Outrage Over District Plan To Cut All Athletics (NorCal)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/18261602/detail.html#-

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Hard economic times dealt a crushing blow to athletics in Northern California's largest high school district as trustees voted in favor of an interim budget that calls for the district-wide elimination of all athletic programs.

The East Side Union District Board of Trustees met in San Jose early Thursday evening for an emotionally-charged discussion on the topic that stretched into the evening. Some parents feel there are political motivations behind this unprecedented move to cut athletics, while district leaders claim Sacramento leaves them no other choice.

After the controversial vote, the board noted that the program cuts are not a final decision, depending how much funding the state provides.

At Independence High School, a quarter of the entire school -- about 1,000 students in all -- are athletes.

[MineralMan]

1. I have no problem with that decision...

I have nothing against athletics, but when money begins to run out, it should be the first thing cut...followed by other non-academic functions of the school.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

3. I agree.

[amdezurik]

5. the sad thing is

this is just about the last in most school districts, music, arts and other "extras" will have already been cut...heaped on the disaster of NCLB and the dumbing down encouraged by the repukes for 7 years

[MrCoffee]

2. That sucks.

[ogneopasno]

4. I'd rather see sports cut than classes and teachers. And I say this as a hockey mom.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

6. I'm pleasantly surprised

Where I used to teach, a budget crunch led to firing teachers and discontinuing athletics. The parents rallied to save the athletic program and then complained when the high school almost lost accreditation because there weren't enough teachers or extracurriculars.

[madmom]

7. I look at it this way, how many high school athletes do you know who went on to

have a career in said program as opposed to how many artists, musicians, not to mention that what used to be taught in home ec was something everybody should know and use their entire life.