Title IX series should be required reading

Until I read the excellent report covering three days of front-page coverage, I had almost forgotten about Title IX. Here’s my story.

In 1966, our daughter Vicki-Lynn graduated from Old Orchard Junior High in Skokie. Vicki was athletic, always on the monkey bars, riding her bike or on the playground equipment at school and parks. Then she started Niles North High School in Skokie. She enjoyed the physical education classes and began excelling in track and field. She was excellent in the long jump and practiced in our side yard. In those days there were no funds for transportation to district meets, coaching staff sessions, not even T-shirts for the girls. Every dollar that was available went to boys sports, primarily football.

Vicki graduated in 1970 and was accepted at University of Illinois Chicago campus. Then on June 23, 1972, Title IX was signed into law. Suddenly funds were available for girls sports. Since then girls sports has grown like “Topsy.” How wonderful for all those girls. My husband and I often wondered what would have happened with Vicki and all the other girls if there had been the opportunities for them as there are today for all the students — girls and boys.

Your series should be mandatory reading for all junior high and middle school students and their parents.

Thank you, Daily Herald, for bringing Title IX to everyone’s attention.

Shirley Odegaard

Schaumburg