Attending games boosts schools in many ways
High school football kicks off in Monroe County tonight (Thursday) when Excel visits J.U. Blacksher in one of the longest running county-rival games.
It’s sure to draw a huge crowd, which should translate into very good gate receipts for Blacksher. What some may not realize is that not all the gate receipts go back to the schools’ athletic funds. Some of those funds wind up in the schools’ general fund where they’re used to buy office supplies and other things our schools need to operate efficiently.
Since there are very little local or state funds available to the schools for these supplies, it’s important we attend football games and other school-sponsored events. Not only are we showing our support for the hard work the players and coaches have put forth, but we are also making a financial contribution to the schools.
Along with the financial assistance it provides, attending games provides moral support for the students playing football, cheering on the sidelines and marching in the band. It shows them, we care about what they’re doing and we want them to excel. They need that reassurance from the community and we are obligated to give it to them without expecting anything in return.
Underage drinking is an old problem
Last week Excel Police Chief Paul Lindsey did some teenagers and their parents a good deed when he broke up a party where teens were allegedly consuming alcohol.
Hopefully, the parents of those teenagers have thanked Lindsey for his intervention that may have prevented someone from injuring himself or herself or another person. The person or persons who made Lindsey aware of the party should also be thanked.
If we had more responsible citizens willing to report underage drinking when they see it, more teens might be discouraged to try it.
Unfortunately, too many people look at teen drinking as, “Awe, I did it and I turned out okay.” What they should consider say is, “Awe, I did it and it was just plain luck that nothing serious happened.”
Several studies have been conducted that show teen drinking may cause more neurological damage than was previously thought. Contrary to the notion that the brain is fully developed by age 16 or 17, the new studies have found that the brain does not fully develop until the age of 21.
This research suggests that teens, who binge drink, may do damage to their memory and learning abilities by severely hampering the development of the hippocampus.
A study by Sandra Brown, PhD, of the VA Medical Center and the University of California-San Diego, shows that alcohol-dependent teens showed impaired memory and verbal skill deficits, and there are many other studies.
Bottom line: Don’t let your teenager have alcohol.
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From the Thursday, August 26, 2010 edition
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