LETTERS: BAND MEMBERS RAISE A LOT OF MONEY

To the editor:

The the Speak Out caller of "Sports has much to offer students": When you comment about band, it is evident you do not know all the facts. In regard to having three band directors, this year's eighth-grade band had 108 members. That figures out to 26 students per director. That's already more than the number in a regular class. If there were only two directors, there would be a 54-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Even in high school band there would be more than 50 marchers per teacher.

This would be unfair for everyone, because teaching would be much less effective, and each director would have to do more work. There is no way they could go to two directors, easily or not.

You also mentioned that the sports programs pay as much of the way as possible. That's true, and I know that among other things they pay for meals. I'm sure the band would love to do that and probably would if the school gave them as much money as they give the sports programs. Unfortunately, we receive much less and have to share it with the entire music program.

The band relies as much on parents as the sports programs do, but it also depends on the students, because instead of just receiving money, we marching band members earn ours. Each member is required to earn a designated amount each year so that we can pay for our buses and other things. Without our fund raising, the marching band wouldn't exist.

You said sports programs provide students with an extracurricular activity that cuts the economic barrier. I disagree. Track students have to buy special shoes. Tennis players must have a racket.

I was in Spanish Club, Red Dagger, Thespians, Speech and Debate and Beta Club this last year, and I didn't spend one cent for any of them that wasn't completely optional. If you can't find an extracurricular activity that doesn't cost money, you aren't looking. If you think sports is one of them you are only kidding yourself.

I'm not saying the sports program should be cut, but if their participants earned as much money for themselves as marching band members do each year, maybe they wouldn't need as much from the school.

LILLIAN DEAN, Student

Central High School

Cape Girardeau