Do right by disappointed students

I was pleasantly surprised when the Salt Lake City School Board approved the proposal that the Highland High band and orchestra go to China on a concert tour during spring break 2003. After all, my biggest "field trip" was to Cedar City in 1973 to represent Highland in a state drama competition. After nearly a year of researching and planning, Bob Curry, the instrumental music director at Highland, had pulled together a workable plan. The thought of playing concerts on top of the Great Wall of China and at other notable venues sparked visions for students, parents, teachers and administrators alike. We imagined what these young people would learn on this 10-day trip in China, while missing only two days of "seat time" at Highland. This plan would take another year to implement.

The students had already begun to dream, long before official approval was actually given. As imaginations and hope grew, these musicians each began trying to decide how to come up with the $2,200 each would require to make this dream a reality.

My son, Greg, made hundreds of fliers for his leaf-raking and snow- shoveling business and passed them out. He was exalted when it snowed winter before last. Snowflakes seemed to be dollar signs as they fluttered to the ground. His savings began to grow slowly, first in a jar, then in a bank account. Even Greg's siblings got into the spirit as birthday and Christmas gifts became money for his China trip. One sister saved the change she got for waitress tips and gave Greg over $120 for Christmas, and another sister donated furniture she'd purchased for her first apartment to be sold at the combined band yard sale. However, the bulk of his money came from more than 40 newspapers he delivered every day. Flat bicycle tires from the pyracantha bush on his route always frustrated him, because he'd have to spend some of his savings to buy new tires. All of us reminded him that the sacrifice of his small, daily desires would be amply rewarded in China. He loved to dream about the souvenirs he'd bring back to thank us for our help.

Bob Curry had the biggest vision of all. He planned and worked with many at Highland to make this trip a great learning experience. As Mr. Curry prepared the students musically, he and other teachers outside the music department worked with the kids to learn about China's history and culture. There was no summer vacation for Mr. Curry last year. He and many dedicated parents spent the entire summer pulling together many fund-raisers to help lower the costs for each student.

As the time for departure neared, the threat of SARS emerged. All of us grew concerned and wondered if there was a danger. Just days before they were due to leave, the school board rescinded permission to go as planned due to the dangers of SARS. We wondered what would happen and were told by the board that we would have to reschedule. Canceling the trip with the possibility of obtaining only a 35 percent refund was not an option. The board said they would work with the travel brokers, airlines and lawyers to keep further costs down as we tried to reschedule for June, though there is no guarantee that they can actually go then either.

Disappointment and frustration are rampant. Uncertainty and confusion abound. What to do now? No one knows, especially with most of the school board in San Francisco at a convention last week when decisions had to be made, then out of the office on spring break this week. The support and follow-through we hoped for from the board seems to have fallen through.

As parents and students, we expect the board to do what they promised. Since the board made the decision to postpone the trip instead of canceling, which negated the opportunity of getting even 35 percent of the students' money returned, the board is responsible for helping to keep the costs of rescheduling low or nonexistent, and in the event of cancellation, act as our advocate to recoup as much of the students' hard-earned money as possible.

As a parent, I now wonder what my son will learn from this trip. Chances are, fate and the school board may not allow him to experience China. Certainly, the students have learned how to dream, plan and work, so all is not lost, even though the cumulative $202,020 may be. Hopefully they can yet learn how to handle disappointment in a positive way. These may be expensive lessons.

The final question is not about China but about our own elected representatives, our school board. Will they teach our children that our government can be trusted to do what it's promised, or will this experience mirror so many others where promises are made but not kept?

Annette Powell is a mother of five living in Salt Lake City.

Copyright C 2003 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.