Readers React: Proposed Cuts to Music Programs

Commack High School students' latest stand in efforts to save their music programs and teachers from proposed cuts hast ignited a hot issues. 

In the past few days since we've post our article about music students taking a stand at Commack's information budget hearing on April 5, readers have argued back and forth over the impact of staffing salaries versus their role in the classrooms.

RELATED: Music Students Decry Proposed Staff, Program Cuts

One Commack High School student posted a copy of her letter delivered to the Board of Education on Tumblr for her classmates to read and share. Tumbler user elevator-dreams

The Commack music program changed my life in many ways, but as I venture through adolescence, trying to find and define myself, I always seem to find myself wandering the music hallway.

Music affects, changes and saves lives every day. That alone, is good enough reason to keep music in our schools. 

Some of Patch's readers agreed with her it was important to hold on to the music program as a whole, while others questioned what impact teachers' salaries were having on the music program. 

Here is no attack on teachers here--at least not from me. Indeed, my mind is open.

First, Commack cannot sustain such high salaries. There is too much bloat in the administration. We don't need so many assistant superintendents and directors. Consolidate their positions for savings.

Second, my mind is not closed. You cannot explain why Commack teachers earn so much more than teachers in neighboring districts. This is not an attack on teachers. If we are not more financially prudent, eventually the district will either raise the tax levy so high that housing values plummet and become close to worthless OR the district will eventually have to declare bankruptcy. There is only a finite amount of money to go around and Commack residents cannot sustain these salaries and increases. Where is the sacrifice on the part of Commack teachers? They would rather have layoffs than givebacks? Where is the money going to come from to pay for the 2% and 2.85% increases and when will these increases stop?

I am glad that you are a hardworking teacher and almost all Commack teachers (and almost all American teachers) are. Yes, teachers are being blamed by some for all of society's ills I agree with you. It's awful! I also disagree with the implementation of the Common Core Standards and think that a lot of money for education is going to corporations and not to helping children.

"...To your last point, I actually feel bad for the rap most administrators get. While I agree that some should teach, I disagree with most of your statement. You could not pay me enough to go into administration because of, well, truthfully, people like you. Once again, the bad rap is driving the best out of education, from administration to teachers and support staff. If you are spending your time staking out the parking lots of the schools and Hubbs...that's sad. Do you see those same administrators driving to the schools afterward to attend concerts too? Do you see them go to the budget meetings? Do you see them attend the honor society inductions? Do you see them at memorials? Do you see them at the games? Do you see them show up on the weekends when the security alarms go off on the middle of the night? Do you see them checking their emails morning, noon and night?"

Coach, the issue is cost, not whether teachers are nice people or not. It annoys me that somehow the debate always gets into personalities. And just to clarify, there are actually very nice, hard working, dedicated people in other professions too.Teachers unions are bringing towns to the brink, its just that simple. If you really think about it, US auto workers thought they were being attacked and hated, right up until their unions brought their industry to the brink of collapse

The FACTS are:

Students who have the arts in their curriculum are less likely to drop out of school, have higher SAT scores, do better in all other subjects (especially math, science) and have a wider understanding of what it means to be creative, innovative and forward thinking.

This isn't about the teachers. It's about the arts. And if you think the arts shouldn't be included in the classroom, then you are an incompetent fool who has never seen a child create.