One of the points discussed this month by the Gloucester City Board of Education meeting is the practice of sending students from the Highland Park \”Program for Success School\”, (Alternative School) on bus trips to various outings which are labeled as Physical Education Trips.
Why can\’t these 40 plus students take physical education at one of the district\’s four gymnasiums like other students enrolled in our public school system?
Just recently we learned the Gloucester City School District is facing an unexpected $1.3 million budget deficit. Now we find out that instead of the School Board/ School Administrators\’ trying to find ways to cutback spending they are looking for ways to increase the deficit.
Some of the trips taken so far this year by the Highland Park students and staff was a Physical Education Trip on October 26 to the Holly Dell Complex in Sewell for \”Whirley Ball\”. Definition of Whirley Ball, a good team building activity that is like lacrosse in bumper cars. Students work together in groups of five to try to throw a ball into a goal.
And on November 16, students and staff traveled by bus to the Funplex in Mt. Laurel.
This month a bus trip to Blue Mountain, Palmenton, PA for skiing . In January the students will go back to Blue Mountain for Snow Tubing.
I don\’t think it is unreasonable to ask the School Board members and the Administration for some restraint in spending our tax dollars at a time when we are facing a budget deficit, possible cutbacks in staff and programs because of the state\’s financial problems. I also believe these students shouldn\’t be receiving special treatment just because they attend the district\’s Alternative School.
As stated the district has four gymnasiums that could be used for physical education. One just cost $20 million to build. Let the students walk from the Highland Park School to the High School and back. They will get much more exercise then they are getting riding around in a bumper car to play Whirley Ball.
As for those who might say that is too far for the kids walk. Ask anyone who attended the Mary Ethel Costello School when it was the high school where they had gym classes, weather permitting. They walked in their gym uniform at a fast pace from Cumberland Street to the Charles Street stadium on a weekly basis.
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