Equal Protection in High School Sports Convo Central This is what some of you had to say about the scenarios. Click on the question link to read the entire scenario, or go to its conversation pages, linked directly below. Scenario 1 How should schools accommodate players with disabilities? Legal Experts Conversation                 Sports Celebrities Conversation Katy M. 15, Marquand, MO Erik should be allowed to participate on the team. Because of his handicap, he should be allowed to use a golf cart. It is just plain discrimination if he isn't allowed to participate because he needs to use a golf cart. The rules should be changed to say that if students can prove they have a medical problem that would hinder their chance to participate, they will be allowed the use of special transportation. Mike S. 17, Galesburg, IL Erik is obviously a good golf player, and would be a big help to the team, but because of his handicap, it is a problem that the coaches and the school should help to resolve. Unless the courses that the player would use have special circumstances that will not allow the use of carts, I believe that Erik should be allowed to play. Scenario 2 Should a girl be allowed to play on a boys' basketball team? Legal Experts Conversation                 Sports Celebrities Conversation Amy W. 18, Bowling Green, KY I believe that Laurel should really think things over about trying out for the boys' basketball team. Doing this, it would cause so many problems. I would have to agree with the coach. It's not necessarily sexist, but that's why we have a girls' basketball team. If there wasn't a girls' basketball team, then she would have something to argue about. A girl or a guy can be just as successful, as if they stayed on the same sex's basketball team. Number one, there would be problems with locker rooms. Laurel would have to have her a special room, so she can change. There may even be some harassment within the locker room. 20 guys and 1 girl in a locker room doesn't look right upon the school. Secondly, there would be problems with the entire basketball program. Other high schools, colleges, and professional basketball associations will want to start this. This wouldn't be fair to the girls and guys that want to play for their own sex's team. Last, Laurel on the court playing with 9 other guys isn't going to work. If one of them knocked her down or approached her in any inappropriate manner, then there will be a huge lawsuit to settle. Things will totally get out of hand. Laurel really needs to think things over before she makes this drastic decision. David D. Chicago, IL The basketball would be fine if there were not a women's basketball team. My question is about wrestling. You may think that it is the same question, but it is a different can o' worms entirely. I am a wrestler. Given the moves you have to do and the places you have to touch to do those moves, I would feel bad doing that to a girl I don't know. Secondly, it is doubly bad for the guys  --  you lose...you were beaten up by a girl; win...you beat up a girl. A double-edged sword. I don't think girls should be allowed to. In a match, there's no problem -- you attack the entire time, and have no time to think of anything except beating the person. But practice is another story entirely.  Too much time on people's hands. Mario N. 19, San Francisco, CA I think that Laurel should be given the right to choose herself. If she wants to play for the boys' basketball team I think that she should be warned of the abuse that she's going to go through. She cannot expect the boys to go easy on her and she can't expect them to treat her with special privileges just because she's a girl. I know for a fact that most boys will try to take advantage of her for her gender and she should be aware of that. Most people, like the coach for example, think that this is a bad idea. I say the best way to teach a kid a lesson that she or he will remember is to let them experience the situation themselves, if they can't handle the heat they should get out of the kitchen. The situation that the coach brought up about the locker rooms, uniforms, etc., there's a simple solution to that: If she played on the girls' team before she should be allowed to change in the girls' locker room before her games, simple. Above all I think that the rest of the people should encourage and support her and any other female who tries to step up to a male dominant society.   Lindsay R. 16, Marquand, MO I think that she should get to play if she feels like she can. If she thinks that she could participate and be treated equally with the boys then she should be more than welcome. But the thing about the locker rooms is true. It could cause a problem. Because the boys would have to dress with the girl there. But the uniforms would be alright. The girl could wear something underneath the jersey and it would be alright. I also think that they should have the team vote to see if they think they would like playing with a girl and if they didn't, then what would change their minds. Scenario 3 What if your school spent most of its sports money on boys' teams? Legal Experts Conversation                 Sports Celebrities Conversation Allie C. 16, Pleasanton, CA I believe school funds should be distributed fairly and evenly. If the girls' team lacks financial and community support, the female players might feel left out or pained. Just as all arenas in school should be treated fairly, just as all people should be, the teams should be accounted for and financially stable no matter what the team's all around gender is. Especially since some teams include both genders. Sam G. 12, Oak Grove, MO I agree with the girls. If they split the money evenly, the athletic director could figure out how the money could be best used for each program.   April C. 18, Conyers, GA In my school, most money is spent on the men's teams, or the more popular sports. The football team gets new uniforms almost every year, as well as the soccer teams. My volleyball team received no budget whatsoever. We had to pay for uniforms we didn't even get to keep. The same amount that is given to men's teams should be given to women's teams, because both should be equal. Katy M. 15, Marquand, MO I think that the school should institute a policy that any donation would be split evenly among the teams. The school should make the donors aware of this new policy. Any money that the school raises should also be split evenly among the ballteams. If one team has fundraisers to raise the money, that team should get to keep their own money that they raise. If they work for the money, it wouldn't be fair to give it to another team. The opinions appearing on this page may have been slightly edited for purposes of clarification.  We apologize if your age was left off;  that particular form field may not have been functioning properly at the time you submitted your information to us. Student Panelists | Sports Celebrities | Legal Experts Scenario 1 | Scenario 2 | Scenario 3 Conversations | *Convo Central (Student Comments)* Links Online Conversations | Title IX