Yes To Tennis

by Aaron Freilich

I am writing in response to the article regarding cancellation of tennis as a Yeshiva High School League sport (“What A Racket,” Fresh Ink, Oct. 30).

As a consequence of this action, parents of yeshiva high school students have banded together from all schools in the tri-state area, in an attempt to reverse the Board of Jewish Education’s decision.

Many of us are extremely upset that principals unilaterally made this decision without consulting athletic directors or parents. There are approximately 300 yeshiva students who play high school tennis, who are affected by the decision.

What is particularly dismaying is that a compromise could have easily been reached which could have saved the Yeshiva High School Tennis League.

Parents should have been given the option to band together and carpool to matches, thus saving the cost of hiring a bus for that task. Parents should have been allowed the option to participate in the costs of paying for court time, which further could have defrayed the costs to the individual schools. In fact, the amount of money being saved by canceling the league is so small that it is a mere dent in the schools’ athletic budget.

As a parent of two yeshiva high school students who play competitive tennis, and as someone who is paying approximately $50,000 in tuition, it is ludicrous that with such a small expense, tennis is being cut.

For that amount of tuition, I expect my children to get a well-rounded education, which includes extracurricular activities. To deprive student of this is unacceptable and should not be allowed to stand.

Lawrence, L.I.

E-mail: Gary@jewishweek.org

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Westchester Jewish Conference

Westchester’s Jewish Community Relations Organization