John R. Gerdy Releases BALL OR BANDS

CONESTOGA, Penn.

In a perfect world, all school extracurricular activities would be fully funded. But with all indications being that future education funding will be significantly reduced, it's painfully clear that it is no longer a perfect world. As a result, school and community leaders as well as parents will be forced to determine how to allocate increasingly scarce extracurricular dollars, particularly in the areas of athletics and the arts. In such an environment, the fundamental question is which extracurricular activities garner the best educational return on investment.

These decisions must be made with the recognition that America's economy has changed from one based on industrial might to one driven by technology, creativity, collaboration and innovation. What does this mean as applied to educational funding and priorities? How should it impact efforts to structure schools and educational curriculums to prepare our children to succeed in this rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world economy and integrated global community?

His new book, "Ball or Bands: Football vs. Music as an Educational and Community Investment" (published by Archway Publishing), author and educator John R. Gerdy, who calls himself both "a product of our country's elite sports system" and a "lifelong musician," draws not only on relevant research and data, but also his extensive experience in both worlds, to provide answers to these challenging questions.

The result is a thoughtful, thorough and clear-eyed comparative analysis of the educational value of football versus music programs in providing our children an education worthy of the 21st century.

"Ball or Bands"
By John R. Gerdy
Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 252 pages | ISBN 9781480810945
Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 252 pages | ISBN 9781480810952
E-Book | 252 pages | ISBN 9781480810969
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author
John R. Gerdy is founder and executive director of Music for Everyone. A former all-American and professional basketball player, he served at the NCAA and as associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. He is author of "Sports: The All-American Addiction" and "Air Ball: American Education's Failed Experiment with Elite Athletics." In 2007, he was chosen as one of America's 100 Most Influential Sports Educators by the Institute of International Sport. More information is available at http://www.JohnGerdy.com.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the leading self-publishing company worldwide, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit http://www.archwaypublishing.com or call 888-242-5904.