THE PUBLIC MIND: MOM WONDERS WHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL `PLAYDAYS' PLACE SUCH EMPHASIS ON MONEY

Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to "Playday," an annual event held by elementary schools in Cape and the surrounding area. "Playday" is an event in which schoolchildren are given the opportunity to spend a day having fun outdoors. They eat, socialize, participate in races, and play games. Being a parent, I was given the opportunity to participate in the event at one of the Cape schools this year for the first time, and quite frankly, I was amazed.

The planning and energy such an event requires from parents, staff, and older schoolchildren is tremendous. Keeping hundreds of children of varied ages entertained for several hours in an outdoor setting certainly is a formidable task, and those involved deserve congratulations, as well as a heartfelt "thank you."

I was quite bewildered, however, at the emphasis placed on money. Races were free, but many if not most of the other activities had a cost of 50 to 75 cents to participated and engaged a child for only a few minutes. In addition, novelty items were sold. There were children who had come to school that day with very little money; I talked with some of them as they stared wistfully at the games and activities that some of the other children were participating in.

I am sure that every child is enthusiastic about "Playday" and looks forward to it as a much-needed break from the daily school routine. But doesn't learning occur outside as well as inside the classroom, perhaps in more subtle ways? Does charging money for these activities reinforce the message that one must have money to have fun? At least three of the local elementary schools in Cape have a large mixture of children from different economic classes. Does charging money at an event such as this more firmly delineate the line between the "haves" and the "have nots?"

I am aware that the Parent Teacher Associations have a great need for fundraisers and do many wonderful and much-needed things for the schools. However, I do not feel "Playday" is the time for a fundraiser. Making such a day free and equally available for all children is possible; the "Playday" held annually at Nell Holcomb is a good example.

Please consider these issues next year, and give "Playday" back to all the children.

Sincerely,

Pam McCarron

Cape Girardeau