The district has officially approved the policy allowing marching band to fulfill physical education requirements. This outcome validates the physical rigor and dedication our students bring to the field each season. We will keep observing how this transition unfolds to ensure the process remains smooth for all families involved.
March 20, 2018
Final supporters
Petition to Allow PE credit for High School Marching Band in Morgan Hill Unified
We, citizens of Morgan Hill, petition to allow PE credit to be given for High School Marching Band. The Marching Band programs meets the objectives and criteria of the district’s physical education program. Marching Band provides physical activity that is conducive to health and vigor of body and mind.
Families of Live Oak and Ann Sobrato High School Marching Band programs would like to recommend awarding PE credit for Marching Band effective this upcoming 2018/2019 and future school years. Many California school districts have already adopted this practice. Based on guidelines from other successful schools, we (suggest) propose the following:
- Students required to take 9th grade PE and pass fitness test prior to alternate (Marching band) PE credits being allowed.
- Students granted alternate PE credit per semester for each approved class:
- 2 years of Fall Marching Band OR
- 2 years of Winter Percussion/Guard OR
- 1 year of each Fall Marching Band and 1 year of Winter Percussion/Guard
- Physical Education and Marching Band PE cannot be taken concurrently.
- Marching Band Students must participate the entire season and complete in good standing. At the completion of the season, the Band Director will recommend students to receive PE exemption.
Marching Band class, in addition to being physically demanding, teaches lifelong love of physical activity and wellness. Proper hydration and stretching are required. Marching Band provides an environment for successful participation in group activities and teaches life skills such as leadership, group communication and time management; all of which are part of Course 2 PE standards. (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/pestandards.pdf)
Sophomores and upperclassmen have many academic demands. In order for a Marching Band student to fit PE in their schedule the student must either give up other academic, elective, AP classes or take summer college class to earn credit.
Granting PE credits for marching band is permitted by the California Educational code. The CA educational code allows each school district to make the decision regarding Marching Band to count towards PE credit. Additionally, CA educational code allows a credentialed teacher, such as a music teacher who is on paid staff to teach marching band to be a suitable substitute for a PE teacher because they have been credentialed in their area of expertise. (http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/pe/physeducfaqs.asp)
Please help us in our support for allowing PE credits to be given to Marching Band students by signing the following petition. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 19, 2018
February 18, 2018
Reaching one thousand signatures will demonstrate to the district that our community views the physical demands of marching band as equivalent to traditional athletics. This milestone serves as a vital indicator of public consensus before we formally present our proposal to the board.
Reached 100 supporters
February 8, 2018
445 Comments
The only people who truly understand how physically challenging marching band/color guard is are the preformers, the parents, and the diresctors. Marching band had put me into shape in as little as two months. It really should count for a physical credited class.
My daughter did marching band all 4 years at Sobrato and it was quite rigorous. (She was also a varsity cross country runner so I believed her when she mentioned the fatigue factor and work involved in the marching band practices!)
Former marching band member here. I remember the football players joking with us -- until they tried to keep up with just a high mark-time drill. They couldn't cut it after 5 minutes, and we had already been doing the drill for 20 minutes before they started.
My daughter was in color guard 1995-1998. These members along with the band spent more time doing physical activity daily, including weekends, than an average day in PE. Plus if they participated in Winterguard, that extended into the next semester. This is LONG overdue.
Marching band is an excellent work out and far more strenuous than most PE classes. The band members have been requesting this for over 20 years. It’s time to make the change and give Marching Band and Color Guard members PE credit!
My district in TX allows even freshmen to join marching band for a PE credit, so I don't see why not here?
Preach
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The district has officially approved the policy allowing marching band to fulfill physical education requirements. This outcome validates the physical rigor and dedication our students bring to the field each season. We will keep observing how this transition unfolds to ensure the process remains smooth for all families involved.
March 20, 2018
Final supporters
Petition to Allow PE credit for High School Marching Band in Morgan Hill Unified
We, citizens of Morgan Hill, petition to allow PE credit to be given for High School Marching Band. The Marching Band programs meets the objectives and criteria of the district’s physical education program. Marching Band provides physical activity that is conducive to health and vigor of body and mind.
Families of Live Oak and Ann Sobrato High School Marching Band programs would like to recommend awarding PE credit for Marching Band effective this upcoming 2018/2019 and future school years. Many California school districts have already adopted this practice. Based on guidelines from other successful schools, we (suggest) propose the following:
- Students required to take 9th grade PE and pass fitness test prior to alternate (Marching band) PE credits being allowed.
- Students granted alternate PE credit per semester for each approved class:
- 2 years of Fall Marching Band OR
- 2 years of Winter Percussion/Guard OR
- 1 year of each Fall Marching Band and 1 year of Winter Percussion/Guard
- Physical Education and Marching Band PE cannot be taken concurrently.
- Marching Band Students must participate the entire season and complete in good standing. At the completion of the season, the Band Director will recommend students to receive PE exemption.
Marching Band class, in addition to being physically demanding, teaches lifelong love of physical activity and wellness. Proper hydration and stretching are required. Marching Band provides an environment for successful participation in group activities and teaches life skills such as leadership, group communication and time management; all of which are part of Course 2 PE standards. (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/pestandards.pdf)
Sophomores and upperclassmen have many academic demands. In order for a Marching Band student to fit PE in their schedule the student must either give up other academic, elective, AP classes or take summer college class to earn credit.
Granting PE credits for marching band is permitted by the California Educational code. The CA educational code allows each school district to make the decision regarding Marching Band to count towards PE credit. Additionally, CA educational code allows a credentialed teacher, such as a music teacher who is on paid staff to teach marching band to be a suitable substitute for a PE teacher because they have been credentialed in their area of expertise. (http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/pe/physeducfaqs.asp)
Please help us in our support for allowing PE credits to be given to Marching Band students by signing the following petition. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 19, 2018
February 18, 2018
Reaching one thousand signatures will demonstrate to the district that our community views the physical demands of marching band as equivalent to traditional athletics. This milestone serves as a vital indicator of public consensus before we formally present our proposal to the board.
Reached 100 supporters
February 8, 2018
445 Comments
Completely support this, to full fill all the graduation requirements and be competitive for college applications it's nearly impossible to do 4 years of marching band and the required two years of PE. Many other district's count matching band as PE Credit.
The only people who truly understand how physically challenging marching band/color guard is are the preformers, the parents, and the diresctors. Marching band had put me into shape in as little as two months. It really should count for a physical credited class.
My daughter did marching band all 4 years at Sobrato and it was quite rigorous. (She was also a varsity cross country runner so I believed her when she mentioned the fatigue factor and work involved in the marching band practices!)
Former marching band member here. I remember the football players joking with us -- until they tried to keep up with just a high mark-time drill. They couldn't cut it after 5 minutes, and we had already been doing the drill for 20 minutes before they started.
My daughter was in color guard 1995-1998. These members along with the band spent more time doing physical activity daily, including weekends, than an average day in PE. Plus if they participated in Winterguard, that extended into the next semester. This is LONG overdue.
Marching band is an excellent work out and far more strenuous than most PE classes. The band members have been requesting this for over 20 years. It’s time to make the change and give Marching Band and Color Guard members PE credit!
My district in TX allows even freshmen to join marching band for a PE credit, so I don't see why not here?
Preach
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Completely support this, to full fill all the graduation requirements and be competitive for college applications it's nearly impossible to do 4 years of marching band and the required two years of PE. Many other district's count matching band as PE Credit.