D O T Y B L O G      

The Mail Tribune continues to track the Medford school cuts story. Today, the focus is the loss of elementary music programs.

I cannot begin to tell you how much this wrenches me - music was MY THING in school... and how many students discovered something good about themselves when they had that opportunity to try a trumpet or a clarinet?

The future solid musicians aside, the benefits impact every student - studies abound corrolating musical exposure to higher math scores in classes and on standardized tests.

The school year is winding down - the "end of the year concerts" are happening at South, at Lone Pine, at McLoughlin. How different will those concerts be next year? In five years? I'll tell you at Lone Pine, they won't happen - at least not under the current proposal. While Hedrick and McLoughlin will still have them next year, that won't last - identifying the musicians won't be happening at the elementary schools anymore... and in five years, the high schools will start feeling it, too - and the great Tornado and Panther bands that came down the street at the Pear Blossom or that share the field at the Black and Blue game will weaken and diminish... And I shouldn't have to be thinking about this. This consequence is the result of nearly a decade and a half of the state legislature keeping their collective heads firmly in the sand on funding in the wake of measures 5 and 11. It was their job - it shouldn't have to be mine. But since they haven't done it, I am ready.

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