Rudith M. Berkowitz Criticizes Lack of Girls’ Sports Options at Norwood School Committee Meeting-November 6, 1975

Committee Debates Expansion of Female Athletic Programs Amid Scheduling and Equipment Dilemmas

School committee member Rudith M. Berkowitz last night expressed her continuing dissatisfaction with the inequality between girls’ and boys’ sports in the school system. Information she had requested on girls’ varsity soccer from Athletic Director Arthur Gulla indicated that only Newton and Wellesley among area towns now provide such a program. Girls’ soccer was one sports program which she had suggested last year when the male-female sports question first surfaced, but Norwood does not provide it at present. Last year’s girls’ sports survey produced a large number of young women who expressed a desire to play hockey, but Mr. Gulla’s investigation has revealed only Watertown has a girls’ varsity hockey team.

His letter to the board cited his dilemma in scheduling, stating he has scheduled ice time for the girls but does not know whether to go out to bid on their hockey equipment. “What are they going to do — play 18 games with Watertown?” asked committee Chairman William F. Egan. Mrs. Berkowitz asked to have a teacher who coached girls’ hockey on an informal basis last year come before the board to discuss establishing it as an intramural program.

“Can we justify spending all this money for one game?” queried member William J. Travers. He advocated waiting until next year to get it off the ground. Mrs. Berkowitz’ charge that the board was “depriving the girls” led Mr. Travers to ask, “Rudy, will you stop beating the drum?” Although her motion to have the former coach and Mr. Gulla in to discuss the situation initially lost, member Richard W. Kief later sought its reconsideration, leading to its final unanimous passage. Mr. Kief also asked if Athletic Association funds could be used to purchase equipment for the girls’ powder puff football team.

Supt. Philip O. Coakley said the girls’ transportation to other towns and their flags are paid for out of the funds, but Mr. Kief said they bought their team jerseys themselves. “We asked Mr. Gulla to develop this as an intramural sport, but I see nothing has been done about it,” commented Mrs. Berkowitz. She said girls have entered the varsity sports picture in only two areas. They now have their own volleyball team and they are allowed to run track with the boys.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger