Schools ignoring the arts during pandemic

I am a Grade 9 student at Clayton Park Junior High. I am part of the band program at my school and the Halifax Regional Arts program here in Halifax.

For about two months now, I have been trying to figure out why arts students are not allowed to be playing their instruments for more than 30 minutes at a time while being six feet apart.

This rule is going on while people who are part of the sports programs are allowed to be closer than six feet (and touching) with heavy breathing in an indoor space.

One of the reasons gyms have been closed is because it can be crowded and it's indoors. So why is it that I can be in a class of 30 in the gym wearing no masks for a full hour exercising and breathing heavy, but I can't be in a class of 11 people six feet apart playing our instruments for more than half an hour?

I have tried contacting people at the centre of education, but have only had “copy, paste” responses. I have attempted, many times, to get in contact with somebody who could directly answer my questions but have failed to get any response.

We have been told that other groups can use the gym for their extracurricular activities, however, bands have been told they cannot use the gym because it is for extracurricular activities only.

As part of the arts programs, we students have always been encouraged to continue playing our instruments. It is shown that being involved in the arts can lower stress levels and increases resilience during stressful situations. Yes, sports are important for not only students but for all people of all ages, but the arts are just as important.

In the last five years, we have seen the number of students participating in arts go drastically down. This is not just because students have lost interest, but it's because we are constantly getting overlooked.

We all understand that these times are hard for everyone but clearly the arts are getting overlooked yet again and we need to do something about it.

A socially distanced band practice at North Nova High School. In her letter today, Halifax junior high student Anna Martin asks why pandemic restrictions in schools are tougher on participants in the arts than they are on those involved in sports.