The board has spoken; boys, girls and sports don't mix

On Tuesday night, the school board sat down to make a decision regarding high school athletic programs. The board decided unanimously to ban boys from participating in girls’ sports.

The issue stemmed from an instance where four boys participated in the schools’ girls’ field hockey program last year. The boys played on the team last fall and helped the team reach the state playoffs. The policy suggests that the boys’ increased size, speed and power presents an unfair advantage, as well as a physical safety hazard for the girls.

As one may assume, this has caused some controversy among people who are for and against the ban. Jacob Stevens is a senior at the high school and was a member of the field hockey team last year. He spoke at the board meeting: “I don’t think it is fair. There are countries in the world where men’s field hockey is a recognized sport. Not every guy wants to play football, basketball or baseball. Field hockey is a fast and exciting sport that requires a lot of skill.” Jacob continued and stressed the fact that there are not enough interested boys to create their own field hockey team. “If we can’t play with the girls, we wouldn’t be able to play.”

Sandra Adler, mother of a girl member of the field hockey team last year and former high school field hockey participant, is married to Stuart Adler, minister of the Church of Christ. Mr. Adler said: “I just don’t think it is healthy mentally or physically to have the boys and girls playing on the same team. There are probably girls who want to play on the boys’ football and baseball teams, but they are not allowed. So I don’t think the boys should be allowed to take over the girls’ team sports. Just because there are not enough boys interested in the sport to field their own team is not justification for their being allowed to join the girls’ team.”

Hugh Baker, the school athletic director, suggests the policy now puts them at a disadvantage. Since several other schools don’t have a ban, it now puts the girls on these teams in danger. “If safety is the issue of concern for the board, then our girls’ teams would have to forfeit games if there are boys on the opposing teams. Our girls’ field hockey team would have had to forfeit at least ten of their 18 games last season because we played other schools with boys on their teams.”

On the contrary, school board member Jane Tribitt supports the policy that she proposed after receiving complaints from parents in both the home and away districts. She suggests that other schools will now adopt similar policies. She thinks once this happens, “the question of forfeiting games will then become a moot point.”

Regardless of the conflicting view points, the policy has been approved and is effective immediately. Despite several arguments, boys are now banned from playing on the girls’ field hockey, volleyball and softball teams.