This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

MV Sports comes w/an unreachable price tag for less fortunate Village children

If I were a Black or Hispanic in the Village which has become predominant in a large percentage of Village communities, I would find this highly offensive and disconcerting.  Watkins Mill, of course, (parents aren't forced to dole out registration fees in lieu of food on the table for their kids to merely register for school sports!) has some diversification on teams but you sure don't see much, if any, on Montgomery Village Sports Association other than four precious-looking little grade school girls.  And, looking at this, almost gives one the impression that the fact they are cheerleaders is 'stereotyping'.  And, if the Village recalls, I even questioned that lack of color when it came to photographs on your very own web site.  Shortly, after that disturbing observation  was made (observed throughout all the years you have created such a web site), children of color and other ethnic groups started appearing on both your web and in the Village News.  Except, even in that situation on your web site, they were not Village children.  Photos posted were like those one finds in picture frames or wallets when you make your purchase.  Came with the frame or wallet...a 'pretend family'.  Hummm!  Sad! Other than 'donation box' @ MVF Apple Ridge Office, does anyone want to 'bus' or give financial assistance to the kids at the upper end of the Village so that they too have the advantage of signing up and 'belonging' & participating in MV sports??!!  Sure would beat them having nothing else to do but troll the neighborhood out of sheer boredom for the summer climbing mailboxes, street signs, etc.  And they would enjoy the slide at what appears to be almost the persona of 'whites only' @ Whetstone pool and neighborhood. Are the children who are left out of sports (primarily due to expense; money trees their hard-working parents don't have) and the children, not relevant enough to have a playground nearby, the 'pretend family members of Montgomery Village' as well!  Those whose parents are working two or three jobs while paying mandated assessment fees for the many so-called (equal) amenities in MV that their financial means (lack thereof) in life don't afford them time, money or opportunity to enjoy!  Rhetorical! {Three examples (all MV sports require registration fee) - To register for softball, a struggling minority family has to pay the following for each child:   $90 for MV Resident;  $95 for non-resident. To register i.e. for football, a struggling family has to pay $25 for THREE sessions.  Whoopie??!!    Registration to be a cheerleader is a flat (for many hard to come by) $175.}  If MV and its Sports Association can show me otherwise, other than what I have observed over the years (i.e. provide me swim team photos for the Summer of 2014) that truly show diversification and that I am misinformed or 'blind', I will happy to apologize and 'eat my words'.

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