Letter to the Editor

Watch the movie

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Dear Editor,

I am outraged at the decision the school board has made to turn down stiffer sports requirements. I think our school board could learn a lot by watching the movie Coach Carter, which is available for rent at the local video store.

In the movie the coach was more concerned about the education of his team members than he was in whether or not the team could play. He believed in the Student-Athlete, not the athletic student. Apparently Diane Lyons is the only member of the school board that is deserving of her position.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out how Jerry Smith ever became a principal. It sounds like he'd better fit the role of a coach only concerned about having the best players on his team.

Maybe if he looked at his position as though he were the coach and the school were the team, he'd be more concerned about ensuring that his team had the best players possible.

My reason for this statement is due to his statement "When you take away something successful as a punishment for something they're not successful in, it's not a good thing."

Whatever happened to President Bush's "No-Child Left Behind" policy? It sounds to me as though Mr. Smith has totally given up on the possibility that these students might have the potential to learn skills that would benefit them later in society.

There's a commercial on TV that talks about the odds of becoming a professional athlete, and to my recollection -- those odds aren't that great. Maybe he should remember that his job is to ensure that all students obtain the best education possible. And by the way, Mr. Smith, not all kids who happen to fail a couple of classes are "at-risk." Maybe the teachers and their principal should look into what's keeping them from passing those classes and not worry so much about whether or not we're going to win the championship this season.

In regards to Ron Soden's comment that the only kids with anything to lose would be athletes and kids in activities, I have this to say: Sports and other activities should only be treated as a privilege. It should be a reward for your success in your academics. In my work experience I have encountered so many kids who have no idea how to count back change, and if it weren't for the register they'd have no idea how much money to give back or what the total amount of the customer's purchase should be.

To me, these things are much more important than a person's ability to throw or catch a ball. Unless you are one of the few lucky people who happen to become a professional athlete, those skills will get you nowhere in life. However the formerly mentioned skills can set you up for career advancements which will allow you to provide a better life for yourself.

I strongly urge the community to familiarize themselves with the names of our present school board members, and not vote for them when their names reappear on the ballots (with the exception of Ms. Lyons). The future of our economy relies on the education the students of today receive.

**Kevin Wilson

McCook

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