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Show 4 Signpost Tuesday, May 20, 1986 Athletics teaches many types of skills by Rae Dawn Olbert Editor-in-Chief With the national and state legislatures mandating cuts in education budgets, educators everywhere are forced to make close examinations of programs and their necessity in the learning environment. Many educators in ths are:., and some here at Weber State, are willing and even eager to sacrifice athletic programs in order to cover spending cuts. Athletics, it seems, gets the blame for many problems; poor grades, poor attitudes, and cheap legislators. And once again, it may become the scapegoat for over-stretched budgets. Educators leaning towards cutting athletics need to re-align their perspectives, however. Cutting athletic programs eliminates a lot more than 'the opportunity for kids to goof off instead of study.' Athletics is a learning program too. It teaches young students self-discipline, teamwork, self-respect, and how to handle losing; a priceless commodity in today's world. For years, educators have stressed the importance of teaching children more than just reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. Personal growth is as important as intellectual growth, we are told. But administrators always look first to cutting the very types of programs that help to build personal character and encourage individual growth. And if athletics becomes the sacrificial Iamb on the altar of budget cuts, you can bet other extracurricular activities are not far behind. Goodbye speech, drama and foreign language clubs. Goodbye cheerleaders, drill teams, pep clubs and band groups. Goodbye DECA, FFA, FBLA and Mr. Goodwrench clubs. Exit stage left behind the athletes. All the little 'extras' that make school what it is; a place to learn, a place to find something to identify with, a chance to excel at something, are close to being thrown out the window. Apathy, used mostly in connection with school spirit and sporting teams, can then be applied to the entire school and the learning environment. Administrators need to guard against this. The focus on spending cuts has shifted from the legislature to the educators, and it's up to individual schools to make budget ends meet. It would be foolish to promote the idea that athletics and other extra-curricular activities be spared altogether. But eliminating athletics is even more foolish. Mandating across-the-board cuts, or eliminating certain types of programs would be a better solution, although everything has its pitfalls and protesters. And some programs are unarguably more worthy than others. Each school will have to examine their programs on a case-by-case basis. A popular program at one school might not be as popular at another. Or maybe an even better idea is to cut assemblies, special speakers and these types of activities instead of funding for individual groups and programs. Funds used to sponsor these events could be re-channeled to bolster extra-curricular activities and educational programs. There is little time to make such important decisions. Hopefully, administrators have a handle on what the students support and what they don't. Their opinions should be considered In these matters. And if a poll were actually taken, athletics would undoubtedly come in last on the list of "Programs to be Cut." l TACIFIC RAILROAD ' " y iJI ) I , 6REAT SALTf ' 1 "LAKE 0 P MILES Streaks on Lady show marred American life by Michael J. Tupa Staff Reporter In the last six months, mysterious dark streaks have appeared on the arm and face of the Statue of Liberty. The experts are unsure as to why, and have offered theories ranging from human urine from the workmen to a cleaning solution used on the interior of Liberty. But, whatever the reason, for the moment Liberty is stained as she looks over the land she represents. Perhaps, somehow, she is aware of some of the streaks which have creased the face of American liberty the past few years and is responding in kind. Streaks such as the killing of millions of unborn humans who committed no crime against society or government. Unborn humans who were conceived in a land of freedom whose chief philosophical creed includes the phrase that, "all are endowed with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Streaks such as the unwillingness to pay for a military which is able to stand up to every other military power in the world. I recently completed four years in the Marine Corps where I worked as a technician on a radar system. I saw first-hand how many parts were not on hand to make repairs on vital pieces of equipment. Our investment in freedom is not free and requires increasing support to match those of our adversaries. Streaks such as superficial patriotism, a kind of "us against them" mentality rather than a loyalty based on a deep-seated belief in our system. If there were no Commmunist threat, or no Nazi threat, or any other kind of world threat to our system, it wouldn't make our form of government less desirable or vigilance less necessary. America is still the greatest and most stable free government in the world. We have much to be proud of by the conduct of millions of Americans today as in the past. But.the streaks are there on Lady Liberty and also in our system. They threaten the freedoms of many of those, perhaps all, .conceived under our flag. As the students and future leaders of today, we can work on erasing those streaks and extend our freedoms. Letter Policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be typed and should not exceed 400 words in length. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and reserves the right to refuse to print any letter deemed inappropriate. Letters must include name, address and signature of writer. Deadlines for letters to the editor are Wednesdays at noon for Friday's editition and Fridays at noon for Tuesday's edition. |