Murphy: High School Sports Essential

Item: Murphy: Even in a tough economy, school sports are essential /Idaho Statesman

More Info: So the (Meridian School District) is left with a host of unpleasant options. But eliminating coaching stipends will create more problems than it solves. You’ll be asking coaches to work for free in what has become a year-round job — coaching kids, dealing with parents and spending time away from their families. You’ll be pushing high school athletics further into a pay-for-play scenario — shutting off opportunities for less-fortunate athletes, pressuring coaches to even out playing time since everyone is paying, and opening the door for all kinds of possible corruption, including recruiting inducements.

Question: Do you consider high school sports essential to the public education mission?