Ya gotta pay to play? No way!

Girls' Life, Oct-Nov, 2004

What's a school with no sports? No chess club? For kids at Fairfield High School in Ohio, school activities have been a source of frustration and debate since last March, when school officials announced that all extra-curriculars would be eliminated. Students were shocked; some even cried. A group of parents took action to devise a plan so kids could continue to participate in activities.

Unfortunately, this plan was "pay to play." Student would have to cough up a fee to join after-school clubs and sports. For some students, this means paying upward of $1,000--just to play tennis or run for student government! And this is not happening only in Ohio. Schools in Michigan, Kansas and Missouri also report charging students for after-school activities. In Fairfield, a tax levy that would have created money for activities was voted down in July. The issue will be back on the ballot in November. Hopefully, voters will get that after-school stuff isn't all fun and games--it affects discipline, attendance, GPAs and dropout rates!