The Board of Education will soon embark on its campaign to pass the school levy. Safety of students is a big priority as it should be. But, very soon the legislature and boards of education throughout the state will need to take an informed position: do we require Guardian Caps on football helmets for our players, and if so, should the State foot the bill.
The death of a Madison High School player after taking a hard hit during practice has driven home to me that we need to make every effort, spare no expense to protect our players in every sport. Boone County Delegate Mike Stuart has announced he will sponsor legislation requiring the caps with the funding so all 55 counties are provided with Guardian Caps and the bill is paid by the State.
It’s an issue that the Hancock County Board needs to study. They need to research the issue and hear from proponents and opponents. I was surprised that all 70 NFL teams have caps and wear them in practice, but most choose not to wear them in games. Based on the knowledge I’ve gleaned in the past few days, I support their use and I think the State should pay for them. What about other sports like Soccer? Yep. Whatever it takes to keep our kids safe. We talk a lot about natural resources in West Virginia. Our youth is our most valuable resource and we should take whatever measures possible.
