Dear Middle School;
As I write this, my daughter is playing volleyball for the middle school team.
It’s her first year. It’s the first year of youth sports for many of the girls on the team.
We follow the coaches guidelines that parents may not attend practice.
We take her to practice Sunday nights when asked.
Three home games this week.
As her parents we want to be there. We have NEVER missed an activity our child has participated in.
Tickets are $5.00 per person, per game.
For a family of four to attend, that’s $20 per game, or $60 this week.
How can $5 per person, per game be justified?
We live in THE poorest city in the state of Virginia**.
We have an 9.3-percent unemployment rate*
The average income per capita is $20,132. At 2,080 hours per year (40-hour work week) the average citizen of Martinsville is making $9.68 per hour before taxes.
Our city schools have begun participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP program for breakfasts and lunches because our students are predominantly from low-income families.
I attend PTA meetings where the take-away is “parent involvement”.
We support our school, our teachers, and our community.
Perhaps it’s time you look at the community that surrounds you.
Perhaps it is time you consider the reason parents are not involved.
If we can’t afford the cost of admission, we can’t fill the bleachers to support our teams.
Our children are the future of our community. We need to find a better way so that we can be positive examples and support them in the avenues they pursue to help them live rewarding and healthy lives.
Sincerely,
A Parent Who Isn’t In the Bleachers
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*Sources include: Bureau of Labor Statistics
**http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/virginia/va-poorest-cities/