Letter Misleading on School Activity Costs

* I am responding to “School Activities Have Become Elitist” (Letters, Nov. 3).

An important part of being a young artist or athlete is to be as well prepared as possible. This is done through instruction and practice. Concerning the statement that “pressure placed on students to win at competitions is intense,” don’t we all want to learn to do things correctly? One of the criterion that tells us we are learning is to have experts evaluate what we learn and how we are developing our skills. Performing for adjudication is a big part of the education of artists and athletes in public schools. These adjudications are the “competitions” mentioned in Ms. Thomason’s letter.

In response to costs, Camarillo High students pay less for uniforms, camp and instruction than any music students in surrounding districts. Maximum cost is $495, not $2,000 as the letter stated. No student has ever been asked to leave or has been “booted out” of the program at Camarillo High for financial reasons.

The truth is, the musical director in reference has assisted students with financial problems. I know. I have the canceled checks. Fund-raising opportunities for students and parents include working Bingo and selling fund-raising items.

These programs are answering the needs of the students. Six years ago, the Camarillo High School band had five students enrolled. Six years later, it has more than 75. There were no pageantry teams six years ago. Now there are more than 40 girls involved.

These are programs the politicians are continually taking funding from. Since Proposition 13, these programs have been kept alive in the public schools by the parents. If Ms. Thomason is so interested in meeting the educational needs of the students of Camarillo High, perhaps she should spend her time finding the financial leaks in the state funding system.

KRISTI A. COLELL

Camarillo

Kristi A. Colell is chairwoman of the visual and performing arts department at Newbury Park High School. She is also the wife of Bruce Colell, music department chairman at Camarillo High School.