Student 9

Schools across the nation are tightening their school budgets, making them cut certain program to make room for "necessary" classes. All over the country, school districts are facing tight budgets that are causing the districts to cut non-academic programs. Not only are we losing programs but teachers are getting laid off. It’s funny you would think schools would be safe from economic crisis. It’s pretty noble of some of those teachers to take early retirement to help other teachers possibly keep their jobs. Deep budget cuts are forcing California school districts to lay off thousands of teachers, expand class sizes, close schools, eliminate bus service, cancel summer school programs, and possibly shorten the academic year. However, when these budget cuts come along, one of the first things that is cut is the music program to enable the school district. But why cut the music program when it has been shown that music helps develop better social skills, leadership qualities, and improve academics? For example think about one of your favorite songs. I bet that you can remember the lyrics like it was your street address. If you could apply these kinds of memorizing techniques to courses such as history, science or math, think of how much further students could get in their learning. The reasons school boards use to justify cutting music classes is to put more emphasis on reading and math to boost test scores. That is not a good enough reason. The VH1 Save the Music Foundation is "a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in American public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education, " according to its Web site. The organization helps jump-start music programs in schools that cannot afford them. Since 1997, they have provided $43 million worth of new musical instruments to deserving students in more than 1,600 public schools nationwide. No schools have threatened cutting music locally, but we can't be complacent. It's time for administrators to listen to musical students for a change.
Teachers are greatly affected by educational budget cuts in many ways. The most obvious issue would have to be less pay. Teachers that have been working for years and deserve to get a raise wont. The teachers that are slightly new will be reduced to close to nothing. Another reason is less professional development opportunities, Yes it might not seem like a big deal because its only teachers benefit. But the truth is teaching is like any other profession. It becomes bland without continual self improvement. Teachers can also be forced to move to a new school because their current no longer offers the course they teach. Of increase class size; if there are not enough students to warrant the positions then those with the lowest seniority typically have to move to new positions and/or schools.
How Will Schools Budget Cuts Affect Parents? The children will most definitely be affected, teachers taking money out of their own pockets for school supplies, which as of right now, most parents are provide school materials at the beginning of the school year. Another proposed change will be to have a 4 day school day calendar, which will affect most working parents, meaning parents will have to come up with ways to have their children taken care of, and in some cases leave them alone at home due to not being able to pay for babysitting.
Is this the kind of thing we want our educators to have to deal with? You can imagine how nerve racking it would be to deal with this kind of budget. All normal lesson plans would have to be thrown out the window in order to stretch your funds to last the whole year. What possibilities are open to students interested in these subjects? I would find it hard for a child to get interested in playing an instrument with no instruments available. Budget cuts not only effects the teacher’s jobs but the children seduction and the parents daily life.