Wake up, people. Washing-ton state school districts are wasting thousands of taxpayer dollars each year by perpetrating a hoax.

They fund track and field as a varsity sport, which they say is the nation’s most participated-in athletic activity for secondary school athletes.

But how can you call this activity a sport when it has no educated, professional officials to administer competitions?

It leaves me awe-struck that our school districts are apparently not smart enough to see the huge gamble and risk they take with millions of our dollars when they sanction competitions directed by non-certified officials.

This is an attorney’s field day waiting to happen.

On the other hand, we taxpayers are grateful that you’ve chosen to fund a third official on the floor for high school basketball, which, on the average, gives 15 to 17 athletes significant playing time per game.

These contests have become safer, more efficiently and accurately administered for these kids.

So, add the three-legged race, the gunny-sack hop and make track and field a part of your school’s intramural program and quit wasting and risking our money on something you call a competitive interscholastic sport.

That’s the answer, isn’t it?

LANE C. DOWELL

Bremerton