I hope I'm not hitting a hornets' nest with a stick here, but there's something I have to know that I haven't seen discussed anywhere on the board yet: With all of the rancor out there right now toward private schools, both on this board and among high school sports fans at large, why is June Buchanan getting a pass?

 

Private football powers such as Trinity and St. X remain a sore spot for many, and there's plenty of carping about the seven straight girls basketball titles won by privates. Yet June Buchanan, which meets every definition of a private school, has been portrayed as a feel-good story and has been spared the venom usually aimed at private schools that succeed.

 

Let me be clear: I'm not saying Buchanan should or should not be a feel-good story. I'm not close enough to the situation to know one way or the other. I really just want to know why this looks to be an exception to the castigation of private schools. And I don't think you can have it both ways: If you categorically root against private schools, as many on this board do, you can't say, "yeah, except this one."

 

And yes, I'm well aware of the differences between Buchanan and the Trinitys or even the Lexington Christians of the world. I know how small this school is, and I know the basketball players and probably most or all of the students are locals. But this school doesn't look much difference in size and profile (school profile, not sports profile) from University Heights, and UHA was still universally disliked even after its run as an elite team ended.

 

I'm not trying to pick a fight here. I have no strong feelings toward Buchanan one way or the other, and I'm a long way from Pippa Passes. I'm just a high school sports fan who wants to better understand this. I've been thinking about posing my question for a week, and curiousity has finally gotten the better of me. Discuss.

Coincidentally, there is a long article about JBS in the Courier-Journal today (may be in the Sweet 16 supplement).

Can someone please fill us in on June Buchanan for those of ignorant about the school? Why is it considered a private school by some but is not?

 

I am cornfused, as my grandma would say.

Here is story that ran in CJ!

 

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070321/SPORTS05/703211283/1002/SPORTS

Here is story that ran in CJ!

 

 

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070321/SPORTS05/703211283/1002/SPORTS

The thanks for the info back at ya! :thumb:

That school seems to come as close as you can get to a private school....

That school seems to come as close as you can get to a private school....

I guess a definition of private school is needed. Who funds them? The state of KY?

It is private according to it's web site.

I think UHA took such a beating because their roster was littered with foreign exchange kids each year and kids seemed to transfer in a lot more than they transferred out. From what I have read, most of JB's players have attended the school since they were in elementary school.

 

If every private school played with kids who had been there for 5-8 years, I think you would hear fewer gripes.

 

Just Claude's opinion....

Three things give June Buchanan a pass from the usual scrutiny ...

 

1. They've never been to the Sweet 16 before.

 

2. They're a mountain team.

 

3. Most or all of their big guns, as far as I know, have grown up in that school.

I think UHA took such a beating because their roster was littered with foreign exchange kids each year and kids seemed to transfer in a lot more than they transferred out. From what I have read, most of JB's players have attended the school since they were in elementary school.

 

If every private school played with kids who had been there for 5-8 years, I think you would hear fewer gripes.

 

Just Claude's opinion....

 

I think Claude's opinion is wrong.

 

If you think that for it to be hunky dorey for kids to be in private schools for 5-8 years before playing sports for a private high school does the same holds true for public schools? It has been shown over and over that an overwealming majority of the students that change after 8th grade go from private schools to public.

 

Success breed contempt. As long as the private schools are successful people will get their knickers in a bunch, that was even implied in the article about JB.

"It has been shown over and over that an overwealming majority of the students that change after 8th grade go from private schools to public."

 

 

This statement I have a very hard time believing to be true. Even if it is, how many of these students are good, or even great, athletes. That seems to be the case with a few of the programs across our commonwealth. If you don't believe me, ask a few coaches who have worked in Fayette and surrounding counties.

You have to pay to go to JBS, doesn't that mean they are a private school?

I think Claude's opinion is wrong.

 

If you think that for it to be hunky dorey for kids to be in private schools for 5-8 years before playing sports for a private high school does the same holds true for public schools? It has been shown over and over that an overwealming majority of the students that change after 8th grade go from private schools to public.

 

Success breed contempt. As long as the private schools are successful people will get their knickers in a bunch, that was even implied in the article about JB.

I think that might be a Jefferson County phenomenom that might not hold true in other parts of the state. Not doubting it in Jefferson County, but in NKY I would be hard pressed to name an athlete (surely someone else can do it for me) that went from private to public in girls basketball, let alone say it is the norm. Rest of the sports I am not versed enough to make a informed call.

 

I also think that places like Oak Hill doesn't help the perception of private schools. Private schools that are obviously nothing but basketball factories with academics added in. Unfortunately, the ones doing it the right way will get lumped in.

 

But that is the same for publics. For privates, all publics are getting lumped in with "not working hard enough" and "just want the easy road to a championship" argument.

I think that might be a Jefferson County phenomenom that might not hold true in other parts of the state. Not doubting it in Jefferson County, but in NKY I would be hard pressed to name an athlete (surely someone else can do it for me) that went from private to public in girls basketball, let alone say it is the norm. Rest of the sports I am not versed enough to make a informed call.

 

I also think that places like Oak Hill doesn't help the perception of private schools. Private schools that are obviously nothing but basketball factories with academics added in. Unfortunately, the ones doing it the right way will get lumped in.

 

But that is the same for publics. For privates, all publics are getting lumped in with "not working hard enough" and "just want the easy road to a championship" argument.

 

Fogelman left NCC Girls basketball (was behind Theim and Chiodi) and was then a starter at Bellevue. Votel left NCC (was behind Klei and Sandfoss) and was a starter for Bellevue this year. Neither would have played much at NCC because they were behind D 1 talent and both found playing time with the new team.