A box full of shoes. That’s one thing that I remember from my first wrestling practice when I was in 7th Grade. Coach Decker came onto the mat, dragging out a big cardboard box full of wrestling shoes. We weren’t allowed to wrestle in our street shoes, nor were we allowed to wrestle barefoot. Wrestlers wear wrestling shoes, and for the kids who didn’t have them, there was a whole box of em.  Although they were used, I don’t think anyone took the time to spray them like they do the shoes at the bowling alley.  But we got them for the low, low cost of free. 

The same was true for our coaches, the mats, the first aid supplies, transportation, and ringworm cream.  All free.  We got to be supervised by some pretty good dudes every day after school – until it was dark out.  We’d go on Saturday mornings too.  Nothing on Sundays, though.  Sunday practices were for Wheatfield kids, where the wrestlers pulled plows in the absence of horses.  They were corn-fed town kids who started wrestling in Pre-K.  That’s why they kicked the shit out of us every year.  They shut us out 66 – 0 in one year.  That’s 11 matches.  11 pins.  Gross.

We were competitive, though, particularly against our cross-town rivals. Some of them started wrestling at birth, too.  And, a couple of them rarely, if ever, lost.  Like Kareem Johnson – 2nd place in New York State as an 11th grader.  Tough kid.  Tough.  He was shot and killed in February of 2007.  Two bullets.  The guy who shot him needed the gun, I’d bet.  I tangled with Kareem once on a bus ride.  I had the guts to do it, but it was a stupid idea.  Fortunately, we had good teammates to pull him off of me.  I got a couple of blows in, but I knew I was going down. One thing I remember vividly about that one was being bitten on the stomach.  No joke.  And Al Wooten – a champion.  He went on to be the starting fullback at Syracuse.  I heard that he did some NFL work, too. 

Fast-forward a few decades, and structurally, things are still the same in schools. We start and end around the same time and do our very best to give the kids things to do after school and on weekends.  But now, our best means that there are places where a Free and Appropriate Public Education isn’t free anymore.  Because what we got for free in Niagara Falls, and what many kids in many towns still get for free, some families have to pay for.  And this is devastating.  Athletic and user fees are one more brick in the wall that separates the haves from the haves.  In districts where leaders have to choose between teaching kids to read, write, and do arithmetic over sports, kids and families feel the brunt.  At $300 per sport, a family with two kids would pay $1,800 per year for their kids to play sports.  Imagine this…there are towns in which families must pay a fee if they want their kids to have a ride to school on a school bus – to and from school. Tack on $300 more.

I’d love it if those who support this type of bullshit could call the police for help and have the cop show up with a credit card reader.  Want to file a report?  Swipe.  Is someone breaking into your house?  Swipe.  Sorry, sir, we cannot send anyone out until we get your user fee.  House is on fire?  Swipe.  We cannot put out your fire unless you pay your hose user fee, sir.  Hoses are, after all, expensive, you know.  Put gates on the parks with turnstiles—four quarters to take a stroll here, sir.  Coin-operated street lights?  Why not?  If only they could find a way to charge kids for using the sun.  Why is that still free?   

In the cities, the unintended consequences of athletic fees and transportation fees are easy—a little more absence from school, a little more teen pregnancy, and a little more violence.  In the towns – where people think they are safe from such happenstance – these things happen too.  And there are other consequences.   The negative impacts of athletic and transportation fees extend far beyond the immediately apparent financial burden. These fees can have a profound and lasting effect on students and their families as well as the broader educational and community environment.

One of the most profound impacts is the creation of a socio-economic divide within the school system. When participation in sports and access to transportation are contingent upon the ability to pay, it inherently disadvantages lower-income families, potentially excluding talented students from extracurricular activities that could enhance their skills, confidence, and college applications. Those happy to sit on the bench, to be with their friends – for sure, they are out.  Teams get smaller, and participation gets lower. 

This affects individual students and can alter the dynamics of school teams and the overall inclusivity of school culture. Moreover, transportation fees can lead to increased absenteeism, more kids walking, and more cars on the road daily.   For families unable to afford transportation fees, getting to and from school becomes a challenge, which can result in students missing school more frequently. This decrease in attendance can adversely affect students' academic performance, limit their social interactions, and reduce their engagement with the school community.

In addition to impacting education and attendance, the financial burden can lead to increased stress within families. Parents may have to work additional hours or make tough financial decisions to afford these fees, which can reduce the quality of time families spend together and increase the overall stress levels within the household.  I know this firsthand.  Soccer is, after all, expensive.  Who doesn’t want to drive an Uber at night so their kid can be on the elite team…for 8-year-olds?

The emphasis on fee-based participation can also lead to a lack of diversity in extracurricular activities. When only those who can afford to pay can participate, there is a risk that these activities will fail to reflect the diverse community the school serves. This lack of diversity can reinforce social divides and prevent the rich, cross-cultural interactions that benefit all students.  Have you seen any “Poor Kids Matter” signs lately?  Me neither.

The reliance on fees to fund basic school services like transportation and athletics reflects a broader issue of inadequate funding for public education. It suggests a shift towards a more privatized public education model, where access to fundamental services depends on individual financial capability rather than being guaranteed as a fundamental educational right.  Go Mathnasium, Russian Math, and SAT prep classes.  There is a parent out there who will have to choose between SAT prep or baseball, which is a tough one.  Baseball and Community College, or no baseball and UMASS.  Damn. 

These fees undermine the principle of free and appropriate public education and contribute to broader social issues like inequality and reduced social mobility. Relying on these fees represents a significant step backward in pursuing an equitable and inclusive education system.   So, what would you do if you were me?  Would you advocate for free sports or stronger academic programs?  Teachers or coaches? 

Let me know your thoughts – shoot me a message at Mike@MikeBaldassarre.com.