ANDERSON, Ind. —
At the recent “Plaid and White” end-of-school musical revue, a number of Highland High School band students indicated they — or perhaps it was their parents — wanted to leave the Anderson Community Schools district due to the consolidation of the two high schools.
Those sour notes from choruses of naysayers are thankfully being drowned out as current Anderson and former Highland students have joined together as one band.
The spirit of cooperation is seen in afternoon band practices. Granted, most students were concerned about the merging of the bands. Both schools had rich traditions. But now the combined bands also have Douglas Fletcher, the master director who has won seven State Fair Band Day titles, including three with Highland.
Fletcher seems to be as talented with blending musicians from two schools as he is with merging musical notes into one sound. He’s assisted by former Anderson High School director David Robbins.
The message should be clear: If these diverse musicians can coalesce into one unit, then why can’t the non-musical students? Of course, the answer is that they can.
There may be disagreements as school starts. There will surely be comparisons between Highland and Anderson. But that is where the positive educational leaders can create learning opportunities and guidelines for the future lives of these students as they move through high school and beyond.
As of this moment, no parent or student or educator should fear the consolidation of the two schools.
If they persist in espousing the negative, then ask them to visit band practices. They’ll see the new mood that has started with band students and, we hope, is moving into athletics before landing in the classrooms this fall.
This mood of reconciliation, acceptance and unity should resound throughout Anderson High School and Highland Middle School.
We all have more in common than we may believe. And let the band lead the way.
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