Attagirls All Around, Even For And This Isn’t Easy - Title Ix

I’ve done a 180-degree turn on Title IX and women’s sports and it has little to do with Picabo Street, the U.S. women’s hockey team or Tara Lipinski.

My sixth-grade daughter was the catalyst.

After decades of playing sports and then watching my son perform, I was chauvinistic about athletics. I viewed Title IX as a goofy government quota system that forced popular college men’s sports to subsidize women’s athletics.

Not any more.

The transformation began last year when I umpired girls’ fastpitch in Dalton Gardens and saw the athleticism and competitiveness of our community’s girls. Since then, I’ve followed the girls teams at the two local high schools as closely as the boys squads. And I was happy to see North Idaho College add women’s softball this year to balance its athletic program.

Furthermore, I applaud the Idaho Board of Education decision Friday to lift the cap on general fund spending for sports. The move will enable the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University to approach gender equity within a few years.

Currently, I’m preparing to coach my first girls’ fastpitch team ever. I approach the assignment with fear and trembling. I hope my team of 11- and 12-year-olds will be understanding. After all, I’m a recovering male chauvinist.

Lakeland schools have a right to be proud

Two scoops of Sweet Potatoes are in order for Superintendent Bob Jones and the Lakeland School District. Every school in the Rathdrum-based district met or exceeded state accreditation criteria. This, according to the Idaho Department of Education. Accreditation teams review curriculum, teacher certifications, class sizes, facilities and student activities. The district also received “exemplary school recognition.” After opining regularly about problems in most North Idaho school districts, it’s nice to write about one that has its ducks in a row.

KCPOA neutral on Post Falls bond? C’mon

The Kootenai County Property Owners Association claims it’s not opposing the Post Falls school bond election today. Yet, it has done everything possible to undermine voter confidence in the $18 million bond for a new high school. Tax activists concluded their campaign of “neutrality” Sunday by paying to insert an ad into our paper that was designed to encourage a no vote. I feel sorry for the Post Falls children who will suffer if these tactics succeed again.

, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125, or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.