To the editor:

This is a reply to Mr. Smith’s letter on Jan. 18 and his concerns about students’ perceived lost academic and physical activity time when Kansas University hosted districtwide grades 4 to 6 for the KU women’s basketball game recently.

On the surface, the concerns may appear valid, but they also represent an excellent reason to communicate with your children’s teachers and/or principal. Doing so would have informed you that this outing was tied to post-event curriculum at the respective grade levels, curriculum that teaches students how to apply what is learned in the classroom to real world settings — a skill more easily learned with opportunities such as this event.

This event also facilitates further partnership between KU and USD 497. KU students are often involved in various schools in academically supportive ways throughout the academic year.

Before questioning the appropriateness of school priorities in a reproachful way, I encourage you to dialogue more often with your children’s school about these infrequent events. As for the cost of heat, etc., grades K-3 and their teachers and staff warmly worked their way through their curriculum for the day.