Mandatory music programs are often a great asset to any school. In theory, they teach children valuable skills in reading and performing music, and give them a new appreciation for music as an art form.
However, music programs can also be some of the most stressful parts of school, both on students and on the teachers. The students have to learn to read music from the ground up, which is no simple task, especially if it's not something they take to right away. Even if they have an easier time understanding it than some, there's the endless hours of practicing they have to do to actually learn to play the instrument well.
In some ways the music teachers have it even worse. They're stuck trying to teach skills that some people spend literal decades trying to master to a group of a few dozen students who probably don't even care a little bit, and that's before you get into actually having to correct their playing. Have you ever heard 30+ people all loudly playing the wrong note? It's pretty unbearable.
Apparently one music teacher in California finally had enough, because they're now under investigation for giving kids instruments with some pretty disgusting surprises.
The details are pretty disturbing...
As reported by CBS Sacramento, "the Saugus Union School District notified parents Saturday about a state and federal investigation into handmade flutes that were handed out to youngsters in some classrooms by a music teacher and performer associated with the nonprofit group Flutes Across the World."
Three other school districts, namely Fountain Valley, Newport Mesa and Capistrano, also notified parents about the situation within the past week, warning them that flutes distributed by the as-yet unnamed teacher may be contaminated with semen.
CBS elaborates, stating;
"Fountain Valley's superintendent told parents that in June an independent music enrichment contractor gave fifth-grade students flutes that "potentially" were contaminated with unspecified body fluids.
Officials with the Fullerton district say fourth- through sixth-grade students at two schools took part in the program.
The Los Angeles Unified School District says the flutes may have been distributed to students in as many as 13 Southern California districts."
No arrests have been made in the case so far, but officials for both the state and federal governments are investigating the situation.