This blog will be devoted to exemplifying the detrimental effects that cutting freshman sports will have on Jurupa’s youth and our community. I know the essential importance sports plays on Jurupa’s youth firsthand, because I once was an adolescent in Jurupa, and for the last four years, I have been coaching freshman sports at Jurupa Valley High School.
What many fail to understand is that freshman sports do not only involve high school students; it gives our young students in middle-schools something to look forward to when they enter the daunting high school atmosphere. For many freshmen, like me, sports enabled an easy bridge for friendship and social acceptance. What implications will arise if freshman sports are taken away from our schools?
Well, over the course of the last four years, I have had the propitious opportunity of coaching about fifty of Jurupa’s youth; and this year, I will watch my first year players graduate. I have never been more proud than being a part of their lives. Many of these teens, however, would not be where they are today if it was not for the sports programs our district offered them beginning the summer they graduated eighth grade. Many of those teens would be caught up in gangs, drugs, and who knows what. Why? How do I know this? Just ask the next teen you see tagging your neighborhood which sports team they are on. If you don’t want to do this, then take my word for it. Know that many of my players and their parents have told me that sports have kept them off the streets. Freshman sports give those young teens an experience that they will remember and embrace for the rest of their lives. It gives a young teenager an opportunity to put all of life’s heartaches on pause. It teaches them about purpose, responsibility, leadership, teamwork, hard work, and most importantly, it teaches them about life. It lays the framework for the rest of their high school careers. Teens in gangs do not have to keep a certain grade point average, but every student who plays sports must keep his or her grades up.
I can go on for days about the detrimental effects cutting freshman sports will have, as it is the foundation for young adulthood for so many teens. To the same degree, referring back to my previous posts, I can assure you that there will be much more gang activity, graffiti, and drugs in our community if our district chooses to cut freshman sports and does not give them a bus ride to school. How are we, the adults who teach and coach them, suppose to make a difference if they can’t get to school? And, if they do, how will they react when they find out that the only exercise they will receive is that long walk home?
Our Choice
17 years ago
I can definitely relate to your comments about sports. As a freshman, volleyball was the only thing that gave me a reason to wake up in the morning and go to school. I transferred into my high school knowing nobody but my cousin. Freshman volleyball gave me an opportunity to meet fellow classmates and it also gave me an opportunity to get to know my teachers. Before every game I had to get a signature from my teachers along with a current grade I was receiving. This gave me a chance to talk to my teachers daily and get input on my education.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what kind of crowd I might have followed if there were no freshman volleyball team. It made me become successful in my studies and successful as a leader. It saddens me to think that students may be stripped from this opportunity when starting a new school.
As a parent in JUSD, I was horrified to hear our elected officials are
ReplyDeletediscussing plans to eliminate school sports. I have had 2 children that
completed k-12 in this school district and both of my children were actively
involved in school sports. These after school activities helped my husband and I
keep our children focused on their futures. They learned to play as a team; they
learned disappointments and what hard work can achieve. As a parent in this turbulent
world, I needed all the help I could get to help my children grow into
respectable adults. My children were high achievers and I truly believe, that the support from the after school programs, coaches, teachers, and volunteers are what molded them into the wonderful adults they are.
Remember the old saying "it takes a village to raise a child?" I think that this always rings true.
I urge the district officials to look for another way to cut back, we all need
to step back and look what really matters, and its our children and their futures.
Recently I attended a Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education Meeting. And one of the most prevalent topics in the meeting were the impending budget cuts. Several parents stood up to voice their concerns regarding such programs being cut as Freshmen sports as well as, the implementation of school bus fees. Here were a few quotes from the parents/public:
ReplyDelete“The Board should be willing to gives up their stipend, in light of the budget cuts”. Mike L. (public)
"Everybody has to take cuts... we can't follow with you don't do anything." - Ron C. (parent)
"Warrior staff members should be embarrassed at the cars they have just bought while the situation for our schools worsens.” - Ron C.
"[Freshmen sports and band] are amazing! These men have gifts and these
kids yearn for it. To lose band must must have been agonizing. But I hope you
bring it back... Wiping out 9th grade sports and elementary band will effect
everyone, and open up the door to gangs... There are motivational grades to stay
in sports... We cannot
afford to let our kids be taken by gangs!..." - A
mother worrying about her children (thinking the final decision to cut these programs was already made).
"If part of the pot is bad, it's all bad." - Tony A. (public/lawyer)
And sadly, looking at the printout of the budget cuts, these parents, and we as a public, do have a lot to be upset about regarding the current financial status of our schools. Some of the things listed as “Subject to Cuts with Flexibility” is the High School Coaching Training, Physical Education Teacher Recruitment Grants, and Teacher Dismissal Apportionments. Each of these areas are vital to the growth and overall well-being for our children. And without such people and programs, as has been stated before, there will be a considerable offsetting to our children’s intellectual (including physical) academic experience. And if this goes left unchecked, can lead a lot of innocent people down a very dangerous path of finding other forms of entertainment. Not to mention losing good teachers who want nothing more than to help kids succeed.