High school marching band declines invitation to play for Bush

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from the 10/01 Pittsburgh Post Gazette...

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- A high school marching band declined an invitation to play for President Bush during his visit to Allentown on Friday, citing a desire to remain neutral in the presidential race.

Parkland School District Superintendent Louise Donahue announced the decision Thursday. Two other school districts said their marching bands would play for Bush at the rally.

"I feel that having our students participate in a partisan event could be divisive to our community," Donahue said. "We don't want to appear to be supporting any particular viewpoint. We need to remain neutral. We're a public school district."

Sean King, director of marketing for the U.S. Scholastic Band Association, said he can't recall a high school band ever turning down an invitation to play for the president. Marching bands are often invited to presidential rallies and similar events, and both Bush and Democratic candidate John Kerry have been serenaded by them.

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They did the right thing, no need to put these students in the middle of this mess.

My tax dollars are going to support one of the bands that will be playing - Northampton Area. Time for a letter to the school board.

from the public.Donahue said Parkland was excited by the prospect of having its band play for Bush and initially accepted earlier this week, as did nearby Northampton Area and Saucon Valley school districts.

But Parkland officials reconsidered after getting details about the rally, which is billed as "Victory 2004" for GOP candidates.

The district questioned the legality of using the public funds that support its band at a partisan event. If the president visited outside of election season, "We would be honored to play," Donahue said.

Mark Pfeifle, state spokesman for the Republican National Committee's Victory 2004 campaign, said the students will miss "an opportunity to learn firsthand about the political process."
(snip/...)Awwww, don't take it too hard, Pfeifle! :nopity:

"Mark Pfeifle, state spokesman for the Republican National Committee's Victory 2004 campaign, said the students will miss "an opportunity to learn firsthand about the political process."

Frankly, they learned a very important lesson from their Superintendent Donahue. She must be a former civics teacher or something. What a refreshing, intelligent way to handle this. Hats off to Donahue.

can't pass the loyality oath

That's TERESA country! I wouldn't be surprised if there are kids in that band who benefitted in some fashion from all of the charitable work THK has done in the area. I'd tell the shrub to pound sand, too. If he wants a band, let him hire one!

the high school in Crawford agreed to play for Kerry!

come November.

Carter WH requested our band once. It is a huge honor.

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Good on 'em!

:kick:

Sorry, but nowhere in the article does is indicate that the band actually made the decision.

Everything in the article indicates that the superintendent and other administrators declined the invitation.

The accurate headline would be "School Administrators decline...."

makes me pretty sure that the kids voted. They vote on almost everything...

Still, it is some pretty good news. If administrators want to take credit for it, then so be it. Bravo for them, as well.

and, even if we didn't vote on things all the time, we definitely voiced our opinions. I can definitely tell you that the members of my high school band would have balked at having to play for W, regardless of the honor of being requested by the White House. If it had been at some sort of Memorial Day event or something, I imagine we would have done it anyway, but a Bush campaign event? Yeah right.

I respectfully declined to play.

Kudos to the band (or the school district). or both.

.. and they've seen the photos of high schoolers, behind Bush, falling asleep and pinching their own arms to stay awake.

:bounce:

to play for the President, but quite another to be asked to play for a candidate. Being asked to perform at any political rally at any time or at virtually any public appearance after the official nomination has to viewed as a form of endorsement of that candidate. Are the students searched to be sure that aren't hiding any anti-Bush signs? Are they told how to act? In Bush's controlled world I cannot imagine anyone, even high school kids, escaping the third degree from Rove's thought police. The "All American" backdrop for Bush must not show any form of descent or dissatisfaction.

Administration was pretty conservative 20 years ago; they've made me proud today though!

Jim

I sure would hate to be in a high school band and forced to perform for the organ-grinder's monkey.