The tipoff is in the lede from Saturday’s edition of the Springfield State Journal-Register :
Should the Springfield High School Marching Band have performed at Wednesday’s pro-tax increase rally at the Illinois Capitol? Most aren’t making a big deal out of the band’s march at the event, which drew thousands of people from around Illinois.
Based on that, you would expect that a story of such little import wouldn’t warrant much attention. In fact, based on what the reporter wrote, one would question whether the story belongs in news section of the paper. The editorial page would make some sense.
Yet, there it is. At the top of Page One.
Maybe that’s understandable.
Maybe it was a slow news day and nothing else happened that could have been placed in the most prominent news position in the paper.
Well, there is this on page 17:
Actually, the headline is a little misleading. Republican gubernatorial nominee Sen. Bill Brady didn’t pay federal taxes in 2008 or 2009. He also paid no state income taxes in 2008.
So, we have a government employee, paid with state tax dollars, making decisions about state tax policy, who wants to cut taxes and reduce funding for education and state services, who doesn’t pay taxes.
No, I see nothing newsworthy about that. Page 17 it is.
By the way, since the paper edition was distributed, the online version of the Brady tax story has been retitled “Brady owed no federal taxes in 2008, 2009,” a more positive spin on the same story.
Interesting.
Regarding the SHS band performance at the SOS rally day, a few things need to be said.
In the interest of full disclosure, I called the Springfield school district, extended the invitation and helped coordinate the performance with the band teacher, Kelly Goldberg, who is one of our members. The invitation included our offer to pay for any expenses incurred. We will be writing a check for $300.
The invitation came in spite of complaining from my daughter (flute) who thought it was a little hot for the uniforms she and her band mates were wearing that day.
Springfield High School stands just a few blocks from the Statehouse. The school’s band program is among the best to be found anywhere and the band is often called upon to perform at major events.
For example, they performed at rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan eight years ago, when President George W. Bush campaigned for him.
I’m pretty sure that wasn’t front-page news.
But let’s get to the main point, which was expressed very well “after the jump,” that is, inside the paper, well away from the front page.
From my standpoint, I wouldn’t look at it as the band playing at a political rally,” said Laura Bartman, president of the Springfield High School Band Parents Association. “This was about education funding — and fine-arts programs would be the ones getting cut. But for me, this also is where we could showcase our band when there were 15,000 people and national coverage,”
Indeed.
Wednesday was a great day for those who believe that education quality is important and worth preserving.
It was also a day when the arts and music were celebrated, as they should be, as being an important part of education.
That’s a story you won’t find on Page 1. But you should.