Voices of the Nation - November 2014

Q: As a band director, what role do you play in preventing hazing?

Bear Irwin, Director of Bands and Instrumental Music
Mill River Union High School
North Clarendon, Vermont

A very strong effort is consistently made to encourage student musicians to recognize that they are part of a community in which each one must be responsible to the others, which, of course, requires self-discipline. Awareness of others is another essential state of being. We are not created equal. In fact, we are remarkably diverse. This band could not accomplish what it does without student leadership. Hazing might develop in a situation where more experienced students are given leadership responsibilities and the opportunity to exercise that leadership. These musicians seem to understand that passing on knowledge is beneficial to all and can be done without hazing, which has no real benefit to anyone. The benefit comes from passing on knowledge by example and shared conversation. There is no need for hazing, and there is no room for hazing in the bands at this school.

Jim Tallman, Director of Bands
Washington Community High School
Washington, Illinois

We have a student leadership team that we interview and screen before allowing them to be student leaders. We discuss bullying and hazing – and they are my eyes and ears to make sure nothing close to hazing is going on in the sections (with our drum majors checking up on the student section leaders). We try to promote positive activities in our program – creating additional events to the normal rehearsals where students can work with each other in a comfortable, non-pressure situation. We go in with an attitude of zero-tolerance towards hazing and keep that for the season.

Jon Baumann, Director of Bands
Mandan High School
Mandan, North Dakota

As a high school band director, I do not allow my students to participate in any form of hazing or bullying. They know it is not tolerated in our program. As members of this organization, all students, directors and staff cultivate a sense of family where members take care of, rather than degrade, one another. Students are taught to be respectful of each other, directors and facilities. Our words and actions must reflect a strong commitment to excellence that our community in Mandan expects.

Tim Eckart, Director of Bands
Madison Central School District
Madison, South Dakota

At my current position there was a tradition of hazing or punishing students by assigning push-ups or laps around the practice field. During my first year, before band camp started, I met with all of the seniors and section leaders and informed them that this behavior was unacceptable. When asked how they felt when the upperclassmen made them do these things, they almost unanimously answered that they hated it. Instead of punishment as a means to correct mistakes they were taught to use NPSP (Name Positive Suggestion Positive). This has gone a long way to change the overall atmosphere of the band for the better.