Wethersfield High Band Getting Bumped By Sports

What she doesn't like is playing second fiddle to sports teams. That's what she and others feel happens every time the band is pushed off practice fields for an athletic event.

[Eddie C]

I'm guessing that Band students are also better students than their sports peers.
Wethersfield's football team is a joke and they get preference over band?

[Mayor 420]

As the nice woman said, "Sports comes first in Wethersfield". So what's the question?

[Think Before You Speak]

He is committed to the marching band being treated like a varsity sport?? You have to be kidding me! You read what the student said and it sums it up perfectly. The marching band is a class, as it is at many high schools, and therefore it is being taken for academic credit. Varsity sports are not classes and not taken for credit. If there was a reason for the football team to boot an English class from a classroom it would be considered an outrage. However, in Wethersfield and in many towns throughout CT, the band plays second fiddle to the sports programs. Wethersfield needs to learn that "the real show begins at half-time". Eyes with pride Wethersfield band! Good for you for getting the word out on the disrespect from your school leadership.

[Rick - CT]

"'I'm committed to equity and assuring that our marching band is treated as a varsity sport,' Kohlhagen said."

Gee, it sure doesn't sound like it!

And you're right, Eddie, band kids generally do better in school. Sports teams generally have a minimum grade point average needed to participate; bands have no need for such a requirement.

[FormerWHSStudent]

When was the last time the football team one a state title? The band has always won awards. They are awesome and deserve a little more respect. WHS is not the only school with this problem, it is all over.
What the band should do is boycott the football games. I bet they would not have as many in attendance at the games if that happened.

[willy lump lump]

Ludicrous that you get credit for marching band, but not for sports

[Former Band Player]

There's no doubt in my mind, that the WHS AD has a lot to do with this issue. If it wasn't for the Band and the parents of the Band, you'd have your choice of seats at the games.

[Belgee]

I have had kids play varsity sports as well as band in Southington. It is a complete joke the way the band is treated. It completely surprises many when they hear that the band practices more than any other sport, have better grades and are without a doubt learn more about self respect, pride, and teamwork.

[WHS Band Fan]

The WHS marching and concert band are, without a doubt, Wethersfield's finest!

[MattB]

I'm not sure how the band having to wait 15 extra minutes for an athletic event to conclude on an athletic field is a newsworthy event. I agree that, especially in a high school setting, a band and its members are often treated unfairly when compared to sports, but that's more of a societal problem than a Wethersfield High School problem.

Now, had the band been routinely kicked out of confirmed, reserved practice times and dates, this would have been a newsworthy story.

As it is now, it's nothing more than complaints about "the other side" that sounds strikingly similar to both sides of the political war our country currently entrenches itself in.

[Just Thinking - -]

MattB wrote:

I'm not sure how the band having to wait 15 extra minutes for an athletic event to conclude on an athletic field is a newsworthy event. I agree that, especially in a high school setting, a band and its members are often treated unfairly when compared to sports, but that's more of a societal problem than a Wethersfield High School problem.
Now, had the band been routinely kicked out of confirmed, reserved practice times and dates, this would have been a newsworthy story.
As it is now, it's nothing more than complaints about "the other side" that sounds strikingly similar to both sides of the political war our country currently entrenches itself in.

The article mentions more than one occasion when the band lost their spot on the field because of sports. The fact that band is a class and they are graded on it, should give them priority on the field.

[ionu]

Yawn.....The town doesn't have enough playing fields to accommodate all the teams, as well as band. Parents in town know that isn't news. It's the reality of our town. All this does is create animosity between the band and the sports teams, when they should be supporting each other. The band just got new uniforms and equipment in a tight budget year. Whoever generated this story should be ashamed.

Is this really the most important educational story in Wethersfield? Ann Marie Somma is quite the investigative reporter.

[Low Brass Player]

This problem of marching bands getting the short end of the stick is a problem everywhere, even at the college level. These kids not only carry the same schedule as the football team, but they also represent their town at parades and so forth - in the heat, or the cold, or the rain.
The high school marching band is a symbol of town pride, and deserving of respect.

[Amen]

Sports are the reason there is so much graffiti in Wethersfield. Especially amongst football players who feel entitled. I say the band should protest! March for your rights!

[Real Live Citizen]

Excuse Me!!!! The field is an ATHLETIC field. That means: football, soccer, etc. We did not build an Astroturf field for the band. The band's function is to entertain for pregame and halftime. Somebody's got their priorities backwards.

[Long Time Band Parent]

my son spent four years in an excellent award winning high school marching band in Virginia, and now two years in a college band. The problems mentioned here with fields aren't as much of a problem...some of the bands just practice before school, even if it's at 6:30 in the morning. What we HAVE seen is discrimination in the classroom, where the football team will be given extra time to complete assignments, or even excused from tests, while the band isn't, even though the time commitment to be in band is the same as the football team. And for those that think band is easy, go ahead & try memorizing several songs worth of music, all the movements that are made on the field, all while in some cases carrying heavy instruments (go TUBA players!!!)

[BigDaddy2]

MattB wrote:

I'm not sure how the band having to wait 15 extra minutes for an athletic event to conclude on an athletic field is a newsworthy event. I agree that, especially in a high school setting, a band and its members are often treated unfairly when compared to sports, but that's more of a societal problem than a Wethersfield High School problem.
Now, had the band been routinely kicked out of confirmed, reserved practice times and dates, this would have been a newsworthy story.
As it is now, it's nothing more than complaints about "the other side" that sounds strikingly similar to both sides of the political war our country currently entrenches itself in.

It is not about the fifteen minutes that they had to wait to use the field. This is about how they are treated at all times trying to get field time. When someone is promised a time they have other obligations and want to get to their next obligation on time as well. I agree with the band. If Mr. P was still running the show, there would be no problem!

[Parent]

Real Live Citizen wrote:

Excuse Me!!!! The field is an ATHLETIC field. That means: football, soccer, etc. We did not build an Astroturf field for the band. The band's function is to entertain for pregame and halftime. Somebody's got their priorities backwards.

Not quite so. The fields are used for physical education classes the majority of the year. They are school fields and band is a class. Marching band requires an "outdoor classroom," if you will, during the fall season. Although the band loves playing at football games, it is not their primary focus. The band is part of the music education program at WHS and academics should always trump extracurricular sports in a school setting.

[ionu]

The band is WONDERFUL; don't get me wrong. The kids are great, good students, both academically and personally, with great work ethics. The director seems like a star.

My issue is that this article makes the entire town look petty and silly. Why did this have to be aired for everyone else to see? Does this put our terrific band in a better light? What did the band boosters hope to accomplish? The student quoted in the article talks about the lack of respect for the band. Do you really think football and soccer players are going to have MORE respect for them now? What happens when band takes the field at halftime? Will the football parents show them any love? Sorry, but this plan to air your grievances seems like it will generate bad feelings - as witnessed by some of the posts already. The band deserves more respect, and this PR plan backfired.

[FormerWHSStudent]

Just remember, well after the football and soccer teams are done for the year the band is still practicing and performing. They are also winning national awards. Towns, cities and states request the band to come play at the parades and events.