For 5 years, it has been my honor to supply guitars, tuners, cases, recording equipment, PA...anything needed for a unique program in Louisville, Kentucky at Kenwick elementary school.

I visited the day the widow of a former musician I was guardian of and I went to her grandaughter's graduation. In her home room was a stack of "garage find" guitars. The teacher, Angela Hardin (I'd adopt her if I could), assisted by her great husband, was buying used guitars, fixing them up and conducting a guitar club after school.

I don't think she believed me at first, but a week after our meeting, I showed up with a truck full of brand new equipment.

The club became really popular...so popular that another teacher from another school began busing students to the school and using the equipment. I gave the top two students in each class their own guitar every semester. The school seemed to love the program. It was one of the more popular of the clubs the kids joined as part of the overall education experience. This was in a troubled neighborhood, with many challenged kids.

Abruptly, this year, the program was cancelled as a cost-saving effort, as were all other arts related programs.

Thing is, this one cost the school NOTHING! I paid all costs
and the teachers did the instruction on their own time.

What a shame. The guitars were given to the best students and I got a box of GREAT thank-you letters from the recipients.

My expectations were relatively low. If just 1 kid a year developed an appreciation for art of ANY kind...music, acting, sculpture, film, writing...anything involving the arts, I would be a happy old dude.

Eliminating the arts is going on all over the country. Liberal arts professors are being fired left and right all over the country, including at my beloved UK.

HOW SAD!


Russ