that's not what I said at all; I'm saying in my own personal opinion that winning a game here and there when you're absolutely terrible and getting a letter for being on a terrible team wouldn't mean a whole lot to me; IMO you play to win championships

You play to win the game!!

darby

Have to disagree with you. Putting in the time playing on a crummy sports team is no different than putting in the same time and effort on a winner. You're awarded the letter because you played at the varsity level more than some of your counterparts.

Same goes for band, choir, soccer etc. Not everyone can play in the band, or sing or whatever, same as not everyone can take the physical abuse of playing football. I don't hold that against anyone.

I can't...cannot carry a tune in a bucket
I could not stand looking like a fairy in the marching band
I was able to take getting the snot knocked out of me on the practice field for three years
I played a ton of baseball

If they're proud to wear a band or choir letter who cares?

beenthere/donethat wrote: How is playing a varsity sport any different really than being in the band?

One is an athletic endeavor and the other is the arts. I think with varsity letters traditionally being for athletics, that athletes resent the band and other groups making themselves part of that tradition.

I think the thought is that, fine, go ahead and give an award for being in the band, but do you have to give the same award that has long denoted that one is an accomplished varsity athlete?

ytown,

I know its not different. I was just stating my personal opinion( and maybe its because I grew up with a father who was a coach from the old school) that it wouldn't hold as much pride for me as it would have if my program was more successful

Keebler wrote: Next thing you know, you'll get a letter for perfect attendance.

No, but there's something to be said for perfect attendance. I take it you snear at that type of thing eh?

Varisity jackets are associated with athletics, always have been always will be. Do kids get letters for other things other then athletics, of course, but the moniker with the jackets is athletics. I know when I was in high school if I wasn't an athlete I would have never gotten one!

All it means is you were got caught up in a long list of strange coincidences...

You never ever get sick because you have Superman's immune system
Nobody in your family ever died requiring you to miss for a funeral
you only take summer vacations

Does'nt mean you got a higher GPA than someone who missed a couple days

Besides, once you get to college perfect attendance doesn't mean shit. It just gets you made fun of

Where I went to school, band letters and sports letters were given out to individuals who earned them PERIOD. Letters were not traditionally given to athletes only & as mentioned were activity specific. Only difference in size was between a JV athlete and a varsity athlete. I won't publicly mention the school's name, but they must be doing something right as they are consistently considered a top school in Ohio, both academically and athletically, with numerous state championships in several sports.

there's another thing you can' bring into this argument: earning requirements... pretty sure to earn it in band all ya gotta do is be standing there on the field every night, cuz at most schools almost everybody marches or will sing at all the concerts you have...

Not everybody plays in athletics, though some schools give out letters to everybody that makes the Varsity team. Other places the requirements are MUCH tougher

Sorry, but yes I can bring that in to the argument. Letters were not just handed out. There were specific qualifications you had to meet to earn one & it wasn't just standing there on the field every night.

Just as not everyone plays in athletics, not everyone plays in band or sings in choir either. Some people are afraid they'll look like a fairy.

I understand that the tradition of the jacket is rooted in athletics, but here's my two cents, even though it doesn't seem to be of the popular opinion...

Letter jackets are worn to display pride in one's school and the teams and groups of which one is a part. With this said, I personally see no problem with individuals wearing jackets with letters for band, choir, and the like.

At my school, we were also given special patches upon induction into the National Honor Society and pins for individual course awards and achievements. We had plenty of guys from our football, basketball, and baseball teams who also participated in arts-related extra-curriculars or excelled in academics, proudly displaying non-athletic letters, pins, or patches right next to varsity letters and Conference - even State - Championship patches.

Crew Love - you hit the nail on the head.

While in high school, the more letters, etc. you had ... the cooler you were. Now as an adult, I realize we were just walking advertisements for the school. No wonder they never had any problems passing levies.

Keebler wrote: I just saw someone walk into my work wearing a letter jacket for choir. Are you fucking serious? Next thing the AV and Chess Clubs will have one. This coming from someone who never had one nor wanted one. Seriously, everyone is going to have one before you know it.

The one thing that I would classify as "WTF" about this post is that someone is wearing a letter jacket at your place of employment. High school letter jackets have a place - and that's in high school. Once you graduate, the coat should hit - and stay in - the closet. You don't walk around wearing your cap and gown after commencement, do you...?

We always used to take note of and poke fun at people walking around my alma mater's campus wearing their high school letter jackets. It reeks of being absorbed in oneself and an inability to let go of the past - like Al Bundy sitting on the couch wearing his Polk High football jersey. If you were really that exceptional of an athlete in high school, you should be participating in intercollegiate athletics and wearing a new letter jacket.

I don't know what the big deal is. I graduated in 1974...and I got a letter for band...and 3 in baseball...I think I got one for basketball too-not sure....it's nothing new.

I don't have a problem with anyone "Lettering" in their chosen extra-curricular activity.....What I do object to are some schools giving "credits" for Show Choir. I think that is an extra-curricular activity and should be treated as such. I believe it even counts towards their GPA which Gym does not.

darbypitcher22 wrote: All it means is you were got caught up in a long list of strange coincidences...

You never ever get sick because you have Superman's immune system
Nobody in your family ever died requiring you to miss for a funeral
you only take summer vacations

Does'nt mean you got a higher GPA than someone who missed a couple days

Besides, once you get to college perfect attendance doesn't mean shit. It just gets you made fun of

I'm pretty sure no one made fun of me with perfect attendance in HS or College. I can't remember the last time I missed a day of work, I'm the boss, I can't miss. Do I get sick, sure, but I'm not a pussy about it. My father, may he burn in hell, was a DI in the military. You either got your ass moving or you found a boot up your ass.
By the way, GPAs don't mean shit in HS or College.....

What makes me is laugh is people who still wear their letter jackets after they graduate. I go to a community college and I see kids with 07, 08, and 09 on their jackets. Now I still wear old cut off football t-shirts when I work out and stuff. But seriously, someone needs to tell these kids they look stupid.

I saw a jacket with the varsity letter on the front chest and "Forensics" stitched across the back. That was a first for me.

People that where their letter jacket after High School make me laugh!!

Crew Love wrote:

Keebler wrote: I just saw someone walk into my work wearing a letter jacket for choir. Are you fucking serious? Next thing the AV and Chess Clubs will have one. This coming from someone who never had one nor wanted one. Seriously, everyone is going to have one before you know it.

The one thing that I would classify as "WTF" about this post is that someone is wearing a letter jacket at your place of employment. High school letter jackets have a place - and that's in high school. Once you graduate, the coat should hit - and stay in - the closet. You don't walk around wearing your cap and gown after commencement, do you...?

We always used to take note of and poke fun at people walking around my alma mater's campus wearing their high school letter jackets. It reeks of being absorbed in oneself and an inability to let go of the past - like Al Bundy sitting on the couch wearing his Polk High football jersey. If you were really that exceptional of an athlete in high school, you should be participating in intercollegiate athletics and wearing a new letter jacket.

Never said they worked there. It was a customer. Just thought it was weird to see on the back of their letter jacket say "BELLEVUE REDMEN CHOIR"

onedawgpain wrote:

Keebler wrote: Next thing you know, you'll get a letter for perfect attendance.

No, but there's something to be said for perfect attendance. I take it you snear at that type of thing eh?

I don't snear at that type of thing. I just think its crazy to get a letter for such ridiculous things. Might as well give one to the hall monitor while you are at it.

Science Olympiad? That's a new one on me....

Chalk me up with the people that don't understand why this would bother anyone.

I played sports and got letters, but also never had a jacked to put them on....I never really wanted one, although my school had some decent black ones, just because I knew the minute I graduated, I'd never wear it again, and the memories just weren't worth the asking price.

This reminds me of a guy I used to work with who overheard me and co-workers discussing going to a High School football game later that night. He chimes in "I don't understand people going to high school games, I played in the band, and I don't go back and watch my old high school's band play".

Enough said.