Skip to main content

Today's Poll: Should school districts cut spending on athletics?

By Howard B. Owens
Sam Tambe Jr.

With the rise of easily obtainable illegal/legal drugs (such as K2 etc.) in our county/community cutting sports will only cause a rise in teens checking into "Hope Haven" and "GCASA". Not to mention side effects such as more teen pregnancies and teenagers in trouble/arrests because they didn't have anything to keep them occupied. THINK PEOPLE!!

Oct 4, 2011, 2:30pm Permalink
Bob Harker

Obviously we have to give that money to teachers that refuse to be held accountable for their successes and failures in the classroom. Especially the sacred "tenured" teachers. They've been there long enough to be above reproach, right?

Teachers unions are killing our educational output incentives. We spend much more per student and have horrible results. The unions believe their members to be more important than the student.

Oct 4, 2011, 5:32pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

I voted yes for a simple reason, school athletics don't benefit the majority of the students.
GCASA and Hope Haven have their hands full with all the underage drinkers getting busted at Darien Lake. As you can see, even when teens aren't bored, they still get into trouble....

Oct 4, 2011, 7:17pm Permalink
Greg Siedlecki

We'll get "yes" votes from parents whose kids never played or might have played sports at one time ... but quit ... or are no longer in school! And "no" votes from parents whose kids are involved in school athletics. The administration needs to think about what these kids might end up doing without sports, like walking the streets doing nothing ... or getting in to problem. I'd rather have mine playing sports!

Oct 5, 2011, 7:51am Permalink
Pat McGinnis

Why not start a pay to play program, many other school districts do it. Each student that plays a sport helps to supplement the cost incurred by the school district. Sports are important to kids and I’m sure the high school programs can have fund raisers and maybe a small charge to cover the equipment or insurance.

Oct 5, 2011, 7:58am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

With or without sports, kids will get into trouble, they don't play 24/7. I would rather not pay for a minority of students.
The problem is, and always has been, there isn't much for teens to do in Batavia.

Oct 5, 2011, 8:24am Permalink
Wendy Morse

Unfortunately sports is what keeps some kids in school. It's what they look forward to everyday. Sports are a privilage to play not a right. I believe kids do learn things from sports that arent taught in the classroom. Team work, comradery, compassion, and it humbles you at times. Great friendships & mentors are made through sports. I bet you ask anyone who played sports, what person influenced their life the most you will hear a coach as an answer. These coaches are great teachers outside of the classroom. I don't believe there is any class during the regular school day that teaches these life long lessons. Loose the sports you will also loose some more of that community spirit. Years ago it used to be the whole community rallied behind the school sports teams and cheered them on. They were the pride of the community & bragging rights if the team was doing well. Kind of what we are seeing in Buffalo now that the Biil's are winning again. I believe it's still there in the smaller school districts. People used to attend the games even if they didn't have a child or grandchild playing. I still see some of that just not as much. I don't just feel this way about the sports programs, I believe it for the music program, drama program, and any other club or activity. These are the programs that help kids mold themselves & figure out what they may want to do in life. You start taking away what these kids live for and love to do, school is going to become a very sad place. I guess the other option is if the public schools are going to start taking all of these things away, the private shcools are looking better & better.

Oct 5, 2011, 9:02am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Wendy, years ago more people lived here, and there were more, good paying jobs. The schools are in business to educate our children and prepare them for the future. With all the belt tightening going on, there is little money to support activities for certain students, money has to be spent in a way that benefits all students.
Private schools can be costly, but if they offer sports and that's what a parent wants, go for it, just don't ask me to help pay for it......

Oct 5, 2011, 7:04pm Permalink

Authentically Local