BOJC Funds

• Should we have to rely on parents and fundraising to run a modern BOJC program? 

I believe that in a perfect world BOJC programs would not have to rely on parents and fundraising. Music and the arts are an important aspect of modern education because they give students an outlet for expression. This is a vital part of human growth and development that is rarely taught in academic classes. Denying music instruction to kids is denying them the safe environment to actively work on their creativity. In poor communities where parents cannot afford to pay for music it should be the district’s responsibility to cover the expenses in their budget.

Learning a musical instrument teaches children how to listen intently to others, practice new skills that are difficult, and apply knowledge from their math and science classes. For these valid reasons, music programs should primarily be funded by school budgets and supplemented by parent fundraising organizations. In some lucky school districts this is the case. Sadly however it is not the norm and music programs are frequently cut from curriculums.

Because BOJC programs are constantly at risk of being cut, we do need to rely on parents to fund their children's music education. Until our society begins to value music instruction as a vital piece to the education puzzle, parents will have to foot the bill. In a perfect world, this would not be the case.