Pay to Play for Athletics
I knew this was looming for Seattle high schools but this article in the Times shows it is spreading rapidly throughout our area. I guess it's a sign of the times. We have a lot of sports, they cost money (in transportation, coaches, uniforms, etc.). It also becomes an issue like the drama differences between high schools (Roosevelt versus Rainier Beach, for example). Many schools have sports booster clubs and it is likely there are big money differences between schools (and probably between sports as well). I know that the Seattle high school principals voted to return to the Metro league (versus King-Co) because of the issue of transportation costs but that's the last I heard.
The Roosevelt PTSA is going to try to set up a scholarship fund for free/reduced lunch athletes so that any student who wants to participate in sports can do so. I know this is not probably not going to happen everywhere and it seems sad that some kids may not be able to participate. I know at Roosevelt (like some of the other schools in the article), athletes had to purchase an ASB (associated student body) card to participate. I wonder if the fee means that purchase is no longer required.
The Roosevelt PTSA is going to try to set up a scholarship fund for free/reduced lunch athletes so that any student who wants to participate in sports can do so. I know this is not probably not going to happen everywhere and it seems sad that some kids may not be able to participate. I know at Roosevelt (like some of the other schools in the article), athletes had to purchase an ASB (associated student body) card to participate. I wonder if the fee means that purchase is no longer required.
Comments
I never had to pay extra for athletics when I was in school-
ASB cards yes- but not to be on a sports team.
When parents and kids want to do fundraisers= thats fine and great- so do the orchestra and drama groups
But do kids have to pay to be in a theatre production?
The kids that are most inspired to keep up their grades because it will allow them to participate on a team- often cannot afford to pay to do so.
No I don't normally like a tangible reward with grades, but it is a fact of life that the groups with the most racial and economic diversity in a city high school are the sports teams.
We should not be putting up barriers to kids to participate.
Imagine paying for full day kindergarten ?? We are so used to it we don't even realize how outrageous that is!
That does not even include my many hours of volunteer time, both in class and on the PTA.
Isn't this enough??? Must we charge for even more now?? I don't think so. It's time to say no.
Students will still have to purchase ASB membership. But, there is an ability for the principal to waive the fees if the student is FRL elligable, or they have other reason to believe that it would cause an economic hardship.
"I don't like having to pay for basics in school at all. At our school we have to pay for K, pay for music, pay for vocal music, and for field trips"
Help lead the chance with the state, who only funds half-day K, though there is apilot program to fund all day K. If WA was not in the basement on education funding, parents would not have to pay for things that seem basic, but are not covered by the state's basic ed dollars.
This is what it's come to.
You have twice now written that the "Seattle high school principals voted to return to the Metro league (versus King-Co) because of the issue of transportation costs."
That is not true. The prinicpals considered it, but never ended up taking a vote.
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=metro01&date=20070601&query=Hairston+vote
However, I also looked up to see what Boston charges at their schools.
Never mind- Sorry I brought it up!
A group called Save Our Sports is working to raise enough money by Sept. 7 to bring that $495 fee down to $325 per sport or less.
I have a daughter who has had to miss lots of class- because of driving to Juanita and farther for sporting events- but after reading Jack Hamann's letter, I have changed my position re Metro vs Kingco
http://www.garfieldvolleyball.com/
02Volleyblogs/News/Principals_Delay.html
BTW where is an easy tutorial to learn the HTML that can be used on Blogger?
But I can answer Classof75's blogger HTML question. When I want to do HTML in comment posts, I look up the "how to" in the Blogger Help.
For example, search for "HTML URL link" and see what you find. I can't put the results here because it keeps creating links and hiding the code. :-)
You can also try following this link to see if you find the results.
Blogger Help
Try this generic Blogger Help link and then do a search for "URL HTML link."
I was also notified that, at Roosevelt at least, student athletes have to buy an ASB card ($50) plus pay the fee.
Which principal at Roosevelt, because according to the radio coverage on the topic, Dick Campbell did not attend, but I believe Brian Vance did.
Al Hairston (who is still supervised by Ammon McWashington) said that the meeting lasted for several hours and ended with a vote to table the motion. Out of curosity, I called to confirm today and the news story was accurate and the most current information on the topic.
Then the first sport is $50 & 2nd sport $25.
So I just wrote a check for $125-which frankly is a lot for us-
I am also appalled that FRL students have to pay anything- as the ceiling on FRL is very low-
Many people can't afford to buy gas to get to work, but don't qualify for FRL.
I think it is great that the Roosevelt PTA is helping students & I know the Garfield PTA is also very active- for instance they cover subs in the counseling office.
But what about schools who don't have that sort of support?
All schools should have librarians- cafeterias & custodians.
The level shouldn't depend on what the building decides to spend their money on.
For a comprehensive high school- athletic teams are also a basic.
Even at Garfield, sports teams often don't have adequate uniforms or safety equipment.
The football team was using cast offs from the Huskies at one point-
When we have money to rent facilities to offer boutique schools like the Center school, how can we not insure that sports teams are supported?
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