Raspberry on Gender Bigots and Funds for School Sports

In answer to the headline question on William Raspberry’s column (Op-Ed Page, April 18) “Does Favoring Teams Just for Guys Make You a Gender Bigot?” Yes. You are a bigot if you spend more money on men in school sports than for women in school sports, for whatever reason.

Sports for men were not invented to be more expensive. Jim Thorpe’s football equipment was not as expensive as John Elway’s. The amount of dollars spent just grew with fan interest.

Women athletes have parents and friends who will turn out to see them perform and excel. With interest, equipment and staff for women athletes, there is no reason that dollar return will not follow. There is no problem with separate teams for men and women if equal time and effort and dollars are spent in their development.

There is a bill (SB 724) before the California Assembly Committee on Education that requires that all professional preparation programs, for a teaching or a service credential, satisfy equitable standards regarding equitable practices in public schools. I would hope that the bill is passed by our legislators. Then those in our educational system will have no problem in recognizing discrimination where it exists and disposing of it.

Bigotry is the same old thing, only the bigots try to get trickier.

MIRIAM ALBERT

Thousand Oaks