Anyone watching the recent Olympic Games had to be impressed by

the amazing level of skill exhibited by athletes in every area of

competition. These select athletes serve as role models to our youth,

demonstrating what can be achieved through discipline, dedicated effort,

perseverance and teamwork. The values learned through sports apply to all facets of

life _ the workplace, family life, community service and individual pursuits.

This Nov. 7, we will be asked to vote on the physical education and

athletic field and track at Cedarcrest High School bond. Currently, the PE

curriculum at Cedarcrest is confined to indoor activities and very limited

field events. The Cedarcrest track team, which recently won honors for

having the highest academic standing in the state, has to rent facilities and travel

to other schools to practice. Cedarcrest’s soccer and football teams must

use Tolt’s notoriously wet athletic fields to practice and play games.

When the main Tolt field becomes saturated during the rainy

months, competitor high schools refuse to send their students to play there for

safety reasons, necessitating more travel for our students. This travel incurs

district transportation costs and infringes on the time that could be spent on

academics. The Cedarcrest drill team, band and cheerleaders are equally

impacted by the situation, marching and performing their routines in the

mud at home games.

It’s up to us to make sure our students have adequate academic

facilities to develop their skills in physical education just as we make sure

they have textbooks and classrooms to develop their academic skills. If we

want them to aspire to excellence in all they do, we need to set the example by

providing them with the means to achieve their highest aspirations.

Carolyn A. Butler

Duvall