Letter to the editor: Officials, school bus drivers take abuse

I just finished reading Mike McFeely's story on the shrinking numbers of referees and umpires for high school athletic events.

McFeely reported correctly that the growing abuse by parents of high school sports participants is a major factor in this lack of new officials.

Like one seasoned official commented to McFeely, why would any young person want to enter into a profession that takes such abusive treatment by hysterical, crazed parents and other fans of high school games?

I am surprised that school bus drivers are not in short supply also, considering the abuse they take on a daily basis by students who have never known the meaning of self- control or being disciplined at home.

I am not an admirer of coach Bobby Knight, but he made a statement once with which I wholly agree. Knight said that the best place to coach would be in an orphanage.

I have thought it would have been a great place to be a teacher as well, in my final years as a public school teacher before I retired.

Kay Syvrud

Hawley, Minn.