Music Has Charms

When you have an exceptional teacher like Ted Reid, the last thing you want is to lose him because the district is cutting back on expenses. And parents and students at Fountain Valley High School are not about to let that happen.

When the Huntington Beach Union High School District decided, because of declining enrollment and state school funding, to cut back the highly regarded vocal music program at Fountain Valley High School and let Reid go, the parents formed a foundation. Their unusual goal, which has the district’s blessing, is to keep the full program and the teacher by paying Reid’s salary. The foundation needs to raise $28,000, $12,000 of it by Aug. 15, to save both.

Music is no longer available in Fountain Valley’s elementary schools. Parents wisely don’t want to lose the vocal music program they still have at the high school.

It is a worthwhile effort. Exposure to and appreciation of the arts is an integral part of education.

In describing Ted Reid’s exceptional teaching ability, one parent noted that “he turns kids on to music.” He is an inspiration to the students, and parents say he has become a friend, mentor and role model for their children. Those are compelling reasons for parents to undertake, and the community to support, a fund-raising effort to save a teacher’s job.