* Jim McCracken, 32, of Washington County, plumber in Howard County:

That's crazy. Families shouldn't have to pay for extracurricular activities for school. I also don't think anything should be cut. There's spending going to other places that isn't needed. But in schools, this is something the kids need -- to be competitive and learn to get ahead. Kids shouldn't have anything taken away from them because the county government has made mistakes. Nor should they have to pay for it.