No argument, debate club students need funding

Every day when I read the Herald, I find articles about public school sports teams literally extolling the amount that Miami Dade County Public Schools spend on their athletic programs.

Yet there is a group of students whose parents fund their extra-curricular debate activities to the tune of $500 per team member for the regular debate season. These 20 students come from all racial and economic backgrounds and for their parents, the club costs represent a true economic sacrifice. This wonderful group of young students has once again won the Florida State Championship and are now qualified for the U.S. National Championship to be held this spring in Orlando.

The travesty occurs in funding, as the estimated cost to the parents will be about $2,000 per student for their travel, accommodations, and meals for the week, an amount which is beyond the reach of almost all of the team’s parents.

Here is a group of students who follow intellectual pursuits and yet receive no support from the county school board or the MDCPS Administration. Surely, there is enough waste in the MDCPS budget that could fund or partially fund this opportunity.

It is time for the school board and administration to recognize that intellectual pursuit and achievement is as, if not more, important as physical achievement. It is important to consider that these young men and women are our future leaders and it is time for our officials to recognize that fact.

We should all take pride in the achievement of the Miami Lakes Middle School debate club. If our public officials are too cheap to fund the students’ trip to the nationals, perhaps there are enough citizens who would be able and willing to help defray the costs that most of their devoted parents cannot.

– Ira Kirkell, Aventura