Friday, May 28, 2010

Molalla students protest cuts to music, theater | OregonLive.com

Molalla students protest cuts to music, theater | OregonLive.com

Molalla students protest cuts to music, theater

By The Oregonian

May 28, 2010, 11:00AM

BY: SARAH ANDREWS
MOLALLA HIGH SCHOOL

All across the state of Oregon, schools are having to make cutbacks because of budget issues and lack of funds. Here, in the Molalla River School District, the school board is trying to cut band and choir fromMolalla River Middle School and turn Molalla High School's theater program into a part-time course. These budget cuts would be detrimental to future students and the programs themselves.

Students would be adversely affected by these proposed budget cuts because they would lose the basic skills required for a musical education, such as learning music and how to play an instrument.

If theater is cut, students would lose the chance to gain self-confidence by performing, an emotional outlet by expressing a range of emotions, and social awareness through the legends, myths, poems, stories and plays of various cultures. The same can be said for band and choir. The sooner a


Oregon City school superintendent warns of tightening budget squeeze

"Now we are faced with the ominous task of taking on an additional $2.5 million + revenue shortfall. Just to put this number in perspective - $2.5 million could fund about 38 teachers, or could pay for about 12 days of instruction."