As we know, schools across the nation are eliminating the arts. The Avonworth School District has had an elementary school instrumental program for many years. Now, the Avonworth school board is considering eliminating the elementary instrumental program. It may seem we can live without it, but really we absolutely cannot survive without this program.

When students head off to college, the majority who get music scholarships are people who were in band or chorus since elementary school. If we eliminate the elementary instrumental program, those children will not be ready for band in middle and high school.

Before, middle and high school band was nothing, now we have more people than we had before, all thanks to the elementary school instrumental program.

They say it's because of so-called "budget cuts," but, in my opinion, they are spending too much to build a new school.

If you get rid of music in schools then you get rid of other arts programs like theater, art, etc. Students who are involved with the performing arts, get better grades than the students who just play football.

Although this has zero effect on the middle school and high school right now, in years to come, band and chorus could be eliminated completely, and next it could be the theater department.

ANITA ACHATZ

Ben Avon

The writer is a member of the Avonworth High School class of 2012 and has been a member of the concert band for eight years, the marching band for five years, the drama club for five years and is a student council member.

First Published: April 21, 2011, 10:00 a.m.