In my district, we’re facing yet another round of budget cuts – Tiers 5 and 6, as they are called. Tiers 1 through 4 already cut some 500 teachers & staff (< 5%) along with a host of other things. Tier 5 will cut Middle School sports. That’s right. Middle School sports.
Clearly, this was not the first thing to go, but I am betting it will prove to be among the most controversial. It has caused me to pause and stand back for a moment and reflect on the elevated role sports play in schools; indeed, in American society at large. I wonder what effect, if any, this might have on the academic performance of students. I wonder how this shift in focus will alter the schools’ culture. I wonder if it may cause a lasting paradigm shift in our 38 middle schools, long after the budget calf is once again fattened. I guess time will tell.
I’d like to know what you think. Should our superintendent be applauded or admonished for this budget cut? What short or long term impact might this have on our middle schools? Hit me back. dven.
July 6, 2009 at 6:42 am |
I just noticed this post on your blog as well and I cannot believe cutting sports was even an option. I am a football, basketball, and Track and Field coach. I know for a fact that without these extracurricular activities my school would look different and we would have a much higher rate of truancy. The superintendent has lost his/her mind. Just curious, how much of a pay cut did the superintendent, and all of the 6 figure principals take?