A bill in the New Jersey State Senate would allow high schools in the state to grant varsity letters to students who compete in non-sports team activities.
“A varsity letter has become a universal symbol for school pride and student achievement,” bill co-sponsor Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R) said.
“Students who win science, debate or music competitions demonstrate just as much school spirit as those who score a game-winning goal. We need to show these kids that their victories are just as worthy of our praise and admiration.”
According to Tap Into.net, the legislation doesn’t mandate non-athletic letters, but merely “provides that school districts may adopt a policy allowing high school students who participate in any school-sponsored, interscholastic extracurricular activities that include competitions”:
“Earning a varsity letter is one of the most recognizable ways that we honor our high school students,” [Republican co-sponsor Diane] Allen said. “Academic and artistic achievements are just as important as athletic success. Many school districts already award varsity letters to those who excel in competitive activities outside of athletics, such as marching band. It is our hope that this legislation will encourage more school districts to do the same.”
The bill was amended in the Senate Committee to state that adopting this policy will be optional and the act cannot be construed as requiring school districts statewide to do so. Currently, each board of education may decide the sports and activities for which a student may be eligible to receive a varsity letter.
Allen, a former Philadelphia news anchor, appeared on WPHT radio’s Dom Giordano Show yesterday to support the bill. She appeared contradictory when asked by Giordano “why get government involved?” (since school districts already can offer letters as they see fit), agreeing that “government should stay out of a whole lot of things” … yet reiterated support for her “optional” bill.
She conceded further that she doesn’t know if non-athletic clubs and competitions award recognitions similar to varsity letters. (Answer: They do.)
Philly Voice’s Brian Hickey agrees with Allen about the whole “recognition” aspect, as well as the fact that non-athletes “demonstrate just as much school spirit as those who score a game-winning goal.”
Yet, he asks, “why the pressing need to take an award that’s long celebrated success for one group and extend it to the other?”
“If legislators want to do something really valuable for kids, focus on pressing matters like funding fairness instead of co-opting tradition to make people feel better about themselves,” Hickey concludes.
Schools in my former district gave medals/medallions for non-athletic achievements such as Technology Student Association (TSA), Math Team, and for having one of the top 25 grade point averages in your class. Students often would wear these around their necks during school hours. How is this different from putting a letter on your jacket?
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