Sports at state tech schools are on the chopping block ... again

And so it turns out that here in Connecticut, there's really no fundamental difference between educating our kids within the state technical school system and filling potholes.

They're all prisoner to the two words that impede progress the most: state agency. Under an umbrella of destitution and incompetence. And who's stuck in the middle? Our state's favorite pawn: The kids.

It happened five years ago. It's happening now. Connecticut's fiscal crunch du jour has inspired the state Department of Education to hearken one of its greatest hits upon Connecticut's 16 technical high schools. Cut sports. Perhaps in total. Second verse, same as the first.

Five years ago, Gov. Malloy proposed $2.8 million in budget cuts that would have claimed sports, music, art, library media department heads and social workers at the technical schools, saying that they'd be saved if the state employee unions approved a certain concession package.

Nice use of children, wouldn't you say?

Now? This just in: We have no money. One spy within the state technical school system said the state's failure to care even reaches the classroom. There were teacher vacancies throughout last year that were never filled. Hence, the kids were educated by substitutes. Nothing against them, but how confident are we that a substitute bears command of the subject matter as well as a full-timer?

No biggie, though. It's just kids and their education. Substitute? Hey. It saves money. Just like potholes. Fill some, ignore others. Who cares? The “we just don't have the money” crutch is always available.

Perhaps some enterprising masochist out there can commandeer a few minutes with the governor and his minions to humbly suggest that no other endeavor in our state transcends working and educating our kids. Kids aren't some state agency ripe for manipulation. Working with

kids is different. Vital. Fundamental. Necessary.

It stands to reason that sports are already swirling the bowl, given the state's apathy toward replacing full-time teachers. And not that this hasn't been written a billion times, but if sports weren't a part of the educational process, schools wouldn't offer them.

Think about this: Playing on a team requires kids to work with different people of different agendas and varying levels of interest and work ethic. It requires kids to negotiate high-fives, group hugs, festering rivalries, moral judgments and severe impatience. It requires kids to listen to someone they may or may not like and respect. To work with people they may or may not like or respect. To work with people who seem to screw up and move up.

Hmmm. Does that sound like the workforce to you at all? How much more practical experience can you get?

Sports are about quick decision-making under dire circumstances. They are connected to student achievement. They connect kids to their schools. They teach self-sacrifice. Play through mistakes. Get back up after getting knocked down. Growth mindsets.

I know. What a colossal waste of time, right?

They are also part of the traditional high school experience. High schools without sports are like ballerinas without tutus.

Friends of mine in state technical schools say sports are a valuable recruiting tool, too, at least to the point that prospective students wouldn't have to forgo sports to learn a trade. No longer is that sacrifice required. Until now, apparently.

Here's the worst part: If you are a parent of a technical school student, to whom do you complain about this? There are 16 schools spread across the state. No command center. Nothing. This is not like a small town where angry parents can storm the Board of Education. It's almost the perfect crime.

I nearly keeled over when visiting the Connecticut Department of Education website. One of its quick links: “Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Resources.”

Sure they do. With substitute teachers and no sports. ESSA? ESSA crock of you know what.