Budget Deficits Force California Schools to Choose Physical Education Over Music

Thanks to the California state deficit and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's choice to cut public school funding by $18 Billion this year, California school officials are left with no choice but to cut programs such as orchestras, bands, and basic music classes. At my children's elementary school, PE was chosen over music. While I understand the costs of running a music program compared to the cost of making children run laps, there are ways for public schools to implement music programs without dipping too far into dwindling budgets.

The importance of music education has been well documented over the years. It's been proven that children who learn how to read music have an easier time learning mathematical concepts. Learning an instrument also gives children a sense of accomplishment, teaches teamwork, and gives students a sense of pride they might not otherwise get to experience in school or at home.

While there's nothing inherently wrong with physical education being taught in our schools, PE classes are largely overrated. On average, American children are getting fatter and fatter each year, and schools use this fact as a way to avoid dipping into their pockets to fund music and art programs. Physical education classes have always been around, but children are still gaining weight at breakneck speeds thanks to poor choices made by their parents, not the schools. People seem to forget this point. School districts are pressured by the community to help children avoid obesity, but in reality, schools should be taking steps to educate parents about healthy lifestyle choices for their kids. Let's get rid of poor diets, kiddie couch potatoes and 24/7 gaming at home before we start placing unnecessary burdens on our schools.

A basic lack of education on school officials' parts can be blamed for a lack of music education. Programs like VH1's Save the Music provide free musical instruments to school districts, and all schools have to do is ask. Money and instruments are provided to Save the Music by public and private donations. Once Save the Music agrees to help out a school district, they continue to provide resources until every school within the district receives band and orchestra instruments. Parents can also volunteer as private lesson teachers or even conductors if they have the time.

Public schools could also ask parents for donations at the beginning of the year to help offset music class expenses throughout the year. Many parents realize the importance of music education and would love to help out through donations, volunteering as an instructor, or by donating instruments that are otherwise collecting dust in their homes.

While full orchestras, bands, and even school-sponsored private lessons may seem like pipe dreams in underfunded California schools, it can happen. Even simple weekly music classes would benefit students immensely and on the cheap. Principals and school board members just need to take that first step in finding grants and other resources.

Educational supplies and reasonable teacher to class size ratios should always come first, especially in times of deficit, but schools need to realize that when you give students the option to learn an instrument, you help them become more educated, well-rounded. Who knows - interest in musical instruments might even keep a child or two off of the streets.

If you're a parent, which would prefer to see in our children's schools; physical education or music programs?