[Beaker]

Why not get together with other home-schoolers and form your own band?

That's a good idea. Even as a veteran marching band member, I can see the point in not allowing the kid to participate, though I'm sure that the rest of the band people won't care. On the other hand, In that same vein, I know of some colleges that will let other college kids participate their band who don't have one of their own.

[JerseyHighlander]

If this young lady happened to be a trumpeter or coronetist instead of a clarinetist, the nearest veterans' band would treat hear like a super star. But this doesn't work for her, she's looking for the social interaction both while performing amongst her peers and in non performance activities.

The parents should make a small donation to the school district's music department, give the music director a nice bottle of wine, and go about getting her a waiver. The biggest money issues here are cost of a uniform, band director in loco parenti liability, and insurance liabilities.

UNenrolled youngsters aren't allowed to march because of liability insurance restrictions, the school administration is holding the line because of the possible ramifications to the liability insurance claims and premium increases at the next renewal. The parents would be much better off STFU, and quietly working out a mutually acceptable solution that allows their daughter to march. SO far, from this article, this family seems oblivious to the reasoning behind the denial, and the administration hasn't properly explained the situation to the parents.


JMHO