Culpeper’s School Board sending mixed messages about Strings Program

Kids don’t usually like asparagus. To many kids, its taste is described as an acquired one — I was no exception. Not just the taste, I was equally dissatisfied with the multiple years it took to grow a bed of the silly vegetable. 

In our childhood garden I was confused with my “elders” desire to spend years waiting to harvest a vegetable that the kids did not like.

Like views on asparagus, Culpeper’s School Board is sending mixed messages about the Strings Program.

On one hand, the board has funded a strings program for the past four years. Under Director Marco Escobar’s patient guidance the group has shown steady results. 

Doubters would only have to attend the Final String concert this past June 4 to see the progression of students by grade.  The passion of the students and joy of the director were obvious. 

This bed of talent has clearly grown.

On the other hand, the School Board has snapped funding for the Strings program in its current budget.

I can understand that with Strings popularity significantly less than football it was an easy budget target.  The end result is that the Strings program is slated to disappear in the next school year sending the cultivated talents to the weeds.

Like asparagus, Strings might be an acquired taste, but once acquired well worth it.

With four years of consecutive funding and a good crop in tow — now is not the time to toss away the growth and investment.

Jeffery Mitchell.
Culpeper