CFA at CASD

Delivered by Noel Vera to the CASD School Board last 1.27.10:

Ladies and gentlemen of the School Board;

I'm Noel Vera, a taxpayer and parent of two students in your school district. You happen to know that my daughter Lara was voted Student of the Month for her school, that she attends the Gifted Seminar for advanced students, and that she plays clarinet for the school band. What I guess wasn't mentioned was that she is also a member of the school chorus; of Cantamos, a select chorus; of the school jazz band, the community band, and the county band.

It didn't start out that way; when she first brought home a musical instrument—it was a clarinet—all I could say to her was "what in the world is THAT?" The sounds that came out of the instrument was enough to freeze your blood.

That was years ago. Nowadays, you cannot believe the pleasure I get coming home to a house filled with the music of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Duke Ellington. She not only plays the clarinet but the saxophone and the oboe, and her voice—it fills the heart to hear her sing. Music doesn't just help her, it inspires her, and it's music taught by your music program. I'd hate to see that taken away from her.

I like to think that Lara is possibly one of the best students around; not every student will be like her. I happen to work at one of the institutions based on South Mountain—you know, placements for troubled or at-risk youths. They're not bad kids, at least I don't think they're bad kids, but they struggle. If you look into their case files—well, it breaks your heart to read what they have done, or what they have to go through.

Perhaps the one offense I have to deal with most often is the singing. "No singing!" I have to tell them. "Please keep quiet!"  That's our policy, that there's to be no singing or music. They keep asking "why can't we sing?" "Why can't we have music?" Why? Why? I don't have any answer, I can only say "it's the policy here." But in the more than two years I've worked there, I've come to the conviction that if we ever instituted a music program, it would go a long way into answering some of the behavior problems we encounter.

This school district I think is very lucky; from what my daughter tells me you have a fantastic music program. We don't, and we have to struggle with the consequences every day. You have a good thing going here; don't give it up, don't let go of it. If you do—I'd hate to think what might happen. Thank you very much.