WTF

Oakmont Regional High School Getting Rid Of Cheerleading And Golf Is Un-American

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Here’s what’s grinding Turtleboy’s gears this morning:

So apparently Oakmont Regional High School (Westminster-Ashburnham) is cutting both cheerleading and golf, as well as a bunch of freshmen sports. This is a school district where kids pay $300 per sport in user fees, which is comparatively high when looking at other districts, which is why this makes zero sense. We don’t know the first thing about the School Committee or School Department in this district, but we know from experience that something doesn’t smell right.

According to the Superintendent they have two choices – get rid of a teacher or get rid of these sports. That right there is the signal that something’s up. Because there is absolutely no way that those are the only two options. No matter what school district you are in in this state, there is ALWAYS bloated administrative salaries somewhere that can be cut. Schools are ALWAYS paying legal fees and other stuff that any consulting company would tell them to cut down on.

But the LAST thing any district should be doing is taking stuff away from kids. People forget that the reason teachers, administrators, school committee members, and superintendents have jobs is because of kids. Kids should ALWAYS be the priority. End of discussion.

And why are they cutting cheering and golf? Oh yea, because they probably consider these to be not real sports. I used to think the same thing about cheerleading, but I am man enough to admit that I was wrong. Cheerleading is most definitely a sport. It’s not like it was back in the day. Cheering isn’t something you do so you can make out with the star quarterback. It’s hard work, it’s competitive, they keep score, and these girls have been training for it since they were little lasses. They go to places like Gigueres and start doing backflips and and tossing each other in the air in the first grade. Their practices are several hours long. Their coaches are INSANE. If you think basketball coaches are crazy, check out a cheerleading competition sometime. Cheerleading coaches are ferocious savages when they’re on the clock.

And kids who cheerlead don’t really seem to care about cheering at games anymore. That’s more of an obligation at this point. It’s all about these competitions. They cheer to win the game, which makes it a sport. The only thing that I’d get rid of is the fact that smiling counts towards your team score. I’m not kidding either. The coaches stand in front of these girls while they’re cheering and they yell at them. One of the coaches is the smile coach. She just stands there and does this forced Hillary-esque smile and yells at them to smile more because they lose points if they don’t. That’s the only aspect I’d get rid of with cheering. In real sports smiling is for losers.

And what kind of bootleg welfare school doesn’t have a cheerleading team? Do they understand how poor this is gonna make them look? Fitchburg,Murdock (Winchendon), Gardner have cheerleading teams. All those places are dumps, and to my knowledge they don’t pay user fees. Even Worcester South High School cheerleaders roll 20+ deep. Sure, their uniforms don’t match, but at least they exist. So at basketball and football home games now there’s gonna be no cheerleaders? That’s borderline un-American.

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Here’s my question – where did all the money go? These people in these two towns pay property taxes. According to the Fitchburg Sentinel, property taxes recently increased $500 per year on average in Ashburham. According to this link the two towns pay some of the highest tax rates in the entire state. Ashburham’s rate is higher than Worcester’s. We have crazy, bloated administration, chief diversity officers, Mosaic checks as far as the eye can see, Tracy Novick panhandling legal costs, a City Manager who gets paid a quarter of a million dollars, and every social service imaginable. Yet our high schools still somehow manage to have a cheerleading team. Oh yea, and our kids don’t pay $300 user fees either.

So basically, this is unacceptable. Like I said, we have no idea where the fat is in this district, but it’s somewhere and it should be cut before they ever even consider taking something away from children.

P.S. This is what happened when they tried to get rid of cigarettes in Westminsters:

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We were with them on that one, and we hope that the citizens of these towns fight just as hard for the kids as they did for the right to purchase cancer sticks.

 

 

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52 Comment(s)
  • Westminster Patriot
    April 6, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    Shall we have ANOTHER Westminster Uprising!? First the Town tries to Ban Tobacco sales… THEN they try to BAN Cheerleading!!??? If Jack Nicholson found out about this, he would be PISSED! Who else Loves Cigars and Cheerleaders (Lakers) more than THAT Guy!!?
    Jack Nicholson by proxy, must Hate Westminster!

  • Concerned
    April 6, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    Westminster has 13 full-time cops and Ashburnham has 5 for roughly same population? ??? What a joke !!!! And people question where taxes go ??? What a bunch of uneducated folks !! Once again a school administration that is I’ll equipped to handle the budget.no new ideas or other alternatives to alleviate the problem. Sad,sad commentary for what used to be a great town !!

    • Rod
      April 7, 2016 at 2:01 am

      If you lived in a town bordered by Fitchburg and Gardner, or ever witnessed the things that carry over from these two cities into Westminster/Ashburnham you would understand why…. I have personally lived in 3 of the 4.

  • Mike
    April 6, 2016 at 4:10 pm

    The problem in these small towns is no one is paying attention. Ashburnham several years ago had someone in the school system administration embezzle$600,000 it had gone on for several years, no one caught all the checks. Finally a state audit caught it. makes you wonder how much other stuff is going on that they don’t see.

    • Concerned
      April 6, 2016 at 6:46 pm

      You are right but he actually swindled over one million! !!!! How soon no one else remembers

      • Mike
        April 6, 2016 at 7:01 pm

        I know but the papers only said 600K. i actually have a close friend who knew him (Tony Katter) well and he bragged it was close to 2 million actually

  • Renee
    April 6, 2016 at 4:00 pm

    I’m not sure who turtle boy is but obviously before he writes an article he should probably do some fact checking. Murdock high school is not a dump, actually far from it. Everyone has their opinion but as a product of Murdock high school I take high offense to this moronic thinking. Having children at Murdock high school now, one of whom is graduating in June and going on to a university of very good standing, and one who is a three season athlete, I can tell you for a “fact turtle boy” that Murdock does in fact have user fees. Perhaps not $300 but $160. My family and I are disheartened by your lack of tact and makes me regret my decision on buying the Telegram and Gazette. It’s too bad what’s happening at Oakmont but to take out your frustration on other areas schools is just poor sportsmanship.

    • Dicky
      April 6, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      Murdock is not a dump. Winchendon is. That’s not really debatable

    • Dicky
      April 6, 2016 at 7:12 pm

      Wait, do you think you’re reading the telegram right now?

      • True Reality Speaks
        True Reality Speaks
        April 6, 2016 at 8:17 pm

        Renee should be prohibited from ever using the internet again.

        • Hey
          April 6, 2016 at 9:17 pm

          Ha ha….you told her!

      • FiestyLawyerLady
        April 6, 2016 at 8:46 pm

        I think she is. May you be so kind to help her find her way? I’m all out of nice today…

      • Renee
        April 6, 2016 at 9:19 pm

        Nope, but he got his “facts” from there. And his journalism skills suck. IMO. Peace

  • KeepKidsSports
    April 6, 2016 at 3:28 pm

    “In real sports smiling is for losers.”
    Truth. Even when top athletes score insane winning goals/points, they’re reaction is usually a cool battle cry, or pumping an “in your face” fist.

  • Brian
    April 6, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    The worse part of all this is that they school choice so many kids into that district from neighboring towns and they always seem to have an over ride.. Yeah let’s build a huge new elementry school so we can school choice more kids in the lower grades rather then focus on the size of the town we actually are and maybe we should start thinking of letting businesses in that will bring in tax dollars rather then fighting everything that wants to come in…

    • Westminster Patriot
      April 6, 2016 at 8:33 pm

      I totally agree, but Westminster already fights the good, loyal, honest Businesses enough as it is! So why would any new Businesses ever want to come here? “Remember November! “…2014 that is! There STILL is not Transparency in this Town!

      • Westminster Patriot
        April 6, 2016 at 11:21 pm

        November 2014, Westminster. Aka The “Tobacco Ban Scam’

  • Tonra
    April 6, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    I live in Westminster, where they override prop 2.5 every year for some insane project we “need” and yet my street is NEVER plowed. We dont have town sewer, water, sidewalks or streetlights where I live…and we’re only 2.5 miles from the center of town. We have no idea where the money goes and are working on our house in order to sell it and move to a place where we can actually get something out of it.

  • RSoxGuy
    April 6, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    Golf, cheering, bowling, sorry, not sports. Ive always defined sports as a two team (minimum) game where offense and defense are involved. No D in cheering. No D in golf. No D in bowling. If you wanna call it a sport, your opponent has to have a way to prevent you from scoring or at least have some significant influence in your ability to score. In Cheer, girls have a certain amount of time to do thier thing, then they are off the floor. They could be in the parking lot leaving while the competition begins their routine. No influence what so ever. Golf, same thing. You hit ball, I hit ball. nobody stands in my way of my shot. Nobody protecting the hole, nobody trying to deflect my drive into the woods. and dont gimme that “the course is the defense” bullshit….

    There is defense in baseball, football, billiards, darts, hockey, curling, even running and chess.

    You wanna call them a skill, competition or game, fine. But cheering golf and bowling are not sports.

    Im sure that cheer parents can come up with the $5,000 to support the girls with car washes and other fundraisers. Sounds like the parents need to start a cheer booster club. maybe sponsor a Middle School dance or something. Its $5k. Really not a huge deal. As for Freshman sports, there are tons of youth leagues for football, baseball, basketball, cheering, golf, bowling and what ever around to take these kids in.

    One thing, there had better not be any middle school sports teams if they are gonna cut Freshman squads. That happened recently at Bartlett a co-worker told me. Bartlett SC and AD threatened to close all kinds of High School sports while making sure the AD’s son’s terrible Middle School football team got a new locker room and kept his team which ensured his 8th grade son would be able to play in the Thanksgiving game. Yes, the AD’s 8th grade son played QB in the Turkey game over freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors, then the AD wonders why all the talent in that town school choices out, but thats another story all together.

    • Dicky
      April 6, 2016 at 7:08 pm

      Offense and defense? That rules out the nba

  • IMO
    April 6, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Not sure about Winchendon and Gardner, but Fitchburg charges user fees per their athletic information. This isn’t the first time Oakmont has had trouble, many years ago they were trying to charge $1000 user fees for sports. There’s definitely more they could have looked at in terms of where to find the money. This district is known to spend money for things they don’t need, but things they want.

    • BC
      April 6, 2016 at 1:38 pm

      Winchendon does pay user fees and has for the past 10 years that I’ve been writing the checks for my kids to play sports.

    • Lauren
      April 6, 2016 at 3:51 pm

      Yes Winchendon and Gardner DO have user fees!! Not $300, I think $160. Still user fees and calling other systems a dump when turtleboy admits he knows nothing about districts and committees is just…..stupid.

      • Buster
        April 6, 2016 at 6:04 pm

        G-Vegas is a dump.

      • Dicky
        April 6, 2016 at 7:06 pm

        In fairness they call pretty much everywhere a dump

      • hupro
        FormerChamp
        April 6, 2016 at 9:17 pm

        Amd Winchendon has one of the BEST cheering teams, around, these days! Besides Leominster and North Middlesex, of course! Seems like someone is using that $$$.

        • Buster
          April 7, 2016 at 7:45 am

          This comment is why kids are such losers today. Parents hover and revel that being on one of the BEST cheering teams, baseball teams, rugby, football etc actually means a thing. Sports have gone from being part of growing up to a major contributor to the expectations for constant praise. How many kids are in high school? 15-20 million? So every year, the Very Special graduating class is replaced by another Very Special group. What does being among one of the BEST cheering squads really mean? Nothing. Except that by labeling routine ability as exceptional, our culture inflates expectations.

      • Julie
        April 7, 2016 at 9:39 am

        I agree…probably should of checked your facts before you talk about systems you have no idea about. Fitchburg pays $40 per a sport and guess what they aren’t cutting sports. Total insult to all communities you trashed on! I really liked you too, today not so much!

    • Sport Mom
      April 6, 2016 at 5:06 pm

      The user fee for all Fitchburg Highschool sports is $50.00
      This is similar to the fee I paid when I attended Nashoba Regional. As far as referring to Fitchburg as a dump, that’s bloated. Every city/town has their isdues, it will never change until the people of said town/city step up for change. What these sports continue to teach our youth is responsibility, sportsmanship, determination, respect, and many other life lessons (of course the right coach is the most impactful on these). If we fail our children what does that teach them about community support and wanting to be proud of where you’re from.

    • Westminster Patriot
      April 6, 2016 at 7:57 pm

      Oakmont also made National news then for 1st in America for “Pay to Play”!

  • jj
    April 6, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    I hate to say it but Ashburnham is spending far too much on a police force that isn’t needed.

    • UsualSuspect
      Just sayin'
      April 6, 2016 at 12:39 pm

      The Lucky Dragon, Spuria’s, and Mr. Mike’s won’t get robbed since the cruiser is parked there from 630pm to 10pm most nights.

    • Pulled Pork sandwich
      April 6, 2016 at 12:42 pm

      I drove by there once and noticed the covered parking lot for what looked like too many shiny new cruisers for such a small town.

  • Publius
    April 6, 2016 at 11:11 am

    This is the scam school committees always run. Cut the stuff that upsets people the most, then ask for more money. Selectman do it to, cut Saturday hours at the dump. Inflict maximum pain, then say a tax increase or override is necessary. Would love to go line by line on their budget.

  • Jake from State Farm
    April 6, 2016 at 10:49 am

    Where does the money go? We do pay a lot in taxes …… Federal Tax, State Tax, Local tax, Sales tax, Real Estate tax, Gas tax, Meals tax, Excise tax, Registry fees, inheritance tax, Social Security tax, capital gains tax, and MORE …… truth be told probably over 60% of of gross incomes go to taxes & fees of some sort ……and what do we get ??? Not enough, that’s for sure.

    Why ? 2 main reasons —–> a welfare system that is broken. We should take care of society’s most vulnerable (absolutely), but too many able bodied people, frauds sucking off the public assistance system … and Govt & local pension programs that are ridiculously generous.

  • Non Sequitor
    April 6, 2016 at 10:17 am

    The problem is Ashburnham. It’s nothing but a town full of busybodies and transient commuter yuppies.

    Those involved in town government are the busybodies with nothing else to do who complain about everything, from building a public safety complex to covering up actions by library administrators and former selectmen.

    It’s a good school district, but something smells.

    • jj
      April 6, 2016 at 12:18 pm

      I pay $7000 in taxes at one of the highest rates in the state, if the town needs an override for a better DPW, they should reevaluate the budget.

    • Sarah
      April 6, 2016 at 1:24 pm

      Nothing but “Busybodies and transient commuter yuppies” haha righhhttt
      Do you mean Non sequitur..btw?
      “A statement that is not connected in a logical or clear way to anything said before it..?”… Keep it moving with your opinions

    • Concerned
      April 6, 2016 at 6:52 pm

      Ya nice oversight by town of Ashburnham regarding the library! !! What a joke

    • Westminster Patriot
      April 6, 2016 at 7:53 pm

      Is Andrea Crete behind all this!!??

  • Practical
    April 6, 2016 at 10:15 am

    I care for neither of these activities and none of the children. I shall sleep soundly tonight.

    • Finnish Goalie
      April 6, 2016 at 12:27 pm

      The sleep of the righteous is indeed sweet, eh?

    • Buster
      April 7, 2016 at 5:20 am

      These clueless snowflakes need to hear that kind of talk. Too many honors and awards. Keep up the good work. We need to teach the little slugs that they are not special at all.

  • Mike
    April 6, 2016 at 10:04 am

    Cheerleading a sport, come on. It is about as much of a sport as bowling

    • Rational person
      April 6, 2016 at 10:58 am

      You don’t know what you are talking about.

      • MENTAL MIKE
        April 6, 2016 at 11:07 am

        You’re right. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Bowling IS A sport.

    • Ihateidiots
      April 6, 2016 at 4:58 pm

      And you my friend are an idiot.

    • hupro
      FormerChamp
      April 6, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      Yes! Cheerleading is a sport! It is one of the 10 ten dangerous to list! I was a competitive cheerleader, for many years, and, since I ended my career, it has gotten even more popular! There is tumbling,which is gymnastics. Team work, is a huge factor, which comes into play, when stunting. Everyone has to be in sync. Competitive cheering is very different from NFL cheering! But, all high schools.NEED their,cheerleaders! The school spirit is going bye-bye, with out them!! Who it’s out the cheerleaders???

  • SPANKSTER
    April 6, 2016 at 9:48 am

    You mean to say that there isn’t at least one or two Assistant Superentendant’s that they can ax? How about the Superentendant of Facilities ? That gotta be a six figure job for the head janitor

    • Fritz
      April 6, 2016 at 10:03 am

      Hey man. You don’t know the horrors a high school janitor goes through.

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