Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/315828
Sport vs. activity? Cheerleading is not considered a sport, but many think it should be, including the Wom- en's Sports Foundation and the American Association of University Women. "I think it should be a sport," says Durfee, Red Bluff Union High School Teachers Asso- ciation. "They take tumbling classes and are gymnasts. They are athletes and are required to perform like athletes. But they are not treated the same as athletes." Desiree Turner, cheer coach at Oakland High School, agrees. "Yes, it should definitely be a sport," says Turner, Oakland Education Association. "They practice year-round and put in as much work as a football player or basketball player. They do stunts. I require them to go to cheerleading camp so they can learn how to do it safely. We do lots of fundraising so they can go to camp." "To me, it already is a sport," says Lily Saephan, a junior on the cheer team at Oakland High. "Anybody who says it's not — well, they need to think again." Because cheerleading is not considered a sport, it's usually unfunded. That means bake sales, car washes and students paying out of pocket, with those in wealthier schools having parents paying for professional choreog- raphers and consultants. "It's tough to come up with the money at an inner-city school," says Turner. The AACCA's position is that cheerleading does not meet the require- ment of being a sport because the primary purpose is not competition, it's raising school unity at athletic functions. They opted to put cheerleading into a new, developing category known as "athletic activity." Title IX consideration of cheerleading as a sport was nixed when the Office for Civil Rights ruled that cheerleading would not be considered as a factor when it comes to gender equity in sports. But arguments like this don't sway Jesse Cerda, coach for the Skyhawks at Summit High School in Fontana, winners of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 USA Nationals in Anaheim. "It should be considered a sport because of the safety factor," says Cerda, Fontana Teachers Association. "We're lucky to have support from our ath- letic department to provide trainers to make sure kids are safe. Due to our socioeconomic level, our kids don't have money to take private lessons. We can't afford to go to camp, so I host a camp on campus, bringing in people who are qualified to teach choreography and help with stunts." Eileen McGrew, whose teams have won regional, state and national cham- pionships during her 22 years at Agoura High School, isn't sure whether cheerleading should be designated as a sport, noting that it is not sanctioned as such by the California Interscholastic Federation. Feature Famous people who were cheerleaders Cheerleaders practice year-round and perform like athletes, but they are not treated the same as athletes, says coach Desiree Turner in Oakland. ALICIA SILVERSTONE MERYL STREEP HALLE BERRY SALLY FIELD GEORGE W. BUSH SANDRA BULLOCK 52 M AY 2 0 1 4 Educator 05 May 2014 v1.6 int.indd 52 5/16/14 3:22 PM