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Should students pay to play?


School is more than just a place to attend classes and take tests. It is also where students develop friendships, build self-esteem self-esteem

Sense of personal worth and ability that is fundamental to an individual's identity. Family relationships during childhood are believed to play a crucial role in its development.
, and learn the value of teamwork (product, software, tool) Teamwork - A SASD tool from Sterling Software, formerly CADRE Technologies, which supports the Shlaer/Mellor Object-Oriented method and the Yourdon-DeMarco, Hatley-Pirbhai, Constantine and Buhr notations. . Organized sports and other extracurricular activities can provide great opportunities for this kind of personal growth.

In recent years, budget cuts have forced some public high schools and middle schools to cancel some or all of their extracurricular programs. Other schools have found a different solution to budget shortfalls: In at least 34 states, schools now charge "pay-to-play" fees. The fees generally range from $25 to $200 per student per activity.

People who support the fees say that schools strapped strapped  
adj. Informal
In financial need: We are strapped for cash right now.


strapped
Adjective

strapped for Slang
 for cash would have to cut their activities if students didn't pay to play. Critics argue that school districts, not students, are responsible for financing extracurricular activities, and that charging fees is unfair.

What do you think? Should students pay to play?

YES

Pay-to-play fees help prevent the elimination of after-school sports and clubs. The lessons and friendships that come from playing sports or joining a club are too valuable to sacrifice because of inadequate funding. While some students cannot afford to pay the fees, the greater harm comes in eliminating after-school activities for everyone.

"Extracurricular activities give some students, especially those who struggle in class, a chance to shine," says Stephen Bickford, the principal of Wheeler High School Wheeler High School may refer to:
  • Wheeler High School — North Stonington, Connecticut
  • Wheeler High School — Valparaiso, Indiana
  • Wheeler High School — Fossil, Oregon
  • Wheeler Central High School — Bartlett, Nebraska
 in North Stonington, Connecticut North Stonington is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,991 at the 2000 census. Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 142.4 km² (55.0 mi²). 140.7 km² (54.3 mi²) of it is land and 1.
. "These fees help make sure those benefits don't get lost." Janelle Urban, 13, agrees. "Pay-to-play fees make sure after-school activities are possible," says the Michigan eighth-grader.

NO

Pay-to-play fees deny students their right to a free public education. Students and families should not be burdened with costs that are the responsibility of local school districts and governments. Also, pay-to-play fees can create an imbalance imbalance /im·bal·ance/ (im-bal´ans)
1. lack of balance, such as between two opposing muscles or between electrolytes in the body.

2. dysequilibrium (2).
 between students who can afford to pay and those who cannot. Such a culture of the haves and have-nots affects students' learning and self-esteem.

"Pay-to-play fees don't work," says Joseph Cappuzzello, the athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic  at Girard High School in Girard, Ohio Girard is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The population was 10,902 at the 2000 census. Geography
Girard is located at  (41.158607, -80.695558)GR1.
. "It discourages kids from participating." That's wrong, he says, because "after-school sports and clubs keep kids interested in going to school in the first place." Who should pay? The school districts, says 13-years-old Ethan Mayday, Janelle's classmate.
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Title Annotation:Debate
Publication:Junior Scholastic
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Nov 15, 2004
Words:373
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