A reader explains why the Philadelphia All-City High School Orchestra is being closed and who should rescue it:
“Actually, philanthropy wouldn’t help. The orchestra is endangered because classroom instrumental music instruction has been eliminated from the budget (hence, no musicians to play in it). The cut was among those made to close a $300 million budget deficit caused largely by state cuts that fell particularly hard on the poorest districts. This is precisely the kind of problem that does not have a private solution but requires a public commitment to public education. (Though I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t a raft of charter applications for schools specializing in instrumental music).”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The reader is correct. We cannot allow the arts to be treated as “let them eat charity.” Philanthropy is not the answer… well informed and enlightened administrators are the answer. That’s because enlightened administrators know the invaluable contribution music and the arts provide to all children, including those in our most impoverished communities. The problem is the people making these decisions today (corporate reformers) have no research basis for what they are doing. They are completely making it up as they go along regardless of the consequences as we are no seeing in Philly. This is such a travesty for those students. SHAME ON THESE PEOPLE.
This reader is right about charter applications specializing in music. There already several. In September a charter arts high school will be opening. At the same time, Philadelphia renowned public arts high school, the Creative and Performing Arts high school, was not able to do its annual Spring show this year due to lack of funds.
This makes me sick. How much money has this country wasted abroad? Have you ever read about the rip-offs of tax dollars in Afghanistan and Iraq? We can’t have the arts celebrated in our schools? Disgusting.