|
Speaking |
|
|
7/9/07 At least once a year I reference the most important piece of legislation ever signed by President Richard Milhous Nixon. In 1972, Title IX was introduced and after being ratified later by Congress, it paved the way for gender equity as it pertained to HS Sports programs, specifically for girls. Thirty-five years later, to say this hasn’t been an integral part in the development of our nation’s youth, is to ignore the facts. From Women’s World Cup Soccer, to the phenomenal success of our Women’s Olympic teams in basketball and softball to the current state of intercollegiate competition, it is clear that Title IX has provided a vehicle for girls to have the same opportunities as boys when it comes to infrastructure, facilities, and the chance to get their education subsidized while competing on the next level. Perhaps this has never been so evident as it was back in late May, when Novi HS was mentioned in the Modesto Bee newspaper. Why would this happen when that paper is published to a community just outside of San Francisco, California, almost 2500 miles away from here? At the time, the mythical #1 girls soccer team in the nation (according to the NCSA/Adidas poll), The local team, the Sonora ‘Wildcats’ had just been upset, and the speculation was that the #2 ranked Novi ‘Wildcats’ might move to #1 but they had just been defeated as well. In the end, Apex HS of North Carolina ended up in the #1 slot, and proceeded to run the table and win their State Championship. The fact that a conversation of this type took place involving girls sports on a national level is phenomenal, when you consider where they stood on the totem pole just a few years back. But, any way you slice it, it was the girls that put the Novi HS name on the National map, and that’s quite an achievement. It’s also quite an achievement to observe how far women’s athletics have progressed in the last 35 years. In addition to their obvious success, the best part is the number of kids that partake. In 1972, only 1 out of 30 girls participated in HS sports, now it’s 1 in 3, thanks to Title IX. It’s more than just a title, it’s now a way of life, especially in Wildcat Country. (c) 2007 Novi
Information Network ___________________________________ |
|
