City schools should add 5th-grade hoops: parents
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“We feel our fifth-graders deserve what fifth-graders at every county school get,” Sherry Jacobs, spokesperson for the parent group, told the school board’s Athletic Committee. “They’re at a disadvantage because they have to wait until the sixth grade to play on a school-sponsored team. We feel that’s unfair.”
With an estimated 35 parents and students in attendance, the group said fifth-grade teams would offer the chance to city students to gain a year’s experience learning the fundamentals of the game, as well as learning how to play as a team and preparing them for the next level of participation.
Additionally, they said, their schools would benefit from the excitement, enthusiasm and school pride that school-sponsored sports teams generate.
School system athletic director Andy Jacobs said he enthusiastically supports the proposal.
“Any time you have structured basketball at the schools, I’m for it. It can’t be anything but positive,” Jacobs said.
But principals at the three schools involved said they are not so sure, citing doubts of its “developmental appropriateness.”
“I have some reservations at this time,” said Hickory Creek principal Donald Prater. “My research has found that most systems around us don’t have structured school athletics at this age. With No Child Left Behind, academics is our goal. We’ve got to look at all aspects. I’ve coached before and know some of the things that go on”
Proposal supporters acknowledged additional basketball teams would require extra funding and said they would help in any way they can. Besides supplements for coaches and cheerleading sponsors, money would be needed for uniforms, equipment, transportation and the like.
Bobby Ray principal Bonnie Collier noted money would also be necessary to upgrade the schools’ facilities for interscholastic competition. West and Hickory Creek, she said, have no locker rooms and would have to use classrooms, most of which are filled with expensive computer equipment and supplies. Bobby Ray, though it boasts those facilities, needs improvements to its gym floor and roof, she said.
“I’m all for school spirit and parental involvement, and all for promoting these things, but I don’t think this will be the best way to do it,” Collier said.
No action was taken Thursday night. Committee chairman Edd Cantrell said more discussion is needed before making a decision. He said he would first like get the opinion of the county principal’s association, which will meet late next month.