If done right, it's an introduction to music with instruments. Like a step up from the rhythm sticks and tambourines and a lead into playing a more complex instrument in the band or orchestra. Sadly, it's not usually done right so you get a bunch of kids who think it's stupid and end up hating it.
I actually was never forced to play this... I wanted to but my parents said no. Even in choir when we would play woth random intraments I would always get those wood sticks or a triangle but never a recorder.
Not those
Many hours of trying to learn "London's fucking burning" did my head in.