I have no doubt that if the movement to drive the "privates" out succeeds, the independents will be the next target.

 

 

I totally agree.

As involved parent with both private and public school athletic programs my experience is that the private school is better organized for perpetual support from a funding standpoint as well as developing fundamentals of middle school athletes feeding the High School program. Many of the folks involved in these efforts do not have any self serving individual interest in mind. They do what they do in the best interest of improving and maitaining the program. The private school program is very much a family atmosphere.

 

The public school athletic program I have been involoved with is very different from the one I just described. The funding for the athletic program is a result of the work of a handful of booster parents. There is no strategy in place for perpetual booster support in future years. The athletic prgram at the middle school that feeds the public high school changes annually. There is no consistency and it is not organized with the ultimate goal of developing fundamentally sound players to feed the High School program in order that it be successfully competitive. The attitudes in the public program are in large part about individual interest and people "getting theirs".

 

I in no way think that the playing field can be leveled completely, and I tend to agree with the idea that it is not necessarily a pulic/private thing as much as it is an urban/rural. With public school systems across the state there are different boundaries as well as different levels of natural athletic ability to draw from. Yes the private schools basically have no boundaries but there are time and financial constraints that families have to deal with when considering sending a child to a private school that is say better than 30 miles away.

 

I think the unfair advantage is gained for the private schools when they can offer financial aid to student athletes traveling long distances or to Non-Catholics attending private Catholic High Schools. I suspect that this has probably happened in the past and if it has it would have only been done in the interest of attracting impact athletes.

As involved parent with both private and public school athletic programs my experience is that the private school is better organized for perpetual support from a funding standpoint as well as developing fundamentals of middle school athletes feeding the High School program. Many of the folks involved in these efforts do not have any self serving individual interest in mind. They do what they do in the best interest of improving and maitaining the program. The private school program is very much a family atmosphere.

 

The public school athletic program I have been involoved with is very different from the one I just described. The funding for the athletic program is a result of the work of a handful of booster parents. There is no strategy in place for perpetual booster support in future years. The athletic prgram at the middle school that feeds the public high school changes annually. There is no consistency and it is not organized with the ultimate goal of developing fundamentally sound players to feed the High School program in order that it be successfully competitive. The attitudes in the public program are in large part about individual interest and people "getting theirs".

 

I in no way think that the playing field can be leveled completely, and I tend to agree with the idea that it is not necessarily a pulic/private thing as much as it is an urban/rural. With public school systems across the state there are different boundaries as well as different levels of natural athletic ability to draw from. Yes the private schools basically have no boundaries but there are time and financial constraints that families have to deal with when considering sending a child to a private school that is say better than 30 miles away.

 

I think the unfair advantage is gained for the private schools when they can offer financial aid to student athletes traveling long distances or to Non-Catholics attending private Catholic High Schools. I suspect that this has probably happened in the past and if it has it would have only been done in the interest of attracting impact athletes.

 

 

Nice post. But keep in mind that the KHSAA has some pretty strict rules in place as to the amount of financial aid that can be awarded and how that financial aid is determined. As I understand it, all financial aid must be awarded by one of several approved independent third parties, without input from the schools and must be done on a "blind basis" in that the independent third party has no knowledge of whether an applicant is or is not an athlete. I believe the KHSAA monitors/audits these independent third parties to make sure they are doing things correctly. And also keep in mind that regardless of the amount of financial aid awarded ( I believe it is limited to no more than 50% of the cost of tuition) whatever amount is still required to be paid by the student/parents, it is more than the cost of attending the public school, which is of course zero.

Nice post. But keep in mind that the KHSAA has some pretty strict rules in place as to the amount of financial aid that can be awarded and how that financial aid is determined. As I understand it, all financial aid must be awarded by one of several approved independent third parties, without input from the schools and must be done on a "blind basis" in that the independent third party has no knowledge of whether an applicant is or is not an athlete. I believe the KHSAA monitors/audits these independent third parties to make sure they are doing things correctly. And also keep in mind that regardless of the amount of financial aid awarded ( I believe it is limited to no more than 50% of the cost of tuition) whatever amount is still required to be paid by the student/parents, it is more than the cost of attending the public school, which is of course zero.

I hear what your saying but of course these rules must be enforced and the question is, how difficult is it to enforce them? I don't know the answer. I do expect with the attention that has been given to this public/private thing the rules will likely be adhered to.

 

I will say that I have heard the talk from folks at the private school and I know the perceptions that exist on the street.

 

I would not doubt that in the past impact athletes have received significant financial help to attend private schools.

 

I cannot concur with you that the cost of attending a public school is zero. It may be the case for many, but I believe it depends on your tax situation and whether you own property.

 

I any event what I think the public schools should worry about most is the things they can most easily control and that is doing what they can do to make their athletic programs the best they can be. If you create positive perceptions about your athletic programs quality athletes will want to attend your school.