Hi my name is Stephani Waidleich and I am an 8th grade student
at San Juan Bautista School, home of the Padres. Right now, myself
and some others are fighting an issue of great importance to
us.
Hi my name is Stephani Waidleich and I am an 8th grade student at San Juan Bautista School, home of the Padres. Right now, myself and some others are fighting an issue of great importance to us.
First of all, I should tell you that both boys and girls have equal opportunities in after school sports (we both have soccer, basketball, track and volleyball) except flag football. Flag football is an additional sport FOR BOYS ONLY and the law requires that students of both sex be provided with equal opportunities in sports and all other athletic activities. I have confronted our principal, Joe Hudson, with this problem and suggested a girls’ flag football team. He didn’t seem too excited at this idea, so I suggested a co-ed team. His response was that we would have to approach the district with this idea, but he didn’t want to. I asked a few teachers, and some of them say that the reason for not having a girls’ team is that the school has a money problem. Now, if this is true, then why have an additional sport which excludes 50 percent of the 7th and 8th grade population? Wouldn’t it be better if there was just no flag football at all?
The coach of the team, though, has his own reasons for not letting girls playing on the team. He once said to a student that he wouldn’t give her a football because “she might break a nail.” He’s also said that there are “Absolutely NO GIRLS ALLOWED on the team!!” This coach has been saying many sexist things lately, especially since some of the students started protesting last week.
All I am asking is for your support in my cause. Thank you very much for your time and I hope you see the urgency with which we need to address this issue. It’s too late now for the 8th grade girls to play on the flag football team, but if we can change this “rule,” it will be better for the future girls of San Juan School. Thanks again.
Stephani Waidleich,
San Juan School
