When I think back to my days in elementary, junior high and high school I have many fond memories. Riding the bus with my neighborhood friends and feeling so grown up that I wasn't with my mom, playing dodge ball and square dancing in gym with that boy who hated holding my hand, learning the recorder in music class, making Rorschach-like finger paint "masterpieces" in art. . . just to name a few. I am quite sure that all of you reading this have similar stories of your early education experience.

Therefore, what truly saddens and disappoints me is to hear that several Indiana school districts are cutting ALL busing, art, music, physical education and sports programs. . . .not to mention hundreds of teaching positions. . . WHAT?! The citizens of these districts voted against referendums to increase their property tax that would have kept these programs in the schools. I understand not wanting to spend more money, especially due to our current economic situation. I certainly wasn't happy when my property tax increased a few years ago, so I am not judging the voters of these districts. I do not know the "answer" to this dilemma; I just know how sorry I am for the children that will not get to experience the vast and formative benefits of these necessary programs.

In elementary school, I began to learn my love for fitness as I would be so excited for daily gym class. I would take pride in being among the first girls picked for teams, and became every gym teachers' pet.

In junior high, I joined choir and was always so excited when my parents would come to our seasonal concert. I learned how to make metal candleholders and clocks in industrial arts and had my first experience with a sewing machine by making an ice cream cone shaped pillow in home economics. But probably my best experience in middle school was beginning my love for organized sports.

You see, team sports are so much more than simply the sport. I learned multiple lessons in my participation that I use on a daily basis in my adult life. Being a part of a team taught me accountability, sacrifice, teamwork, the ability to handle disappointment, the ability to be a humble winner, and most importantly feeling a part of a group. Think about what it would have been like growing up without school sports. . . even if you weren't in a sport: No cheerleaders walking around all day in their uniforms, no pep rallies, no team pictures in the yearbook, no real use for homecoming week, not to mention king or queen, no rowdy Friday night football games, no results read on the morning announcements, no school spirit, and what is the real need for a school mascot; what would be the point?? So much more will be lost than the sports themselves.

In this day and age of technology, Facebook, texting, and video games, I feel that cutting all of the creative and active programs from our schools is sending a dangerous message: that they are not important. Why would children think these things were necessary when they weren't taught them in school? I remember so looking forward to my school day when I had a match that night. . . and hearing "good luck" in the halls. I also think of all of the people that became amazing visual and musical artists who never would have known their potential without their art classes. And to add insult to injury, these kids will never ride the Twinkie! I fear that we may be ending up with a generation of zombies.

Again, I do not have an answer to this sad situation, I am just expressing my sadness on how much these kids will be missing out on with the elimination of everything but text books. Parents, sorry. . . I guess it is all up to you!