How can we convince the school board to get rid of Pep Band?

Question

I am a band student at a high school, and all of us are fed up with having to go to manditory pep band after school. We took a survey and a poll in class- and every student ahs at least ONE extra curricular activity other than band that they have to devote time to. We have seven students who are currently involved in 8 different clubs.

We made another caluclation that each student has at least 3 hours of homework a night (at the least), but on average, we have 5 & 1/2 hours of homework each night. We just don't have the time to devote 5 extra hours a week to a meaningless football game.

Even worse, our work isn't even wanted. We paly the national anthem and two songs at halftime. The rest of teh game- teh coaches insist that tehy play a tape or recording of rap/pop music. The rest of teh time, we have to sit on the bleachers- with no homework allowed.

Why should we take time out of our busy schedules when we're not even wanted by the people we're playing for?

Plis- we don't WANT to play. Many people are driven to quit band because they don't ahve the time to devote to these games ALL YEAR. It's not fun for us. It's not productive.

Who can we talk to about changing this policy? Our band director said that its not up to him- so who can we talk to? What should we say? Should we make a petition?

We want a change!!

Please help us!

Answer 1

Wow. Why be in band if you don't want to do football games in the fall? That's the only fun part of the fall. I mean, seriously other than that you just go to competitions and those are boring anyways. I understand that if its the whole year though, that could get agitating.

I'm in the same boat with the homework and clubs ontop of band, but we all WANT to be there despite the crazy hours that we could be doing homework and sleeping..I highly doubt that you are going to be able to get the school board to cancel pep band, but you could try sending a letter or showing up at a board meeting to try and prove your case.

I'm still kind of surprised that you've chosen to be in band yet don't want to do the fun parts..but I probably don't understand.

Good luck.