Today was not a good day in the “A.” Despite documentation stating the benefits of public school music education, the Atlanta public schools have decided to cut music programs for this coming school year. Even worse was that they didn't give the teachers any warning in the process.
In a sitdown with Alive 11, music teacher Arthur McClenton said "We (music teachers) were blindsided, when other teachers received contracts, we received letters saying we were going to be abolished. We didn't know. It just hit us."
The school will offer General Music instruction to ensure the schools are "increasing instructional quality and efficiency." Atlanta native Big Boi and Odd Future rapper Tyler The Creator took to twitter to share their disapproval on the decision.
I was born with music inside me. Music was one of my parts. Like my ribs, my kidneys, my liver, my heart. Like my blood. It was a force already within me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me - like food or water. - Ray Charles, born in Albany, Georgia