Headlines From The Nation's Press

Each week we open the show with some of the most glaring and reoccurring stories chronicling the ugliness surrounding youth sports organized by adults; issues pertaining to our children's health and education. These headlines clap like thunder across the country signaling a warning to parents, coaches, administrators, lawmakers, and community stakeholders that widespread change is imperative.

My good friend, and frequent guest on the show, Professor Doug Abrams of the College of Law at the University of Missouri, will add you to his daily mailing list of these stories. Simply email Doug and ask him to add your name to the list.

The Main(e) Event

The Professors Are Back with more inside proof that our schools do care about kids, and are measuring up.

David Ruff, from the Great Maine Schools Project at the University of Southern Maine, returns with Jeanne Crocker, principal of S. Portland High, and Chris Elkington, principal of Noble High. These two principals are living the notion of ensuring equity, academic rigor, and personalization so that all students are ready for college, work, and citizenship.

In large schools it is difficult to know every student. In a crowd, student problems can go unnoticed, fester, and give rise to serious consequences. The organizational structures required to coordinate the daily participation of so many people creates large, layered organizations that are not nimble in their response to student needs.

We'll discuss the benefits and concerns of large schools and some strategies these schools use to personalize learning for every student.

Skateboarding: The Passion Behind the Craze

Millions of kids are turning to skateboarding because team sports organized by adults are denying kids the fun, freedom, creativity, and the social experiences of free-play. The reasons why 75% of all kids who start out playing team sports quit, are the same reasons why they take up individual Xtreme Sports like skateboarding.

My guests will be Ryan Sabal, owner of Ride 207, a board shop at 671 Forest Ave in Portland, and some teenage skateboarders. We'll hear why these young people are so attracted to snowboarding and skateboarding.

Cities and towns rarely have designated parks where skateboarders can play, forcing them into areas full of people and traffic. Ball fields, gymnasiums, and parks are in plentiful supply, but local communities have not responded to the needs of thousands of kids who want to skate.

We'll learn that public perceptions of skateboarders are largely unfounded and false. These kids are not doing drugs, painting graffiti, or otherwise getting into trouble with the law. On the contrary, they are involved in strenuous physical activity for hours at a time. They are committed to mastering "impossible" athletic moves. They are just as determined and focused as their counterparts who play organized team sports. And, they are learning important social skills all on their own. So what's so wrong with that?

The Coaches Corner

OK, so why is the Little League season over for 95% of our kids who are not "All-Stars?" The big complaint from high school and LL coaches is that the playing season (spring) is too short, cold, rainy, snowy, and muddy.  July and August are generally nice and the kids are out of school. So what if a handful are gone on vacation? Its a shame to see all of those LL fields vacant when they could be filled with boys and girls playing ball all summer instead of "chillin', or just hangin' out" until school resumes.

Regis' Rant

Corporate America is exploiting our kids. From sneaker deals for 14 year olds, scouting reports on 10 year olds, to free bats, uniforms, and equipment for Little League teams, America's corporations are doing anything and everything to get their stuff into the hands of our kids and to create "brand loyalty." It works exactly the same way for fast food, candy, soft drinks, cereal, cigarettes, and alcohol. Organized youth sports is a multi-billion dollar industry and free-market capitalism just winks and continues to spin their products and services to kids who, in turn, influence their parents to spend millions on things they think will make them better or look cool.

The Parent Trap

Question for Parents: "Will You Still Love Them If They Don't Win?"

We invite our listeners to call in and share their views.

Listeners can take part in the show by calling:

207-775-2217 or 1-866-811-9505.

or email me during the show at:

Regis@thecenterforkidsfirst.org