Very sad because of all the budgets cuts going on everywhere

**imagine** · 01-26-2010, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by shortstack

It actually made me ill to look at those 8-11 year old girls with makeup plastered on their faces and the extensions in their hair. What happened to just being a kid?

8 to 11 year old girl cheerleaders?

**shortstack** · 01-26-2010, 03:49 PM

Yes grade school basketball cheerleaders, grades 3rd-5th.

Niko it's Toddler's in Tiaras.

Andrea

Originally Posted by imagine

8 to 11 year old girl cheerleaders?

**imagine** · 01-26-2010, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by shortstack

Yes grade school basketball cheerleaders, grades 3rd-5th.

Niko it's Toddler's in Tiaras.

Andrea

Interesting.

Here we don't have formal cheerleader squads until high school.
Younger girls can attend a one day cheer clinic put on as a fund raiser for the high school squad and do one cheer all together at the half time of a high school game. Several girls all in the official t-shirt (says cheer clinic and the year) some in skirts some in sweats or shorts. Oh, and middle school girls can be in a club called stunt club but they don't have uniforms, perform or anything like that. Basically learning back flips and the like.

It is very interesting how things vary from place to place.

**shortstack** · 01-26-2010, 04:28 PM

Do they have grade school basketball or volleyball? Just curious.

Originally Posted by imagine

Interesting.

Here we don't have formal cheerleader squads until high school.
Younger girls can attend a one day cheer clinic put on as a fund raiser for the high school squad and do one cheer all together at the half time of a high school game. Several girls all in the official t-shirt (says cheer clinic and the year) some in skirts some in sweats or shorts. Oh, and middle school girls can be in a club called stunt club but they don't have uniforms, perform or anything like that. Basically learning back flips and the like.

It is very interesting how things vary from place to place.

**imagine** · 01-26-2010, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by shortstack

Do they have grade school basketball or volleyball? Just curious.

A team in grade school? Not at the schools. They do learn how to play those things in Physical Education. Sometimes someone might volunteer to teach a sport ( like golf or tennis etc) as an after school activity for a few nights.

Sports in the schools start in 7th grade. Except no cheerleading (except the stunt club mentioned before as an after school activity) Side note where I live cheerleading is not a sport in the sense of competition. Cheerleaders at the high school level are not allowed to compete for ranking, for trophies, etc. Not sure about it at the University level ( I don't think so though)

Elementary children can pay to play organized sports through the recreation center (like the YMCA but not associated with) they are super short seasons and are instructional with an emphasis on good sportsmanship.

**shortstack** · 01-26-2010, 05:08 PM

I seriously wish it were like that around here. The parents here push their children in elementary school and are the types you see on the news going crazy over a game.

Are you in the USA?

Andrea

Originally Posted by imagine

A team in grade school? Not at the schools. They do learn how to play those things in Physical Education. Sometimes someone might volunteer to teach a sport ( like golf or tennis etc) as an after school activity for a few nights.

Sports in the schools start in 7th grade. Except no cheerleading (except the stunt club mentioned before as an after school activity) Side note where I live cheerleading is not a sport in the sense of competition. Cheerleaders at the high school level are not allowed to compete for ranking, for trophies, etc. Not sure about it at the University level ( I don't think so though)

Elementary children can pay to play organized sports through the recreation center (like the YMCA but not associated with) they are super short seasons and are instructional with an emphasis on good sportsmanship.

**imagine** · 01-26-2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by shortstack

Are you in the USA?

Yes, I'm in the US

**Brat** · 01-26-2010, 06:16 PM

Times are tuff all over...One of the schools here lunch program is in trouble and for the kids who's parents haven't paid there lunch bill they will no longer get a hot lunch but will get a cheese sandwich and milk only...That just isn't right. This may be the only meal those kids get a day with all the jobs being lost here.

**shortstack** · 01-26-2010, 09:10 PM

Wow now that really is no good

Originally Posted by Brat

Times are tuff all over...One of the schools here lunch program is in trouble and for the kids who's parents haven't paid there lunch bill they will no longer get a hot lunch but will get a cheese sandwich and milk only...That just isn't right. This may be the only meal those kids get a day with all the jobs being lost here.

**fernykins** · 01-26-2010, 10:35 PM

We all know the politicians balance the budgets on the backs of the schools, the poor, the elderly, and the disabled. Nobody has ever blanced the budget on the backs of the rich. I can't wait until this year is over and Ca can get rid of Arnie. School budgets should never be cut. These kids are our furtue.
Fern

**mamamia** · 01-27-2010, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by fernykins

I'm sorry I disagree. The schools need the sport and other after school programs........ It keeps the kids off the streets and out of trouble. My grandson is 14 and was heading for trouble. First he joined the water polo team and now he is on the wrstling team his grades have improved. I understand times are hard, but why don't our politicians take a pay cut instead of getting a pay raise. As far as things to do at church. When I was young we earned our money by car washes, bake sales after church. It didn't hurt us.
Fern

This is EXACTLY what I wanted to say Fern. It's a whole different world out there today. Taking away these programs from our youth, puts them out on the street looking for something to do, and unfortunately they're too often finding trouble. I'm not saying it's ALL kids will get in trouble, but just think for one example, of those many kids who's both parents have to work, not uncommon in the least, is it? And with that, sadly, many do indeed lack supervision because of it. Alot of times it's nobody's fault, except often, and simply put... the system's. These are the facts about the difference in today's life.

Of course, that's only one sad aspect as to why these cuts easily lead to harming our children. I'm sure I could write a book....lol!

Just my own 2 cents here, so no tomatoes please

Theresa

**imagine** · 01-27-2010, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Brat

Times are tuff all over...One of the schools here lunch program is in trouble and for the kids who's parents haven't paid there lunch bill they will no longer get a hot lunch but will get a cheese sandwich and milk only...That just isn't right. This may be the only meal those kids get a day with all the jobs being lost here.

Yes they are tough all over.

The lunch program here has always (even back when I taught so over 15 years ago to present) had younger students who had no money in their account given a peanut butter sandwich and milk. If they are older (middle school or high school) and do not have money in their account just can't get a lunch. My son and his friend have shared theirs with a friend who was out of money.
Side note those on free lunch always have a paid up account for the basic lunch ( maybe not for extras like chips, extra, drink or seconds be always the basic hot lunch)

**imagine** · 01-27-2010, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by mamamia

This is EXACTLY what I wanted to say Fern. It's a whole different world out there today. Taking away these programs from our youth, puts them out on the street looking for something to do, and unfortunately they're too often finding trouble. I'm not saying it's ALL kids will get in trouble, but just think for one example, of those many kids who's both parents have to work, not uncommon in the least, is it? And with that, sadly, many do indeed lack supervision because of it. Alot of times it's nobody's fault, except often, and simply put... the system's. These are the facts about the difference in today's life.

Of course, that's only one sad aspect as to why these cuts easily lead to harming our children. I'm sure I could write a book....lol!

Just my own 2 cents here, so no tomatoes please

Theresa

That is the reason the police in our area paid for the after school program at high school and middle school in our town. So even the police are in agreement with you here.

**shortstack** · 01-27-2010, 08:33 AM

I taught in an elementary a few years ago that was severely underpriveleged. As somebody on here mentioned the only real meal some of the kids got was lunch at school. We were not supposed to, but if a child did not want something on his/her plate and they had not touched it we gave it to a child at the table who wanted it (a huge health violation but better then letting the kids go hungry). It is very sad to think that these kids may be facing these cutbacks as well.

Originally Posted by imagine

Yes they are tough all over.

The lunch program here has always (even back when I taught so over 15 years ago to present) had younger students who had no money in their account given a peanut butter sandwich and milk. If they are older (middle school or high school) and do not have money in their account just can't get a lunch. My son and his friend have shared theirs with a friend who was out of money.
Side note those on free lunch always have a paid up account for the basic lunch ( maybe not for extras like chips, extra, drink or seconds be always the basic hot lunch)

**imagine** · 01-27-2010, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by shortstack

I taught in an elementary a few years ago that was severely underpriveleged. As somebody on here mentioned the only real meal some of the kids got was lunch at school. We were not supposed to, but if a child did not want something on his/her plate and they had not touched it we gave it to a child at the table who wanted it (a huge health violation but better then letting the kids go hungry). It is very sad to think that these kids may be facing these cutbacks as well.

We do something similar here at the elementray level.

They call it the share box. If they don't want any unopened packaged item (including whole apple or banana, milk, crackers, yogurt, etc) they put it in the share box. Any student that has finished eating and is still hungry they can take out one thing at a time. This includes children that brought their lunch but finished and were still hungry. More full bellies and less waste. Win win

At the middle school and high school level the students just share without anything formal in place.