I didn't coin the phrase and as a member of the band you can bet your bippy I didn't like it, but there it is. Those of us in band took a beating. I offer up this post from my public school source on a damn fine band that I was proud to be a part of. And need I say "Go Angry Red, Nuff Said!"
Friday night I attended our high school football game. As primary teachers, we are always asked to talk to our students (k-3) about behavior at the football games. I will be honest, I am not a good fan and do not attend the games. I was ask to go with the youth group from our church and agreed. Our seats were next to where the band students sit during the game.
I teased the kids that I was going to have to root for the other team since it was my high school team. They informed me that I could not do that. After the other team scored 2 touch downs in the first 5 minutes, they were ready to join me on the other side.
This is a testimony that expectations as educators means everything. As I witnessed some of the things that go on at our high school, I was amazed at the acceptable behavior of students. Is this the norm? It may or may not be.
As I gazed across the field at the students from the opposing team, whose parents I probably went to high school with, all the students were in their seats. They were still, watching the game, and not moving around. Granted I was across the field, but I noticed very little movement.
This was not the case with the students from the high school my child attends. I will remind you we were sitting next to the band. To begin with they were dressed in Halloween costumes. They had hatchets coming out of their heads and blood dripping from their mouths. It does not get any better, the drum major was dressed in drag. Yes, he stood on the platform in a dress. Their instruments were scattered all over the bleachers as they danced, ran around, jumped, and sang dirty songs. Their favorite was one about smoking dope.
Remember the good old days when we said, "I've got spirit, yes I do, I've got spirit, how about you?" They were saying, "I'm getting some bootie, yes I am, I'm getting some bootie, how about you?" The most amazing thing was that the principal was standing at the bottom of the bleachers. I saw very few primary students misbehaving.
Well, in the tradition of my home town, the band got out and gave a marvelous performance. They could have stood toe to toe with any college band around. The parents on our side gave them a standing ovation. Well they should have let our team go first, maybe we would not have looked so bad. Yes, we got out there in our Halloween costumes and did a song from Austin Powers. It was a disgrace.
There is something to be said about discipline.