Public School Athletics Not Meeting Challenges of Private School Sports
As one who has covered sports on the high school level for about a decade, it's one that simply does not go away quietly.
Some people believe that public school sports team should only play public schools, while private schools should stick to their own kind based on the advantage they have of being able to draw student-athletes from surrounding communities. The problem I have with that argument is that it reeks of hypocrisy.
There, I said it. Notice how no one says word one about that advantage when a private school team stinks. Notice how if a private school team stinks the public school has no problem playing them. But if a private school team is good, or even powerful, some people associated with the public school develop a severe case of weakness when it comes to playing the private school.
This is one reason I couldn't disagree more with the aforementioned theory of how public schools should only play public schools and private schools should only play private schools. Even with an aberration like De La Salle (Concord, CA) football, I firmly believe there are plenty of public schools who can challenge private school powerhouses.
Heck, look at Sacramento-area football. Jesuit and Christian Brothers have had their moments but also have only two section titles. They couldn't hold a candle to the likes of Del Oro, Elk Grove, Grant or Nevada Union because those schools have won more section titles.
The bottom line is that good coaching and community support will keep most top athletes at home more often than not. The superiority of private schools appears to be a bigger matter in the Bay Area and Southern California, but I feel that's a reflection of too many public school programs surrendering instead of meeting the challenges presented by the private schools. Remember, we like to preach to our kids about how competition makes you better.
The point is that when we tell our kids not to back down from a challenge - but then don't want to play private schools - it sends a mixed message.
If you are associated with a public school, is it frustrating losing to a private school? Yes, but when you have a "bring them on" approach and beat them, it feels that much better.
The biggest reason why some public school folks disparage private schools is because they "recruit" athletes. I'm no more in favor of private schools than those folks. In fact, I detest the elitist attitude that links with many private school people. But to suggest they recruit athletes is the biggest bunch of malarkey known to man.
Just because a kid spurns the local public school for a private school does not mean the latter recruited him. It's called "attracting" him. Some parents send their kids to a private school because of a wanting better education. That notion is debatable at best because a kid can get a good or bad education anywhere. It's all about how committed the youngster is at his or her studies.
If a kid is a football player and the local public school has a crappy program and a private school 30 minutes away has a strong one and the kids parents have a disposable income, then how can you fault anyone for send them to the private school.
For the record, I'm very much in favor of public education. I just think that some people associated with public schools need to get off the commode and give kids a reason to stay at your school. Like commit yourself to improving your program.
Enough of the excuses already.
Published by Vince
Married with one child. Full-time sports reporter/photographer View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentSure, there are plenty of public schools that are better than given private schools. However, there is an inherent advantage to private schools that a public school simply does not have. Not all private schools cash in on that advantage which is why you see some poor athletic programs at private schools. But I would argue that the extent of what has happened at De La Salle football is impossible at any public school. I believe if you disagree with that, you are delusional.
My son was going to public school and was wanting to play football for his team, because of the politics in HS public school its caused him to consider going to a private school. We decided to enroll him at
west ridge academy in west jordan Utah.
They allowed him more playing time, and were also giving him the ability to focus on his academics which he really needed as well. I think that because of the politics in public schools they should play against the private schools and give them a run for their money.
How is it fair for public high school athletes to have to compete against a private school that has the opportunity to recruit players around the entire nation when public schools do not have the same luxury? Who cares if a private school stinks or doesn't that fact is it's not fair for public high school athletes who have to deal with kids on their team who are not at higher levels and work with what they have. They can't just use money and try to get the best players across the nation like private schools can. Have you ever played a sport in your life? I'd be shocked to hear that you have and still think this way towards the relationship between private and public schools having to play each other. It's simply not fair and needs to be changed. If a private school recruits nationally then they should have to compete nationally. They shouldn't be able to claim continuous state championships and weaken public schools athletically. You are an idiot dude.
I agree with John but what about sports where size does in fact matter? There are some sports where size does in fact play a key role. Look at the top nationally ranked schools in the sport of Swimming. Very few are a public school and in many cases, a private school will dominate the state championships because if you can pull 3 or so guys to outscore points in the bottom tier while the public school gets 1st place, you've just won. Ohio is a prime example of this. Cincinnati St. Xavier has reigned over the title for the last 3 decades and a public school has very rarely taken the throne.
Well, i still dont agree, I still think its unfair, and the reason that some private schools stink is because if your program stinks, why would anyone want to play there, that would be "unattractive", and good luck recruiting someone to go to a suckier program than there already at.