CFA at CASD

Delivered by Carlos Vera to the CASD School Board 4.14.10

On January 13 the people of Chambersburg were devastated by the decision to eliminate or reduce the music and arts program. Why would you want to do that when music is the heart and soul of almost every youth? I hear the biggest cuts will begin in the fifth and fourth grades. If fifth and fourth graders will suffer the most, then the next generation of students will be worse off.

Music gives people benefits and advantages in the classroom and in life. Music is glorious to the ear and mind. Every bit of mind is used to produce and enjoy music. For starters, math skills are used because you have fractions and you add the value of the notes. Reading skills are used because you're reading music which is a language all its own. Social studies skills are used because you study the history of music and its culture. Science skills are involved because you need science to create better sounds and better ways of recording and hearing music.

Music is worth fighting for, and if it is, then it's worth keeping. I know you have to sacrifice something for these tough economic times, but removing music is not going to help students academically. In fact it might hurt them. Music is needed, please don't remove it. If music was not important, then there would be no one fighting for it. We're signing petitions and wearing t-shirts and spreading the news as much as we can.

Why, we practically have a band playing in the parking lot! We have a saxophone playing and a chorale singing and we even have a bagpipe! I was going to play my violin only I came late! We will NOT give up music!