their dreams. Whether this be Orchestra, Band, Choir, arts, sports, anything, I don't care. My generation is the future. Kids even younger than myself are my future's future. If they are denied proper opportunities for higher education, then someone isn't doing their job correctly.

That someone might be me.

I whole-heartedly believe that education should come first on the list of importance as far as state funding goes. Our future is the future of the state, the country, the world. More money towards schools means more scientists and musicians and teachers and scholars and intelligence and promise and cures.

Many people have the attitude of "I can't do anything for the world" or "What would I do?" or "One person won't make the difference"

You can make a difference. You can make the difference.

To quote Rabbi Hillel:

“If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?”

That's the view from here.

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