To begin, I would like to express my appreciation to the Easton Area School District (EASD) board and administration for allowing the parents to have input into to the budgeting process. I know some of the Ad Hoc committee recommendations were not implemented, but the process was a good start at practicing open government and community collaboration.
In response to the sports priority question, I have been involved in sports for as long as I can remember. I understand the positive attributes that youth sports has on our communities especially the sense of belonging that it gives kids. Sports also helps kids develop a sense of teamwork, and in many cases, a sense of family. In other words, sport participation contributes to the well being of our children. I fully understand the parent’s reaction to the elimination of EASD middle school sports.
The local municipality’s sports program may be called upon to absorb the cost of providing recreational opportunities to the affected children. I am certain the municipalities will find the money to accommodate our children.
Our first priority is to provide an education for all our children. In fact, I feel it is mission critical to provide them with a quality education, which includes the arts. In fact, for some students the arts are as important as sports are to other students. We need to develop teachers, scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, musicians, and others in order to guarantee our national and economic security.
It seems the outcry is about cutting the sports programs. Where is the outcry for the elimination of teachers, increasing class sizes, and eliminating technology support in a highly connected world? In my humble opinion, education is clearly priority one!
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