miragesmack

IMO, focusing on just one sport when you are capable of playing more is the worst thing you can do to a kid. Do they focus on just math in school for 6 hours? Kids need to experience more in life, and a teen is too young to focus on one thing that early in life. Look at Brian Brohm. He went to state in three sports his senior year alone, but we all know where his bread was buttered. Did it hurt him? Or Bobby Curtis at X, who only joined cross country to get in shape for wrestling. Just happens to be the greatest runner EVER at X, and top 10 in the state's history. He just broke the 4 minute mile last year in college. Or my daughter, who joined lacrosse to get in shape for summer field hockey, and has scored all but 1 of our teams goals this (young) season. :ylsuper: These kids that focus so hard on just one sport, and then fail for one reason or another, are set back in many ways. Also, I see a lot of talk about this happening at small schools, but it happens very often at large schools as well.

So other than that, you're saying all this is true?

Not sure that is true, but would be great for him if it is. They are recruiting Deuce, but he is still a ways downs their list. They are loaded at RB (yes, believe it or not, but their OL stinks which is why the lousy results) and look to take only 2 this year. Deuce is receiving material, was at Jr day, etc.

Trindon Holliday would disagree. :fight: http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=233482&Q_SEASON=2007

This is one of the greatest misconceptions of catholic school parents. In a nutshell, you're saying we are rich, when most are middle class actually. Here's my sob story, though I think it is a success story, and I don't measure success in term of money. I'll be brutally honest about my life, as I am if you were to meet me since I am a "free speaker". I'll will certainly annoy some of you. This is a true catholic experience, of which there are many. I tell it to illustrate this; simply attending private school does not make one a lord. There are quite a few serfs there as well. I lived in Hikes Point growing up, accepted aid, a scholarship which I earned, grants and a work program to pay for St X. Then what was left, I paid our of MY pocket, not my parents. They paid for books only, as we were poor with 7 kids. My 6 sisters did not have to do this for some reason, only myself as the "man" I guess. I worked a 40 hour week in my Junior and Senior year at X, getting off from the Bristol at midnight some school nights. I worked overtime "off the books" (OT illegal since I was a minor) for straight pay as well. Fast forward to today, not much has changed. My only kid goes to Mercy, although we tried public school two years when she was younger. Her mom is non-existant, though she lives a mile away. My kid was accepted (and recruited, they called me on my cell after we ignored the mailing) to Manual, however she declined. I am still middle class, have a huge debt with no end in sight until after high school. I do not accept handouts. St Raphael offered to help a few years ago knowing my situation at the time, but I declined. I do not consider myself poor, therefore I don't need aid. We did accept a scholarship to Mercy because my kid EARNED it. My daughter rides TARC (city bus) which she pays for, she pay for her lunches, pays for her movies and works at the convent helping the nuns on Tyler lane. She get Straight A's, which is required! And very attainable by EVERY student in America BTW. She is 14, and has an IRA and soon a 401K from babysitting and cleaning houses. She plays on club traveling teams and will never go pro because there isn't a pro for field hockey or Lacrosse. But she darn well will enjoy hor high school years to the fullest! And hopefully she can play sports in college while she is there on her athletic scholarship. Currently, I sit here in my 56 degree kitchen, as our furnace broke down. It broke several years ago! There is no AC as well, we use 2 small window units. We use elec space heaters at times, as I am now, then wears lots of fleece. Remember, what doesn't kill us, will make us stronger. Most would think this is stupid, as I sometimes do. But I know my Mercy school payment is the first thing I budget, then other bills follow. One day, I'll get down the list to a furnace. Or a roof so I don't need the pans in the DR. But I am a cash only guy with no rainy day fund. There is no cable or satelite on my 22 year old TV. I only have 'the net' cause I have to for my kid. I don't go out that much, nor have I had a drink in 12 years. It simply cost too much to drink, nor did I enjoy it. I can't be catholic you say!! Every month, my checking account gets north of $40 at least twice, barring some glorious miracle. Luckily, I am now on Federal Jury Duty, and the extra money is very helpful. I'm the only juror glad to be there. :thumb: I haven't had to donate plasma in a few weeks now, which is nice. However, I still donate every year to that fund at St X that helped me when I was there. I donate my time and not much money to my parish. In my will. most is left to Mercy right now, because my daughter will be fine on her own. That's assuming I have anything to give them, so we're not talking big $$$$ here. I hope I am at least worth a new turf field for the girls though. So, please adjust your stereotypes to accept someone like me at the private schools. Everyone in my middle class circle has similar, though not as drastic, situations as mine. We all worry about the monthly payment in my neck of the woods. What makes someone buy a $200 field hockey stick before buying anything for yourself? Or pay the $609 a month for an education that could have been had free at Manual? It may not be explainable. I think you had to grow up that way to get it. Knowing a kid successful in sports (in private school) is almost aways a better student because of it. Knowing that 97% of our seniors last year received a scholarship of some kind is peace of mind. So as not not to offend anyone here, I pulled up a random large Indiana school for comparison. Jeffersonville HS. They only had a 69.5% GRADUATION RATE!!!, much less look at scholarships. I apologize for the length of this diatribe. That's why I stopped and I'm only half way done. :lol:

Quote: Originally Posted by tabman How would a public school pay 50K - 100K?? Ram, are you saying with this statement that public schools don't recruit? Sorry I'm late to the party here. I saw this thread last week, but didn't have the stomach to open it. But it's like a carwreck...I just can't look away. :creepy:

Suprised no one has questioned this statement Ram. Isn't this offensive to public schools? How can a public school get away with putting that on a letterhead? They are saying that a private education is better, which I agree with, but I am suprised that public supporters aren't up in arms over this statement. The fact that they aren't up in arms tells me they may believe it.

My suggestion for JCPS, which may or may not work in some counties, depending on size. 1) Make all schools single sex 2) Make all schools single sex. 3) Make all schools single sex. Sorry, I only have one point, but it looks better if I have a list. :creepy: Here are the benefits: 1) It wouldn't require any new bldgs, just relocating students. Some could then be closed that aren't needed. Male (male) Manual (female), etc. If I recall correctly, Manual was originally all girls anyway. This applies to private schools as well -- Desales (male) and Holy Cross (female). 2) The biggest benefit is learning environment. If a kid is worried about the opposite sex not being in school with them, then they are missing the point of school to begin with. My catholic friends can attest, your love life won't be affected. Some NYC inner city have experimented with this in the last few years, and have seen vast improvements in scores and attitude, less violence, etc. 3) Athletics wise, many schools will be "evened out" in terms of enrollment, eliminating the advantage of St X or Trinity. I personally still believe they will still dominate, as I don't prescribe to the "numbers" theory that many do. But it will make those folks feel better anyway. :thumb: 4) For the most part, except some county schools out in the state maybe, I believe there is more comradery or pride in single sex schools. They are more unified, students are closer. This will build stronger schools, and increase enrollments. I know this idea will be summarily dismissed by many, but you need to think outside the box a little, as others have. Plus it's cheaper than one of my other ideas. Eliminate about 2/3 of the counties in KY.

Even more remarkable was watching St Raphael play, and sadly lose in the Toy Bowl 2 years ago. I spent half the game watching some dads (or Alumini) lined up along the fence, cheering on St Raphael. Half a dozen Raphael dads wearing specially made St Raphael letter jackets I might add. Each jacket showed the year they played, and listing all the Raphael championships on the back, dating back to the 50's. It was very quaint to see, even though nary one of these gentlemen still fit into those ill fitting jackets. Go Giants!!

I think those league are still good. However, half the kids in those leagues still go to private schools anyway, so it's not like a true feeder system for publics.

Thanks for that 1st paragraph. I can't say that and get away with it...I'm a private school supporter. Shhh. I agree with the 2nd paragraph as well. I'm on jury dutythis week, and spoke with a J-town dad, whose son plays baseball. He said they get zero dollars for baseball, but don't know if that's literal or a slight exageration. They even have to cover money for the electricity of the lights for the field. The electric bill, not the actual lights themselves. :eek: Then I get home and see this email in my inbox: J’town is trying to rebuild their program. They have someone willing to teach girls the game, but need sticks for the girls to use. Could we collectively get some donated sticks and get them to J’town to help them out? I'm shocked they have no money to even start a program up that apparently died in the last few years since it was going a few years back. In private school, we have to pay for our own equipment anyway, except unis. A decent stick is about $200 and up. Do athletes not have to pay for ANYTHING? Do they get free shoes, gloves, bats and ball? Is literally EVERYTHING required to be free in Public schools? BTW, we are sending a stick anyway. If you can help J Town, please do so as well. We need more field hockey teams in the state. Hope I didn't violate a rule here printing that last request.

I like the premise, and it's outside of the box, which I like as well. But the South End needs their catholic HS IMO. They have strong ties to go to school in their communities, with small turf wars between the two schools. The South End has already lost most of their grade schools due to the flight heading east, and this would knock many south enders out of a cathloic school education. On a related note, Mercy Academy moved last year from near dowtown to skirting the outside of the south end. Their enrollment more than doubled, from 96 students to 204 students after the move. The south end greatly benefitted from having an all girls school in their area. I'm an east ender myself, but still think they need schools in that part of town.

Great points on both sides, and I especially agree with peprock, just too many public schools. I'm 42, and in my lifetime, there has not been a single new catholic HS started in Louisville. This of course is not counting schools created from mergers, which actually decreases the number of schools. If it were up to me, I'd make al of JCPS single sex campuses, and consolidate from there. And this has nothing to do with football, but more about the learning environment 1st and foremost. Sports would be an added benefit.

Well. St X has won 20 straight swimming state titles, and yes, thats correct, 20 yrs straight! I think there is commitment, support and facilities there for that sport. However, in that same 20 year period, they have never beaten Cincy St X (900 ish students) who was #1 in the US again last year.

Private schools have suffered as well. Flaget closed in the mid 70's because of the exodus out of the west end, with trinity benefiting the most when they closed. In fact, since I've been born, eerything has been movng east, following the herds. The south end of Louisville has also lost a lot of students.

Actually they very well may. You ought to try it. It depends on your finances, race, and many other factors. Some scholarships can be directed toward veterans children (like one of mine) or african americans (like those at LCA I'm guessing) or many other reasons, including grade point avg stipulations. I've seen funds donated in memory of an athlete who died at an early age, and they may want it to go to someone who played the same sport as their son or daughter. My current will leaves virtually everything to my daughters school, specifically for the field hockey program. Maybe a turf field if I amount to enough. :ylsuper: Catholic schools rely heavily on donations, the majority of which have nothing to do with sports. Having said all that, if LCA broke the rules, they should be punished.

I went to St X, not LCA. I received a scholarship, and BTW, I was 5'4" and 110 lbs. Hardly an athlete. My scholie was roughly 10% of my tuition. Then I worked at school in the summers as well, 40 hours per week. Then I applied for a grant which was very small. I then applied for another grant provided by an alumni fund. I signed a form saying I would repay this amount after I graduated. I donate every year to this fund, not much, but something. The remainer of the tuition, which was about $1200 over four years (back in 1980-83) I paid for myself because my family was poor, dad was a disabled drunk, blah blah blah. Point being, I resent your repeated bashing of any catholics who receive money to attend school, like we are all superstar athletes. I easily could have accepted govt welfare and gone to a free school, but I chose not too.

This assumes the public school rules are the correct one. Why not make the public schools use the same set of rules as the Catholics? Personally, I don't see any differences, if any at all.

What about the 2 non athletes? Do they have to pay back tuition as well?

Has that been determined? I know 16 of 18 involving this church were athletes, but there may be other charities helping a majority of non athletes. You need to see the scholarships (which I believe is more like financial aid) of every student at LCA to make that statement.

Wow, that's crazy, I never knew that. I kept my 1st three houses because I lived in them while renovating, rented them instead of selling, then moved to another project. I can't imagine I could have jeopardized my kids eligiblity, if that applied in my case. What country are we living in anyway?

I don't buy it. This incident happened this year, and I'm intentionally vague to not harm anyone. A girl played on my daughters Catholic HS team for one month, including 2 official games. She was one of two captains on this team, a solid athlete. She was then admitted to a Jeff County Public school on opening day, and left our Catholic school, getting her 1st two months of tuition re-imbursed. She was told she was the last kid admitted to said school. Anyway, our very next game was against this same school, 6 days later. Our old captain now played against the school she played for just a week before. It was a very strange feeling to that game. The mom spent half her time in our bleachers. Of course, our private school had no problem with this, since this is what the kid wanted, and we support what is best for the student. We lost a fantastic girl, who happened to be a fantastic athlete. However, if the roles were reversed, am I to assume all the private haters (which is a more honest description than anti private) would not be freaking out over this situation? Because I have seen them upset at much less than this. PS This same school also took another girl from our school 2 weeks earlier, and she just happened to be the top scoring student on our entrance exam. My daughter was 3rd, was offered by this school and decided not to attend. We had applied just in case. I only mention this because of the pervasive insinuations it only happens the other way around.

Can you really select your teachers in public schools? That a case of the inmates running the asylum. I asked once (JUST once) 8 years ago if my daughter could have a certain teacher the next year, and in a round about way was politely told to get lost. The principal was right - it was none of my business. You select the school, not the teacher.

You know, I do the same. I root for the Rocks except against my Tigers. I didn't do that when I went there, but as an adult I cheer for any private school pretty much, except for a few in Lexington. Heck, I'm even a Notre Dame fan. :ylsuper:

Thats why I went to a private school. And my daughter too. Sounds like you want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.