Bethlehem Area School District Eliminates Funding for Two High School Rifle Teams

[Story]

From NRA alerts -

PENNSYLVANIA: Bethlehem Area School District Eliminates Funding for Two High School Rifle Teams! Due to tightening budgets, the Bethlehem Area School District has shut off funding for the Liberty High School and Freedom High School rifle teams. Both teams have been in existence for over 40 years and have consistently been given grants by NRA. Please contact the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, and the members of the school board TODAY and respectfully voice your disapproval with their action. Contact information can be by clicking here.

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=5100

They're right - without properly educating children, the Anti's win by default.

[P89]

They're right - without properly educating children, the Anti's win by default.

Absolutely correct.

Doesn't hurt to volunteer either.
http://www.friendsofnra.org/

[God's Country]

From
They're right - without properly educating children, the Anti's win by default.[/B]

Which has been the plan all along, and not just with firearms.

[tommy610]

Emailed the all. Maybe if we hit them with emails all in the same day, it will make them reconsider.

[tommy610]

Emailed the all. Maybe if we hit them with emails all in the same day, it will make them reconsider.

Here's a reply from Judith Dexter:

We didn't eliminate it. The information you received was incorrect.

[mjfletcher]

Just my thoughts on this. If lack of funding is the problem all the emails, letters, phone calls, etc aren't going to matter. When the choice comes down providng classroom education or extra-curricular activities, the EC's go starting with the ones that are the least popular. The best way to save the rifle teams isn't an outpouring of verbal support, its an outpouring of financial support.

There's several teams at Reading High that have "booster" clubs, people from the community who love the schools team and donate time, money, etc to support it so it doesn't end up being cut if the budget needs to be tightened. Basketball team needs new uniforms, the boosters pay for them. Football teams needs new helmets, boosters got it covered.

Someone local should contact the school board about starting a booster club to support the rifle teams WHILE drumming up public support for booster clubs. If the public wants the extra curricular activity to continue the public needs to take action to ensure it continues.

And before anyone says "its the SD's job to fund the team," no it isn't. Its the SD's job to teach math, history, science, etc. Extra curricular activities are exactly that, EXTRA. If the choice is salaries to keep good teachers or a rifle team its not a hard choice for the board to make.

[338winmag]

Just my thoughts on this. If lack of funding is the problem all the emails, letters, phone calls, etc aren't going to matter. When the choice comes down providng classroom education or extra-curricular activities, the EC's go starting with the ones that are the least popular. The best way to save the rifle teams isn't an outpouring of verbal support, its an outpouring of financial support.

There's several teams at Reading High that have "booster" clubs, people from the community who love the schools team and donate time, money, etc to support it so it doesn't end up being cut if the budget needs to be tightened. Basketball team needs new uniforms, the boosters pay for them. Football teams needs new helmets, boosters got it covered.

Someone local should contact the school board about starting a booster club to support the rifle teams WHILE drumming up public support for booster clubs. If the public wants the extra curricular activity to continue the public needs to take action to ensure it continues.

And before anyone says "its the SD's job to fund the team," no it isn't. Its the SD's job to teach math, history, science, etc. Extra curricular activities are exactly that, EXTRA. If the choice is salaries to keep good teachers or a rifle team its not a hard choice for the board to make.

i agree with ya on this totally.

[tommy610]

Just my thoughts on this. If lack of funding is the problem all the emails, letters, phone calls, etc aren't going to matter. When the choice comes down providng classroom education or extra-curricular activities, the EC's go starting with the ones that are the least popular. The best way to save the rifle teams isn't an outpouring of verbal support, its an outpouring of financial support.

There's several teams at Reading High that have "booster" clubs, people from the community who love the schools team and donate time, money, etc to support it so it doesn't end up being cut if the budget needs to be tightened. Basketball team needs new uniforms, the boosters pay for them. Football teams needs new helmets, boosters got it covered.

Someone local should contact the school board about starting a booster club to support the rifle teams WHILE drumming up public support for booster clubs. If the public wants the extra curricular activity to continue the public needs to take action to ensure it continues.

And before anyone says "its the SD's job to fund the team," no it isn't. Its the SD's job to teach math, history, science, etc. Extra curricular activities are exactly that, EXTRA. If the choice is salaries to keep good teachers or a rifle team its not a hard choice for the board to make.

Yes, but it always a priorities thing. They are not down to only doing math, science, reading, and writing, with this extra thing going on called the rifle club. Pressure doesn't hurt to influence their priorities.

[mjfletcher]

Yes, but it always a priorities thing. They are not down to only doing math, science, reading, and writing, with this extra thing going on called the rifle club. Pressure doesn't hurt to influence their priorities.

Every school district has the same job, provide an education. Their priorities are simple, do their job. If there's anything left after thats done then the extras can be covered. The rifle club is one of those extras. All the pressure in the world won't change those facts. If the community feels strongly about keeping the rifle club then getting a club started to support it will be easy and they'll have lots of money to buy uniforms, ammo, targets, range memberships etc etc etc for the team to use.

[brewguy]

personally I think they need to find a way to make school cheaper and more efficient at learning. Sports and such should not be funded through the school budget, use ticket sales and donations or charge the kids/parents to participate.

Everyone complains school costs too much, well we need to eliminate the waste to make it cheaper.