Private schools changing the landscape.....

goldy313 · Post by **goldy313** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:29 pm

The Denver Post is doing a 3 part series on how the landscape in high school sports has changed and is continuing to change.

http://denverpost.com/preps/ci_19465830

It's a long but very good read, it's also not a bash private schools article but one that points out the reasons the playing field has changed and why the public schools are at an ever increasing disadvantage.

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:53 am

Very interesting article. I got the sense it was written from an unbiased eye, which is very odd when it comes to articles of this topic.
There are some very interesting points on both "sides" of the discussion. A clear "right" answer is very difficult to come up with.

The two key quotes (among others) that I noted are:

"We know this is the topic," said Paul Angelico, commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association. "It's never not been an issue, but as a few private schools have gotten very successful, the issue has grown."

The almost unenforceable gray area, however, is monitoring talented middle-schoolers being recruited by coaches, parents and high school representatives. Multiple sources confirmed this practice is widespread in metro Denver, by both public and private schools, though private schools tend to get blamed more because of heightened scrutiny that comes with winning.

Very interesting article. Hopefully discussion on the topic can stay appropriate and informative.

goldy313 · Post by **goldy313** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:14 am

The paragraph you noted on middle schoolers jumped out at me as well, it's an increasing and disturbing trend.

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 9:38 am

goldy313 wrote:The paragraph you noted on middle schoolers jumped out at me as well, it's an increasing and disturbing trend.

I'm not ready to make the blanket statement that it is "disturbing". I would agree, though, that there many people who abuse opportunities they have to do things for the wrong reason(s). I have seen first hand how very positive things can happen in the lives on students from this happening.

One thing that is lacked in areas is education for our middle students about options. Anyway, I could ramble for a long time about my opinions on both "sides" of the topic and play devil's advocate to all of them. It's a frustrating topic with many issues, both internal and external, involved.

BodyShots · Post by **BodyShots** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:00 am

Valor has had nine violations of CHSAA rules in its first four years, two of consequence: Its baseball coach e-mailed his former high school team information about Valor, and a 2010 track meet was marred by what some claimed was blatant recruiting of opposing athletes.

"It was so bad that coaches were verbally jawing at the finish line over their athletes," Nolan said.

How can you top that..

Zamman · Post by **Zamman** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:29 pm

I cannot speak about going to Public Middle Schools, but when I was in 6 - 8th grade in Catholic grade school, all the catholic high schools came and spoke about the benefits of their schools. My grade school allowed us to choose three schools to visit as a group and if our families chose to attend the school that was our decision.
But, remember that was in the early 70's....

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:06 pm

Zamman wrote:I cannot speak about going to Public Middle Schools, but when I was in 6 - 8th grade in Catholic grade school, all the catholic high schools came and spoke about the benefits of their schools. My grade school allowed us to choose three schools to visit as a group and if our families chose to attend the school that was our decision.
But, remember that was in the early 70's....

I went to Catholic grade school a little more recently than Zamman, but this is still done at just about every Catholic school around the metro. I'd say 50-75% of my classmates ended up going to a public school but we still got that exposure and were encouraged to go on visits to any of the schools we were interested in.
What is interesting to me is that the public schools around didn't give us any information about their schools when each had (do they still?) magnet programs.

There is nothing wrong with extending who receives education about the different options available. And what would be so wrong about informing public school students about private schools and what they offer?

That is something that, imo, should be allowed everywhere and happen more. The problems arise when certain students received more than their "need" because of their talents and when students are sought out to be recruited based solely on extra curricular activities.

goldy313 · Post by **goldy313** » Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:27 pm

Part 2:

http://www.denverpost.com/preps/ci_19471426