The Moneygoround

The question of whether music educators should have to rely on parents and fundraising to fund their music program is theoretically easy to answer: absolutely not. The numerous benefits of having music in schools have been well-documented. A recent survey speaks to the desire of parents and teachers to keep a music program in their schools despite trending budget cuts in the arts. Unfortunately, good will isn't currency.

One could see certain music programs, particularly in financially stable districts, as being able to sustain themselves on fundraising and parental contributions. But this model may not work as well in low-income areas where music is too low a priority to see any of a family's money. This is unfair on a variety of levels, but probably not enough to make political waves.

Of course, there are scholarships and foundations that donate to music and art education, so teachers can certainly go after those. But this puts undo pressure on a teacher who is already overburdened, and makes financial planning almost impossible.

Unfortunately, I lack the experience to speak to this question through my own experience. I am hopeful through future education reforms, we can better examine the varied needs of our students in this country, and potentially shift away from the "teaching to the test" approach that has inadvertently pushed a well-rounded education, including the arts, to the sidelines.