Typical of board to rank sports over academics
February 10, 2010 01:00 AM | 534 views | 11 11 comments | 7 7 recommendations | email to a friend | print
DEAR EDITOR:

The Cobb County School Board really does a great PR job. The cost of turf is down, so now is the time to buy it for our stadiums. The cost of construction is also down, so why aren't the trailers and outdated, unsafe annexes being replaced with actual buildings? Our sports teams will no longer have to practice on wet, muddy fields. What about our children who have to run through wet, muddy walkways and in the rain to get to their trailers for class? How can turf be made a precedent over safe learning environments for our children to get an education? Even new trailers are still that - trailers.

When did turf out rank actual classrooms? With all the rain we've had, why hasn't the Cobb County School Board spent a day running in and out with our students who are stuck in trailers? Turf before classrooms. Sports before education.

As usual, no surprises from our Cobb County school board. What would be surprising is if they ever decide to put the needs of educating our children before anything else on their agenda.

Barbara Dyck
East Cobb Parent
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Comments
(11)
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An Athlete's Mother
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February 13, 2010
I understand that people want to support academics, but to imply that athletics isn't important or worthy of investment is a little like saying the obesity issue in the United States isn't a real one or music and art programs are purely extracurricular. I could get an argument about how astro-turf can be harder on a young athlete's body so isn't the best way to go, but to imply that investment in sports fields when money has been put aside for just this purpose is some sort of obscene waste is like saying that sports programs shouldn't be stressed in schools in the first place. I don't want a Friday Night Lights mentality, but there's a reason we have Physical Education as well as Calculus in public schools. I've got a kid who is good at both, and I'll tell you his participation in sports enhances his performance in academics. Activity provides a physical release for stress, and it puts down the foundation for healthy living long after graduation. Seems to me things like law suits about astro-turf steal money from teachers' pockets more than sports programs from which a broad range of students benefit and find a sense of accomplishment.
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Bart S
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February 12, 2010
Alan- Homer says "D'Oh!", not duh.
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Alan Faircloth
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February 11, 2010
TO DUH - Sorry Homer, but voters CANNOT approve expenditures that violate the statutory law governing the use of SPLOST proceeds. I don't care if the vote was 100% for it, if it isn't permitted by statute it cannot be done. Your first step should be towards getting the SPLOST laws changed....not getting inappropriate expenditures approved. Call or write your elected official...they are currently in session you know.
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JQP
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February 10, 2010
If revenues are down and not expected to reach the forecast total for all these projects on the list, which do not get completed? Do we forgo the classrooms or the fields? You can't have it both ways. Are we here to educate children or raise money for booster clubs?
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Duh ...
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February 10, 2010
They are just following thru on the voters approval in SPLOST III. Would you have them violate the rules of the SPLOST instead?

Can't have your cake and eat it too. The time to disagree was back at the ballot box for the SPLOST.

There are tons of "physical education" use of these fields anyway.

The brick mason's law suit will fail for that very reason as well as it being the will of the voters.
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Richard B
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February 10, 2010
Help...What don't you get about saving money in the long run?
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help him
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February 10, 2010
what do you expect when the super and his cronies are all a bunch of coaches??

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Tizzle
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February 10, 2010
Sports Rule!
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Susie Sweet
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February 10, 2010
Goooooo team! Fight,fight,fight!
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anonymous
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February 10, 2010
Hush your mouth girlfriend. We needs ashtro turff so we can run.
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dozing off
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February 10, 2010
pay attention, they are not sacrificing building of classrooms, they are continuing to build (Eastside, NorthCobb, South Cobb, etc.) I voted for splost for the turf, and I want it and I want it now, and I want the classrooms I voted for too, sacrifice or delay neither!
Reply
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