Because of the "hard" economic times we are experiencing in Virginia, many local school systems have decided to charge high school students to play sports.
I find this completely out of line and unacceptable. It is unfortunate that our elected state officials have put the local school systems in a position where they have to either eliminate a sport or charge a fee.
You must give a child every opportunity to grow as a person. You must give a child every chance to learn. You must give a child an opportunity to experience new things. This is how young men and women grow into adulthood.
High school sports are a valuable teaching tool, kids who participate in high school sports have to maintain a minimum GPA in order to play. Most kids who play sports through their senior year will graduate. Team sports teach kids how to get along, how to follow direction, how to push themselves, it teaches them how to win and how to accept losing. It teaches sportsmanship. It teaches them to work hard physically, it keeps kids active, fit, and off the streets. Sports make leaders.
Some of the school districts that are charging say that if your child is on the free lunch program that he or she will not be charged, super, I think that's great! I think the state should follow the same idea and give the districts that need financial help the money. If the state budget cant afford this then it is time to raise taxes, raise the tobacco tax, raise the gas tax, raise the sales tax, raise whatever tax you need to so our children will be able to experience sports without worrying about money and whether or not Mom and Dad can afford it.
Worrying about money and whether or not you can afford something is a grown-up problem.
Once the state sees that we as parents will pay (which we will) they will take that as the norm and we will be on the hook forever.
The next time you go to elect your local and state officials, please take the time to find out where they stand and if they support raising taxes to help high school sports. I would gladly pay an addition 1/2 cent or 1 cent a gallon, I would gladly pay an additional 1/4 % in sales tax if I knew it would mean eliminating Pay to Play in Virginia.
Being robbed by the people we elect stinks They are playing off of our love for our kids to make up for their lack of courage.
So now the Gov has stated we have a 400 million budget surplus. Public schools will be getting an additional 18 million. But we still have to "pay to "play"? this is unjust and wrong. period.
Virginia Budget Surplus
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