The Purpose of Fundraising

Should we rely upon parents and fundraisers to be the sole financial support for band, orchestra, jazz and choral programs? Before you answer this question, let me ask another question: Should we rely upon parents and fundraisers to be the sole financial support for mathematics departments?

I think most people in the state of Connecticut, and the United States, would say, "No. Mathematics is a core subject, and as a core subject, it is one of the cornerstones of a well rounded education. We pay taxes to our nation, state, and town so that we may provide the students of our community with a strong and well rounded education. Therefore, the majority of the financial support for mathematics should come from the school budget."

According to the Senate's "Every Child Achieves" Act, and the House of Representatives' "Student Success" Act, a new bill will be composed, designating music as a core subject. By recognizing music as a core subject, lawmakers acknowledge the positive role music plays in the development of students. Since music is a core subject, it should be monetarily supported by the school the way that other core subjects, like mathematics and English, are funded.

So if music programs are entirely funded by the school system, then where does fundraising fit in?
In programs with strong financial support from their districts, fundraising can enable students to offset the cost of personal expenses, like All State Conference fees and music field trips. While educational, exciting, and enriching, field trips are not necessary in any subject area. Since teachers can provide their students with strong educations without the use of field trips, payment for such trips by the school should be welcomed but not required. In districts that decide to make students responsible for field trip expenses, fundraisers help students defray the cost.