Dear Middle School,
As I write this, my son, Jake, is gearing up for his first year on the middle school’s basketball team. It’s a big deal for him, and honestly, for many kids out there.
We’ve been following the coach’s rule about no parents at practice, dutifully dropping him off every Saturday morning. Now, there are three home games this week, and as devoted parents, we want to be in the stands cheering him on. We’ve never missed any of our children’s events in the past 21 years.
But here’s the kicker: tickets cost $5 a pop, per game. For our family of four? That adds up to $20 per game, or $60 this week alone. That’s about 40% of our grocery budget for the week. Seriously, how does $5 per person per game make any sense?
We live in the most economically challenged town in Virginia. The unemployment rate hovers at a staggering 9.3%. The average income per person is a mere $20,132. If you break that down to a 40-hour workweek, folks in our community are raking in about $9.68 an hour before taxes.
Our schools have resorted to programs like the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for free breakfasts and lunches because most of our students come from low-income families. I’ve sat through PTA meetings where the constant theme is “parent involvement,” but let’s be real here—if we’re struggling to cover ticket prices, how can we fill the bleachers to support our kids?
We’re all in this together, and it’s time for schools to recognize the financial strain on families. If parents can’t afford to attend games, we’re missing an opportunity to support our kids, who are the future of our community. We need to brainstorm better solutions so we can be those positive role models they deserve and help them lead fulfilling lives.
Sincerely,
A Parent Who’s Not in the Bleachers Cheering for the Home Team