The bell rings, and marching band students flow out of the band hallway to head to their next classes. They are exhausted, worn out and freezing after being outside all morning. Now for the rest of the day, the energy from the students is low, and the pile of homework at the end of the day is left unfinished.

Marching band should be recognized more for the toll it takes on them. They are getting buried underneath the expectations to perform well, finish and turn in all homework, study for tests, and be able to participate in other activities and classes.

The marching band activity isn’t easy; students work hard, and it shows during performances. Students practice often. In the mornings for first hour and Early Bird class, during Monday night rehearsals, and on weekends when their Saturdays are not used for relaxing at home, but playing at competitions. Not to mention all of the practicing music and routines in any other free time outside of school.

Marching Mustangs either don’t find the time to get homework done, or stay up late and lose sleep trying to finish it. They also don’t have as many spots in their schedules for other classes when it is taken up by a P.E. class. However, if students do want extra classes, they then have to take early bird P.E. and get up early every morning during the second semester also. 

When a form was sent out in October 2024, 63% of the band students voted that marching band should be counted as a P.E. class. Students also noted that the marching band had just as much physical activity as the P.E. Lifetime Wellness class. They do many breathing exercises, stretches, hold up heavy instruments and flags, and have to march and run.

There should be more options for P.E. credit. Maybe if marching band counted as Lifetime Wellness P.E. class credit, though students who wanted weightlifting and extra exercise could also take the Strength and Speed P.E. class.

Instead of having band and P.E., there could be marching band first semester, and a P.E. class should not be required for those who do not want to participate in a P.E. class. It should be optional and students should be able to choose what they do for a physical education class, without extra time being taken away.