Okay Dar Is A Wee Bit Mad!

Okay I am having some issues with this… I may not be a “fellow band member”, but as a RESIDENT of Magrath and the School Council Chairperson, and a member of the Band Parent Association, I feel that someone can hear me out. First, I understand, like Shea, that a lot of what Dave says is purely for shock factor, however, when it involves utterly bashing a man who has devoted himself to teaching, the band program, the Spirit of Alberta Marching Band, and the community, it disgusts me. He is a great man who put all these things before his own health. He loved the band program, and put in countless hours of extra time at the school, sometimes he could hardly walk home, and could barely function for days afterward, but yet when he led the band he hid his pain, and I absolutely respect and understand that. He didn’t cause the Band’s “Demise”, he was the one who kept it going, and, I don’t know what parent’s you talked to, but I have sat in on many a meetings, where there have even been tears, because they didn’t know how they would ever replace one Jerry Chatwin. He had the complete support of the school, the students, the parents, and the administrators. When he announced that he was retiring, and it wasn’t because he wanted to, he simply couldn’t do it any more due to his health, they didn’t have any students sign up for band because they didn’t want anyone else. All, the parents came panicked, that we had to find someone who was just as good, and could carry on the Spirit of Alberta, We all knew that the Marching Band was of top priority for Magrath( because we are known for our Spirit of Alberta), and every parent at the Meeting, and the Administrators agreed. There was absolute support. Which is why we have the Band Parent Association. The School Board were even willing to work with us to help us find someone qualified, and give us the extra funding if necessary. We put ads everywhere, Canada wide, throughout the States. We just couldn’t find anyone. The Band Teacher they hired is NOT QUALIFIED, and not what anyone wanted, but we needed someone for the start of the year, as a matter of fact, he is a real piece of work, and the band program is completely dying, let alone a Marching Band. It is devastating. I always thought that my kids would be in the Marching Band, and I am still fighting for it.
As for Jerry, he deserves every award that anyone gives him. He was and is a great person who really dedicated himself to the Marching Band and band program, and it is a great loss that we don’t have him. He is irreplaceable. The students loved him, the parents loved him, the whole town loved him. Even the parades and town programs aren’t the same without the giant Canadian flag, You don’t need to win an award, to prove you are a good leader or a good band. They proved it every time they performed and gave me goose bumps, because they were our Marching Band.
I have said my piece regarding this and that’s what you get for bloggity blogging about something so close to home!

And Mr. C is a great neighbor----------ass!