Our community is proud of the Wossman and Carroll High School band programs. The bands represent our community well at formal occasions, football games, and sometimes even as far as New Orleans Mardi Gras parades. However, many are not aware that a considerable number of the members of these two bands are not high school students.
Both Wossman and Carroll High School marching bands are comprised of elementary and Jr. High School students. Some are so small that special tiny uniforms had to be arranged for the little ones to participate in the “big boy/big girl band.”
While this practice offers several benefits, it also raises concerns about the students’ academic performance and the school district’s priorities.
On one hand, allowing younger students to participate in high school bands can provide them with early exposure to advanced music, inspire them to improve their skills, and create mentorship opportunities with older students. Moreover, it can ease their transition into high school by familiarizing them with the band program and its members.
However, there are some significant drawbacks. The disparity in musical proficiency between elementary and high school students may lead to frustration among students, especially since both schools also include dance routines in their performances. Concerning is the fact that younger students may lack the emotional and social maturity required to handle the challenges of rehearsals, performances, and travels alongside high school students.
Anyone who has been in a high school social environment knows that it is on a different, mature level, than those of elementary students. The positives would definitely help the younger students, but the negatives could alter them for years.
Most concerning is the fact that all the lower-grade participants are based in failing schools, with many students performing at a below basic level in core subjects. The absence of scholastic requirements for these participants, coupled with the lack of district-imposed academic standards for any extracurricular activities, raises questions about the district’s educational priorities.
An elementary or Jr. High student can participate in a high school band, even with Ds and Fs.
At present, two people decide this issue: the parent and the principal. If the parents are OK with it, then it appears principals and band directors are OK with it as well. If the student fails academically, it does not reflect on the high school’s record; it’s somebody else’s problem.
Obviously, there is a desire for students to gain marching band experience. The long-term solution would be for the district to provide a district-wide elementary school band and another for Jr. High Highs. This is cost-efficient given the fact that the district’s one itinerant music teacher instructs all the lower-level schools.
District wide elementary and Jr. high bands that require academic minimums would provide age-appropriate musical opportunities while allowing students to focus on their academic growth within their respective schools.
Ultimately, the school district must strike a balance between offering age-appropriate musical opportunities and ensuring that students’ academic needs are met.
The present practice accepts mediocrity as a standard and lack of parental concern as an endorsement of a practice that educators should know is not in the best interest of the children in the district.
