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Health & Fitness

Save Music Education in Norwalk Public Schools - Sign this Petition!

Music is highly undervalued in our school system. Norwalk Board of Ed has to cut $10 million from the budget. This has music teachers across the city worried. SIGN THIS PETITION, SAVE MUSIC EDUCATION!

Music is highly undervalued in our school system. Yet, it has been proven that students who take courses in music performance or music appreciation score higher on SAT's than kids without this specialized education. There is indeed a link between music and study habits. A study done by Columbia University found that students involved in the arts are more cooperative with other people, more self-confident, and better at expressing their feelings. Music uses both sides of the brain. Requiring practice and dedication—teaching students flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate; the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence.

So why is music the first thing to go? For the 2011-2012 school year, the Norwalk Board of Education removed guitar classes from our middle schools, and laid off a strings teacher. What does this mean? This means that there will be one less teacher to help guide kids to a better future. But, we can band together to prevent this from happening again. For this upcoming school year, the Norwalk Board of Education has to somehow cut $10 million from the budget, and this has music teachers across the city worried.

What would I do without music? I don't know. I can't answer that because I can't even imagine my life without it. Many Norwalk musicians have been involved in music programs since they were in elementary school or middle school; many pursuing music in college. I can't imagine how my life would be without music—I don't want to imagine it. Without these programs, I wouldn't have met all these great people, or acquired all the skills that I would have never picked up on my own. Music in school has taught me discipline, hard work, and teamwork. I have become a follower, a teammate, and a leader.

I know I can speak for many people when I say that music has truly changed me. So many lives have been touched by music teachers in the Norwalk Public Schools system.

By signing this petition, we are banding together to show the Norwalk Board of Education that they cannot cut our music programs. Save music education in Norwalk Public Schools!

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