I agree, I constantly tried to get away from busses and use those funds elsewhere.

 

As one of the top 5 programs, soccerwise, you are in a different position than about 99% of the other schools in the state that would told to not play private schools.

 

I concede that your problem is there but it is unique to you and not a scheduling issue that many would have across the state.

 

The only other thing I could think of would be if you were up for a Friday night/Sat game. Travel to Lex or Louisville, play someone on Friday and then another game on Saturday.

 

We do try to get our out of district travel on Saturday's when parents can drive (only 4 charters this season, still $3400), but we can not play on Friday's in general because of the football conflict (many still use the same fields, especially in the new field turf world).

I agree to an extent, but it is not just unique to us. This would seriously effect many of the public schools in NKY, Central Kentucky, and Louisville. I would say the % is more like 25% of the publics at the top end of the ladder would be effected.

 

Honestly, you are the only NKY school that is public that plays at the level that you play at. Many don't play Sacred Heart AND Notre Dame AND NCC AND Brossart AND Holy Cross AND Lex Catholic.

 

I don't think it effects the Central KY as much cause you don't have as many privates as you do in NKY and Louisville. There you are basically saying (at the high end) don't play Catholic and Christian.

 

I would agree that it would effect those two areas more than other areas of the state.

We do try to get our out of district travel on Saturday's when parents can drive (only 4 charters this season, still $3400), but we can not play on Friday's in general because of the football conflict (many still use the same fields, especially in the new field turf world).

 

It would seem that in 1 or 2 years, a school bus would pay for itself and you would be saving thousands of dollars every year in transportation costs. Basketball wise, I spent a comparable amount for my entire season.

It would seem that in 1 or 2 years, a school bus would pay for itself and you would be saving thousands of dollars every year in transportation costs. Basketball wise, I spent a comparable amount for my entire season.

 

I agree. I think the difference is that we would probably need more than one. Not sure how much school busses cost? I may have to do some research on that.

Honestly, you are the only NKY school that is public that plays at the level that you play at. Many don't play Sacred Heart AND Notre Dame AND NCC AND Brossart AND Holy Cross AND Lex Catholic.

 

I don't think it effects the Central KY as much cause you don't have as many privates as you do in NKY and Louisville. There you are basically saying (at the high end) don't play Catholic and Christian.

 

I would agree that it would effect those two areas more than other areas of the state.

 

And when Highlands plays all the NKY and Lousiville and Lexington private school powers........ and continues to win their share of championships along with the privates by defeating public schools that play a schedule softer than what it could be..........the outcry will be that they all recruit.

I give you guys a lot of credit! "You guys" being those who regularly and genuinely discuss this topic in a respectful manner. I want to...it's simply exhausting and frustrating, I find. I truly try to understand all views, and I have experienced some clarity of their perspective. That is not to say that I accept or agree with with their conclusions, but reading what they perceive to be reality, at least I can understand the logic better.

However, I constantly get stuck with the desired result. We can debate statistics, feelings, the terribly subjective "level playing field" and "fairness"; we can talk about rule breakers, rules that can't be enforced; the politics and egos of the 'powers that be'; private vs public, full public vs kind of public, population, economics, rural vs urban...etc etc...

 

....and with all that, can anybody really explain the goal, the desired result? What is it? Can we name it? How do we measure it or know if when we've achieved it? I've read on here repeatedly that "it's not about championships." I kinda wish it where...., at least we could quantify it and measure and it and know we've achieved it.

 

I've read that it's a "level playing field" That's like trying to agree on what's "nice" or "fun" or "pretty" or any other non tangible, completely subjective term! There is no way to agree on what that is. We have rules

in place that are supposed to protect that, but apparently they don't work?

 

I think I'm leaning toward a complete separation. Just get it done. Agree that we'll always disagree and move on. The schools that establish and demand a committment to their definition of 'success' will continue to achieve it. They will attract like minded, equally committed students/families. The other schools will find a new entity to blame and the beat goes on.

 

I guess I'll agree that it isn't about "championships"... it's really about those intangible but deeply valuable things like growth, improvement, work ethic, pushing yourself, realizing your potential, team building, humility, confidence and so on... you know, the things that you take with you far after high school.

 

If most of our kids have a better chance of realizing some of those lessons by segregating, limiting, eliminating, their competition...then we should do it at once! Seriously, if that is what we're about, and the best way to give them that opportunity is to eliminate any perceived or real disadvantages....then it should be done with out hesitation.

 

I'm just not convinced that we really know what it is that we want?

I know what I want. I want to play and beat the best. I do not care if they are public, catholic, open enrollment, christian, baptist, or polka dotted schools. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

I am at a full and yet challenging schedule with not nary a private school on the schedule.

You're right :thumb:.....maybe that's what they should do then

Curious, for the private supporters, we are seeing over and over publics not wanting to schedule privates during the regular season. Would you prefer that your school not schedule publics since that was the view if Prop 20 had come about?

 

No....being that football is where I cut my teeth, I will use that as an example....that said we have to play our 3 district teams, beyond that I would love for us to play the toughest 7 games out there....ie...

 

GCL team

MBA

Henry Clay

Highlands

Manual

Male

St. Xavier

 

I think that would do our boys wonders.

I give you guys a lot of credit! "You guys" being those who regularly and genuinely discuss this topic in a respectful manner. I want to...it's simply exhausting and frustrating, I find. I truly try to understand all views, and I have experienced some clarity of their perspective. That is not to say that I accept or agree with with their conclusions, but reading what they perceive to be reality, at least I can understand the logic better.

However, I constantly get stuck with the desired result. We can debate statistics, feelings, the terribly subjective "level playing field" and "fairness"; we can talk about rule breakers, rules that can't be enforced; the politics and egos of the 'powers that be'; private vs public, full public vs kind of public, population, economics, rural vs urban...etc etc...

 

....and with all that, can anybody really explain the goal, the desired result? What is it? Can we name it? How do we measure it or know if when we've achieved it? I've read on here repeatedly that "it's not about championships." I kinda wish it where...., at least we could quantify it and measure and it and know we've achieved it.

 

I've read that it's a "level playing field" That's like trying to agree on what's "nice" or "fun" or "pretty" or any other non tangible, completely subjective term! There is no way to agree on what that is. We have rules

in place that are supposed to protect that, but apparently they don't work?

 

I think I'm leaning toward a complete separation. Just get it done. Agree that we'll always disagree and move on. The schools that establish and demand a committment to their definition of 'success' will continue to achieve it. They will attract like minded, equally committed students/families. The other schools will find a new entity to blame and the beat goes on.

 

I guess I'll agree that it isn't about "championships"... it's really about those intangible but deeply valuable things like growth, improvement, work ethic, pushing yourself, realizing your potential, team building, humility, confidence and so on... you know, the things that you take with you far after high school.

 

If most of our kids have a better chance of realizing some of those lessons by segregating, limiting, eliminating, their competition...then we should do it at once! Seriously, if that is what we're about, and the best way to give them that opportunity is to eliminate any perceived or real disadvantages....then it should be done with out hesitation.

 

I'm just not convinced that we really know what it is that we want?

 

Great post from beginning to end.

 

It is not quantitative and that is one of the things that makes this issue so difficult. It is also emotional since it is concerning our kids. That is the other thing that makes it so difficult.

I heard this weekend that a group of about 50 of the Central Kentucky AD's at public schools are telling their soccer coaches not to schedule non-public schools for the 2008-09 school year. When are they going to learn that this is not going to hurt anyone but themselves. Just silly.

 

This is easy for Central KY ADs to do b/c of the limited number of private schools in Central KY. The Lexington schools have already blackballed LexCath and LCA can't be too far behind.

I rarely visit this forum; just happened to pop in.

 

I echo the comments of JLMP - this has been one of the most civil AND informative looks at the public/private debate; albeit on a "micro" level that I have perused.

 

And I always wondered about the Highlands bus situation. We all see the HHS teams arrrive on a charter. I recall several years ago seeing them come to Pendleton County for a cross-country meet and thinking "that's GOT to be an expensive line-item for such a short trip." What's the estimate on how many charters are taken in a typical school year for all HHS teams? Would it be feasible to purchase buses for the express purpose of transporting teams? Do academic teams also travel via charter (in other words, are we not only talking about athletics)?

 

Anyway, an interesting debate on a touchy subject.

I rarely visit this forum; just happened to pop in.

 

I echo the comments of JLMP - this has been one of the most civil AND informative looks at the public/private debate; albeit on a "micro" level that I have perused.

 

And I always wondered about the Highlands bus situation. We all see the HHS teams arrrive on a charter. I recall several years ago seeing them come to Pendleton County for a cross-country meet and thinking "that's GOT to be an expensive line-item for such a short trip." What's the estimate on how many charters are taken in a typical school year for all HHS teams? Would it be feasible to purchase buses for the express purpose of transporting teams? Do academic teams also travel via charter (in other words, are we not only talking about athletics)?

 

Anyway, an interesting debate on a touchy subject.

 

 

I am actually in the process of researching the possibilities of a couple of the programs potentially sharing the purchase of a used bus/mini-bus. We spend approximately 3-4K per year on transportation (which we fund raise for). I am sure that is probably similar to some of the other sports. There are other costs to ownership though as well (insurance, a driver, maint, fuel, etc.) that may not make it worth it unless several sports across different seasons (fall, winter, spring) combined their resources to do it.

I am actually in the process of researching the possibilities of a couple of the programs potentially sharing the purchase of a used bus/mini-bus. We spend approximately 3-4K per year on transportation (which we fund raise for). I am sure that is probably similar to some of the other sports. There are other costs to ownership though as well (insurance, a driver, maint, fuel, etc.) that may not make it worth it unless several sports across different seasons (fall, winter, spring) combined their resources to do it.

 

 

Those are the costs in addition to vehicle purchase cost that have to be weighed during the decision-making process. It may be that after much research, the charter "flat fee" isn't all that much more expensive after all.

Justletmeplay touched on some of the topics I believe are important. I want to ask the same question with a slightly different twist.

 

What is the goal of cutting the privates out? Do the AD's intent to starve their neighbors? Will the privates shrivel up and die on the vine? If LEX Cath has been blackballed has their skill levels diminished in any sport? Are they still competitive, will they be after 5 years, 10 years?

 

JLMP said it pretty well - in his name and in his post - just let them play.

 

All of these high school players will soon be in some college playing with / against all of these same kids, or back to playing sandlot - not many caring where their teammate or opponent went to school.

 

Life just isn't fair and the playing field will never be level. In this way sports does mirror life. A good lesson to help them all live just as long and be just as happy.......