Letter - Time of concert has parent concerned

To the editor:

My children attend school in District 206. In the past, as far as I can remember, our children’s music concerts have been held in the evening so the majority of parents can attend. This year, we received an e-mail and an announcement that it will be held during the day and be split into two sessions.

As a concerned parent who works full-time, Monday-Friday and has no available PTO offered, I e-mailed the principal with my concerns in regards to the time of the concert. I was only expressing my concern and inquiring if there was an option to have it recorded so we could buy a copy of the DVD as a keepsake and to view it at home with our children.

I asked her how my children will feel when no one can attend their concert because of the time. My response back was this: “Many kids are very involved in activities outside of school such as dance, gymnastics, hockey, and the list goes on. Parents pay for kids to attend those events.” She also stated that the music instructor is the reason for the change, “The instructor asked if we could try it and that is the reason for the change.”

After receiving this response, I was deeply offended and left questioning why my concerns along with many other families’ are not being held with regard to the upper class families. I am almost sure that most families do not belong to these so-called extra paid activities as she claims nor would they mind sacrificing one night of these activities to attend their child’s music concert.

I told her she could have perhaps sent a questionnaire out to all the parents and families requesting their feedback on the decision before coming to a conclusion.

Am I overreacting?

Niki McManigle

Miltona, MN

Tags: opinion, letters