Pay to play at Newark Schools is on target

Newark City Schools administration is to be congratulated for its on-target decision to recommend student fees for extra-curricular activities. Students and their families would begin paying (some? most? all?) of the freight for these niceties.

As reported earlier at Newark Tea Party, there were 50 high school and middle school athletic events listed for a single week recently.

Further, it was also observed here that throughout the year taxpayers of Newark are sending busloads of youngsters this way and that in the name of extra-curricular activities. Many of them require the employment of a couple coaches, the use of buildings (which means maintenance and heat and light), buses and their drivers, diesel fuel, vehicle maintenance - and don’t forget uniforms and equipment. Boys and girls teams. Tournaments, contests - golf, swimming, wrestling, volleyball, bowling, band, choral, drama … Add to that peewee sports in the lower grades, with the coaches, the facilities, the equipment and the rest of it … And God knows how many borderline-to-useless field trips for purposes of teacher respite.

So when the school administration decided to recommend implementation of student fees to the Newark School Board it did exactly what needs to be done. Student activities have grown to budget-busting proportions and it’s way past time for corrections.