Why Band Directors Stick with it and Teach :: Band Directors Education Music Essays

Why Band Directors Stick with it and Teach It’s a question we all ask ourselves from time to time: "Why am I doing this? Is it really worth it?" For band directors, the question comes up a little more FREQUENTLY. The long rehearsals, hours of preparation and planning. Budget, buses and banged up tubas. Counseling and consoling. Lesson planning to tour planning." Why are you doing this?" Someone asked me once, "It’s only band". It’s only band? Studies show that those high school students least likely to be involved with drugs are band students. Six separate national independent studies showed students with four years of instrumental music scored 40-50% higher on their Math and English Sat scores that non –music students who had equal scores four years earlier. "Why" Music is the only subject that encompasses all seven learning intelligences. Music is one of only two subjects that "connects" the two independent sides of the brain –logical and creative. Similar studies showed that band students attend more regularly. They participate in their classrooms, look forward to and actually like school. They become more focused, more disciplined. An educated person is less likely to end up in jail, impaired by addictions, or homeless. Band teaches life skills. Where independent thinking is the model in most academic classrooms, teamwork is essential in band. Band students learn to work with and for each other. The three R’s in band include Respect, Responsibility, & Reliability. Our students learn to appreciate one another for their individual talents and their contributions to the organization as a whole. They learn positive social skills –the most important factor in our program –where we teach such qualities as confidence, pride, and self esteem; all values that will serve these young people well throughout the course of their life. Citizenship, team motivational skills/leadership skills, time management, organization skills, dependability, and honesty are instilled into band members. Band teaches students to face challenges and strive to reach higher and higher goals. Band is family. When your student walks onto campus, he or she is instantly adopted into the strongest society on campus. They will be spending their school days among the top achievers on campus, with fellow students who look out for one another and steer each other away from trouble instead of towards it. Teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers watch over all the kids as if they were their own.

The Concept of Total War

The period between 1914-1918, or most commonly known as World War I, is historically significant. Aside from its unforgettable aftermath wherein a number of casualties and various war damages were recorded, World War I also paved the way for the emergence of the concept of total war. It is through this total war that the series of wars that followed within the international system based their strategies and learning experiences making the subsequent conflicts a lot worse. Total War, according to Stephen Badsey, is considered as the â€Å"organization of entire societies for war in social, economic, and even spiritual sense† (Badsey n. ). It is a war strategy wherein combatants forcibly involved properties, lands, and attenuate the vulnerable civilians or non-combatants in their struggle against the enemies instead of just focusing on conquering their military targets. Basically, it is an armed force waged using all national power, human strength and material goods, considering that the traditional presence of big battalions are insufficient without the â€Å"Home Front† support (Kiraly 15). This movement showed tremendous effects in the country's populace and showed social changes. The economy of states involved in total war is strictly controlled to monitor and regulate the flow of money and where finances are utilized. Moreover, through the influence of media and nationalistic propaganda, the citizens are moved to strengthen their support for the total war (Schmiechen 459). As stated earlier, the First World War gauged the intensity of the wars after it. Because of the tragedy caused by World War I, many citizens became very suspicious and fearful of their surroundings and the eventualities around them. The American public is no exemption to this escalating fear and apprehension with the actions and decisions done by their country either domestically or internationally. Post – World War I As eventful as the World War I, the Great Depression of 1929 – 1933 sson took place. It was also known as the Global Economic Slump wherein the Wall Street stock market crash affected the American financial system (Baylis & Smith 57). Because of this economic depression, many Americans feared a massive social consequence manifested in a surge of unemployment. Unemployment was perceived as USA’s primary enemy because it resulted to a number of impoverished families suffering because of the collapse in the market (Baylis & Smith 59). Different reactions emerged during this period including the government’s economic response by pursuing protectionism and avoid importing products from other countries. The period of depression ended with the emergence of World War II. Supposedly, the years 1939-1945 should relieve the American society from the economic slump it previously experienced, however, circumstances worsen as conflict escalates among the involved factions in the war. One of the domestic enemies America experienced during this period was the massive influx of immigrants from different parts of Europe. This is a manifestation of the escalating civil war among the different Western countries. As a response to this, US modified its migration quota system to filter out desirable citizens to enter their land. Immigrants from Great Britain and Ireland were awarded generous qoutas as compared to Russians and Italians as they were affiliated with the emerging powerful satellite group, the Soviet Union, threatening the American democratic system (â€Å"Immigration Through Time†). After World War II, the Cold War era, from 1945-1990 followed. It was a war between two â€Å"Superpowers,† the United States of America and the Soviet Union (Baylis & Smith 72). Many proxy wars in the Third World took place during this period, dragging countries all over the world in the war and dividing them between the two superpowers. The emerging power of USSR threatened the American society as the manifestation of communism is felt world wide and even domestically. The eventualities during the Cuban missile crisis triggered greater military threat in the country as the Soviet Union is believed to be keeping weapons of mass destruction. America reacted in this situation by entering the global battlefield with the USSR and pursued an arms race (Baylis & Smith 81). By the end of the cold war period, USA emerged as the most powerful country and helped some European countries rehabilitate the damages of war. The country continued to emerge as a powerful country wherein they are perceived as primary trade partners world wide. However, in the post 9/11 period, American society placed the blame to the Twin Tower tragedy to the terrorists who were considered as â€Å"the axis of evil† which includes some rogue states in West Asia (Chenoy 13). As a preemptive response by the present administration, they pursued counter-terrorism campaign and established the â€Å"coalition of the willing† to overcome acts of terrorism world wide (Schifferes n. p). The periods of conflict that America experienced over the years showed how the public is very much affected. From the Great Depression and the fear of unemployment, World War II and the problem on undesirable immigrants, the Cold War era and the emergence of communism, and post 9/11 period with the threats of terrorism, the American public is imparted with so much problems and enemies both domestically and internationally which greatly affects the country's internal affairs and national interest to pursue. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the government to ensure that the public interest is taken into consideration in their policy-making to assure the security and safety of their citizens.

The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez Free Essay Example, 1000 words

Panchito rushes home â€Å"to tell Papà ¡ and Mamà ¡ the great news† (4). But he enters the shack only to find all their belongings â€Å"neatly packed in cardboard boxes† (5) yet again. The boxes symbolize Panchito’s imprisonment within â€Å"The Circuit† of migrant life. They represent the shattering of his dreams to live the life of a normal schoolboy and the end of his chance to learn music. He must put away the joy of his short life of a schoolboy once again, and set out with his family on the endless circle of moving and working. 2. The California that Panchito’s family moves to is definitely a very different place from Roberto’s expectations. Roberto believes that California is a place where ‘the streets are paved with gold, ’ and it will be easy for them to get rich there. Instead, the family experiences great economic hardship as migrant farm workers. They move continuously from one place to another in search of work, following the picking season for the various crops. The California that Panchito’s family moves to gives them a life of back-breaking work, picking fruits and cotton for low wages. We will write a custom essay sample on The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Panchito’s â€Å"body ached all over† (4) after a day in the fields. They pick fruits in terribly high temperatures of â€Å"almost one hundred degrees† (3). They have to manage with meager food and clothing, and poor living conditions in rough huts and broken-down garages. The garage is windowless, has a dirt floor and a â€Å"roof full of holes† (2). Panchito sleeps â€Å"outside under the trees† (3). There is no job security. They are glad to get any job on the farms. Panchito’s mother is very thankful to find work for a whole season in Fresno – â€Å"Mama clasped her hands† (2). The children cannot get a regular education because of need to move on when the picking in that particular area is over. This makes it difficult for Panchito to master English. He is always â€Å"struggling for English words† (4) because he speaks only Spanish with his family. I would not want to live in Panc hito’s California because the children are always on the move, and have no place to call ‘home. ’ They cannot attend a regular school, or make friends, and they suffer great hardship and poverty. 3. The title of the story, ‘The Circuit, ’ means a roughly circular line. It makes me think of moving round and round the same area, without any change in direction. It brings me back to the same place and makes me feel a sense of monotony. I think of Panchito’s family moving continuously from one farm to another, always working hard in the hot sun, living in broken-down huts and struggling against poverty.