I have been following this flag football issue for some time now
and against my better knowledge must put in a few words. I am a bit
disappointed that nobody has had the courage to come out and say
what the real point of official opposition is: This is the
”
Good Old Boys
”
club working at high-speed, nothing else.
I have been following this flag football issue for some time now and against my better knowledge must put in a few words. I am a bit disappointed that nobody has had the courage to come out and say what the real point of official opposition is: This is the “Good Old Boys” club working at high-speed, nothing else.
As has been pointed out already, money was not an issue when Principal Joe Hudson first responded to this mess. But now, after careful consultation with just that above mentioned club, it curiously enough turns out to be just that problem: Money. It is always good to see that the Good Old Boys network can and will pull together when their interests need protection.
Too bad, however, that they can’t put their combined efforts to better use than trying to silence an eighth-grader. Honestly, did anybody really expect the athletic director elite to allow an eighth grade girl to raise issues with the directors’ domain, especially in a public forum like the local paper? If that is not a reason for them to circle the wagons, what is?
Quite honestly, flag football, much like any other sort of football, shouldn’t be taken so serious in the first place. There are many other athletic activities that are more conducive to physical conditioning and fitness.
After all, anybody who has spent any time in the military can tell you that the real name for flag football is “grab-ass” for a reason.
Also, if money is really so tight, why not take all the funds raised and spend it on something that will benefit ALL students regardless of sex: Lockers. It is sickening to see 90 pound kids hauling backpacks filled with books and stuff that weigh 40 percent of their body weight. Not only could they leave the heavy items at school for the next day, this would also give the kids the opportunity to have a change of PE clothes and shoes at school. It is rather unsanitary to have the students exercise in their regular clothes and then let them walk home in their sweaty and smelly clothes, especially on a warm and toasty SJB summer day. But then again, that would be one of the more useful ways of spending money within a school district, whether “official” money or privately raised funds. And the school districts and officials are not exactly known for that.
I won’t touch the standard argument of vandalism to the outdoor lockers, other than saying that other schools can do it so why shouldn’t San Juan be able to provide this basic necessity to its students?
Instead of everybody pulling together and dumping all over a 13-year-old girl smart and courageous enough to speak out publicly, maybe you all should think about it and support her. Sometimes there needs to be change and sometimes it is good to listen to kids instead of patronizing them and beating them down. If you beat them down often and long enough, eventually they stay down. What we will have left then are the kids who can’t go to a grocery store without diddling with their Gameboy. I would much rather have a child able and WILLING to use her head and who is able to express herself intelligently.
Yes, I am her father. No, I don’t necessarily agree with her wanting to play flag football. Nevertheless, I am proud of her willingness to bring up unpopular issues.
Manuel Waidelich,
Pocatello, Idaho
