What do the commissioners of Gaston County value more -- sports or education? Obviously, the answer is sports. Why else would they be considering spending $12.5 million on a sports complex?
This money could go to hire more teachers, tutors and assistants. If the county is going to borrow money, it needs to go into the classrooms of Gaston County. However, the money should not be spent on Smart Boards, laptops or other electronic devices. Nothing can replace the human element of teaching.
Reducing class size, rehiring teacher assistants and tutors would vastly improve education in Gaston County. As a former teacher, I had many parents tell me that their child did not have time to study or do homework after school because of football/baseball/soccer practice. Building another sports complex just encourages this type of thinking.
This county needs to show parents that we value education more than sports. The new civic center is expected to lose money for years in the future. Why are we considering spending $12.5 million on a sports complex that is also expected to lose money for many years after it is built? We will never lose money providing our children with a good education.
Lydia Sargent is a resident of Kings Mountain.