Dunedin High School Pipes

The Dunedin High School administration has reconsidered their ban on the pipers and drummers. They will now allow the pipe band to play at the 40th Annual Dunedin Highland Games. This comes after many concerned parents, Celtic organizations, troubled citizens (local and abroad), and local politicians expressed their worries that the program and its traditions would be in danger. Not only did they play, the DHS pipe band, under the direction of Sandy Keith, took first place in grade 3! The pipe band also won the prestigious Stirling Award of Dunedin for continuing Scottish Culture in the city. Congrats to the band and Mr Keith! Alba Gu Brath! Dunedin Gu Brath!

To:  Duedin High School and Pinellas County School Board

Dear Pinellas County Education Board & Administration of Dunedin High.
We have become very concerned AGAIN, regarding the discontinuance of piping at Dunedin High. When concerns were raised months ago, regarding these issues, both the Mayor of Dunedin and State Representative Anderson approached the School Board and the Principal, and both were reassured that Mr. Dykes was not phasing out the pipers.

The current principal, Paul Summa, states in a letter to Tom Anderson, "There are no plans nor have there ever been plans to eliminate or dilute the Scottish tradition at Dunedin High. Our Highlander Band will be wearing kilts and playing bagpipes as long as I am principal of Dunedin High, and beyond, I am sure."

Yet there are no plans to use Dunedin High Pipers in the Dunedin Tattoo in 2006!! In 2005, only one song was played by the pipers! The rest of the time they were marching around looking ridiculous, while the band was maneuvering in formations, and did not play a note. Half-time piping involvement at football games has been reduced greatly since Mr. Dykes came on board, ask anyone in the stands, or any piper parent. This is a major reduction in the use of pipers, whose tradition at Dunedin has been paramount since the late 1950’s!

The whole Scottish tradition in Dunedin revolves around the two school bands. The Middle School band feeds the High School band, which then feeds the City of Dunedin Band. The Highland Games, in its 40th year, was started to help support these bands. The Scottish American Society in Dunedin is proud of these bands and also donates funds to assist. The New World Celts, founded in Dunedin, helps support the Games with manpower and provides scholarships to local pipers and dancers to keep the tradition proud. Dunedin is known throughout the state of Florida for its Scottish bands and tradition.

It is very disturbing that this tradition is being tossed aside due to the actions of one man.

We, the undersigned, after hearing words and reading letters stating that nothing was happening, believe our eyes instead, and see the actions, or rather inaction of the pipers, and all of this is occurred after Mr. Dykes came on board.

We ask that Mr. Dykes revert the band back to its greatness by re-including the bagpipe to its former premier status, or to find employment where his obvious dislike for the bagpipes will not upset a half-century of successful tradition!

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Dunedin High School Pipes Petition to Duedin High School and Pinellas County School Board was created by New World Celts and written by Michael Dunlap (newworldcelts@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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