"What if ..." by Liz Ukstins

What if ... (but we don't)

by Liz Ukstins

What if

music

was more appreciated

than sports

What if

art education

was more important

than physical education

What if

we forced a varsity soccer player

to take four years of orchestra

and only require

a mere five credits of gym

What if

we told a football player

that they had to perform

the marching band's halftime show

and sit in the cold bleachers at every game

but never get cheered for

or recognized

What if

the music program was able

to give a single $10,000 scholarship to

an honors musician

but the sports program was only able

to give a $500 scholarship to

a varsity athlete

What if

we didn't assume

that all students are

athletes

But we don't

We live in a country

where you can turn on any channel

on any given Sunday

and watch every single sports game

but never be able to find a

choir concert sung by

America's best

We live in a town

where the board of education

has tried to rid the schools of music education

because its "too expensive"

but doesn't hesitate to give a $2 million surplus

to the sports programs

to put in a new track and turf fields

We go to a school

where two types of classes are offered

"Practical" and "Impractical"

and what a surprise,

the music and art classes are considered

"Impractical"

When we are

90 years old

and rid of all energy

we will not be playing lacrosse

or wrestling each other 

in the nursing home

When we are

90 years old

and only able to move

our fingers and our eyes

we can sit at a piano

and play

When we are

90 years old

and can only speak

we will still be able to

carry a tune

or sing our favorite song

So how can you look at me

and say that music

and the arts are "impractical", 

when I'll have music in my heart

for the rest of my life

and all you'll have is an antique jersey

and a pair of cleats that no longer fit