Pay to play sports

:thumbsup: Absolutely agree. Before I opened the link, I would have guessed the fee would be, say, $300-$400. $75 is a pittance.

As a taxpayer, though I realize the importance of extracurricular programs for kids, I'd rather not see my taxes go toward optional afterschool activities.

As to the gimme mentality of this generation's crop of kids, I think some of it is taught and some of it is immaturity.

 

I'm just plain sick of all of it!

If kids are old enough to work and wants to play sports, tell them mow grass, babysit, help a neighbor, etc. to earn the $75 bucks to play.

A new middle school was recently built near me. Includes tennis courts. That means salary for a tennis instructor, plus equipment, court maintenance, etc. The school doesn't have enough money to supply classrooms with crayons and chalk. (The list of what the student must supply grows longer every year.) How many students from that school will directly benefit from the taxpayer expense of providing tennis education? How many kids per day will the courts accomodate? Weather has been pretty miserable recently. Are those tennis classes being taught in the rain?

County spent a half million on a walking path that parallels a local highway. Once in a while I may see someone walking their dog. Usually when we pass it's empty. How many textbooks and toilet paper would those dollars have provided for local schools? If the few local folks who wanted a path to walk, they should have paid for it out of their own pockets, not mine. How's that any different from wanting to play tennis?

When did the emphasis change from providing some exercise (recess) during the day at school change? When did the emphasis on "sports" start over-riding fulfilling basic education needs first? There's something wrong when Susie Q has a great backhand, but can't make change for a dollar without an electronic device.

If a kid wants to study math or civics, I'll help pay for it without any reservation. If a kid wants to "play" he or she can work to pay for that themselves. If a kid needs exercise there are plently ways for that to happen without spending a cent. Running laps around the school can burn off a heap of calories.

 

How dare you teach kids to be responsible. They're entitled. :smilewinkgrin:

 

I think it is great. I would carry it over to band, drama and other such extracurricular programs.
We didn't pay but we had to supply much of what we used, like ball gloves, bats cleats or a helmet if you didn't care for the one the school had. Local folks had to pay for the ball teams for the most part due to only a small amount of school funds could go to sports.

 

In general, I agree. Should it also include the time spent in moral and religious indoctrination?

 

Well, those who want to reintroduce a prayer or pledge of allegiance at the beginning of a class or whatever want propagandizing on the taxpayer dime.

 

Apples and oranges. You are grasping. Perhaps a little time away from Alternet would help.

 

I didn't even know there were places that still offered free sports for kids.

 

Being a nation where over 2/3 of the population is overweight or obese, diabetes is expected to double in the next 8 years and the cost to treat it triple, all the advances in coronary healthcare which successfully treats and extends life has been overtaken by the adverse effects of obesity caused coronary disease and therefore it is still on the rise…not to forget joint, pulmonary, cancer, autoimmunity, and hormone imbalance diseases, etc. caused by obesity and poor fitness…I guarantee that the cost of promoting physical fitness as an academic requirement would amount to pennies on the dollar compared to what we a nation will be spending towards providing healthcare along with the loss of productivity in the job market due to uneducated individuals failing to recognize the importance of physical fitness as being a necessary priority in our schools and as important as math, English and science...and sports is an excellent way of accelerating physical fitness and generating interests to achieve a higher standard.

And yes, I said that whole sentence in like one breath. :saint:

 

And here's the problem with your reply...Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

Yet, you and likeminded individuals are unconscionably insisting, through evasion of the facts that exist, that “I” should have to reach in my pocket and pay for the ignorance in this country about the importance of educating our children in living a physically fit lifestyle. When I could be paying pennies on the dollar through taking a more ethical approach.

 

Pay for common sense? My original claim is based on common sense and remains valid in that the benefits would outweigh the costs to our society. I shouldn’t have to pay for lack of common sense and unconscionable values toward quality of life.

I not only value life but quality of life. One could also rightfully say I am obsessed with stopping abortion because I value life; so would you hold to the same standards of if people wish to abort their children, let them? If they are too ignorant to understand their children should be provided life and nurtured then they "deserve" to be allowed to kill their children? Is it ever the country's job to impose morality and quality of life standards on others? What does a society become without civil guidance??? We need look no futher than the liberal policies which allow the murder of our children! (1) It seems you telling me to let them die asks me to reject my values and standards on life. (2) If money is your priority issue, I have already shown that your premise fails to support your cause.

 

The logical conclusion then is that every student should play rather than only the students that excell at a particular sport.

With competative sports played between schools most students are not allowed to participate because they are not good enough to make the team.

Why should they be denied this particular path to physical fitness and therefore subjected to a life of poor health?

Wouldn't you agree?