I appreciate the disappointment over the possibility that Indianapolis Public Schools may drop Washington Community School’s football program, but I don’t buy the statement that such programs “are essential to providing a well-balanced program for our youth.”

The board is right to make difficult, sometimes unpopular, decisions in these tough times, especially to redirect money to where it will benefit more students and provide honestly beneficial programs and better education. If the board would like to provide good extracurricular programs, it could charter a Boy Scout troop and a Girl Scout troop. Scouting provides leadership and teamwork experiences far broader than does a football team. It provides plenty of physical activity, and easily surpasses any athletic program with regard to community engagement. It does all this in a much more inclusive way (any kid can “make the team”), at lower cost to the school, and with at least as great a potential benefit to the surrounding community through the service projects that are part of any decent Scouting program.

Daniel Daly

Brownsburg