[Ike Cooter]

You don't stress academics anymore to your kids than my parents did to me and my siblings, nor more than my wife and I will to our kids.

I had weightlifting as an elective from my sophomore year on. My wife had it at her school from her sophomore year on as a tennis/soccer player. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in her Busniess department, has since earned a Master's and while I was knocking the doors down on the top academic awards, I have a Master's and just a few hours from obtaining a Rank 1.

Those weightlifting classes was so detrimental to us I tell you.

My intentions on listing our education wasnt meant to get in a pissing contest, but don't think that what you and others preach to your kids, aren't the same educational values that are being preached elsewhere. On the other hand, there are many places...should I say less concentrated areas of schools where kids don't understand the value of an education and that starts at home.

Congratulations to you and your wife on your academic success. But tell me did you or your wife excel in college athletics? If so congratulations. If not then explain to me how lifting weights in high school prepared you for college. What did weight training do for you that was so amazing that you think all kids should take it.

A previous poster was right about a lot of parents not understanding finance or other valuable life skills. I had to learn a lot on my own. And those are the things I try to teach my kids. I could care less if they can bench 350 lbs. or squat 500 lbs. But I do want them to understand how to balance a check book, know what APR means, what a mutual fund is, the importance of a retirement fund and college fund for their kids, ect.... And I can assure you without a doubt that none of those will be taught in weight training.