Letters to the editor


Curriculum, extracurricular: drawing the line Editor: I would like to express my concerns about the budget cuts that have affected my junior year, and now my senior year. I find it very disconcerting that every member of the Wooster High School marching band must pay $100 to participate in this class offered by Wooster High School. Webster's Dictionary defines extracurricular as, "relating to officially or semi-officially approved organized student activities connected with school carrying no academic credit." The dictionary defines curriculum as, " the courses offered by an educational institution." According to these definitions, band is curricular, not extracurricular, due to the fact that it is a class " offered by an educational institution " and students receive a class credit. It is ludicrous to charge the band members $100 to participate in this class, which I previously established as an academic course. In addition to the $100 class fee, band members must pay for uniform cleaning, instrument rental and money for band T-shirts. Why should band members continue this class when their pay to participate money is obviously not beneficial? Furthermore, why should band members continue to attend WHS? The school apparently does not support the band as an equal to sports, so why continue to support the school? According to the WHS Agenda, " students are encouraged to participate in activities to create a balance in their educational program." Why should students participate in band when all district sponsored activities/clubs, including band, pay the same amount of money to attend all games, while the band pays the same amount, yet does not attend away games? Furthermore, performance during the halftime of a football game, by definition can be considered a concert ("a public performance as of music or dancing"). In addition, since band is a designated academic course, traveling to the away games can be defined as a field trip ("a visit made as by students and a teacher for purposes of firsthand observation"). What better way to experience "firsthand" than to travel to away games and perform? Not only does traveling to away games provide new audiences and different fields, but an opportunity to serve as goodwill ambassadors to other schools. Traveling forces students to develop organizational skills that will be utilized in future education endeavors. This not only promotes versatility, but also responsibility. Katie Mykrantz Wooster Extra pool time appreciated Editor: I want to thank the YMCA and the City of Wooster for keeping Christmas Run Pool open the month of August while the pool at the high school was being repainted. Since my husband is disabled, this is the most accessible pool. I'm sure other older adults and disabled people, as well as children, appreciated the pool being open as well. It would be great if all three city pools could be kept open the month of August instead of closing the end of July. Why wouldn't we want these pools to be open until the time the schools open? Phyllis Kudika Wooster

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