I have a huge issue that I feel affects our community as a whole. Since when did school sports become something for the privileged people? Now that kids must “pay to play,” something that used to be a positive for many children, has become an issue of privilege.

Sports in the past were an outlet for at-risk kids, regular kids and underprivileged kids alike. It was the one place that race, creed and economic status didn’t matter. Everyone was equal. These days, school sports at the high school level have become only for the privileged. Who can afford $50 a sport? Who can afford a sponsorship or the politics involved in keeping a child in such sports?

What happened to the days when sports were an outlet, a positive influence to keep a child out of drugs, alcohol or worse? What happened to the day when every child was welcome because no matter what, it was a positive activity to play sports? What happened to the day when even the poor kids were equal to the rich when it came to talent, and every child (not “no” child) was left behind because every child had a chance to succeed? With or without money, with or without politics, every child had a chance to shine.

Let’s forget the politics. Let’s get back to a place where our children are our future. Can we not teach them right and let them lead the way because right now we are teaching them the wrong? We are teaching them that politics and money get them ahead, not talent and doing the right thing. Avoiding drugs and pressure, engaging in positive things, that’s what I want my child to know.

Please, let us all stand up for our children for the right reasons, not the wrong.

Can we get back to a place where our children lead us, as we lead them in the right direction?

Tegan Corlies

Durango