Dear author of this petition,
The facts that were included in this petition may lead to question the success of some of these private schools. But I was unable to find the evidence to support your claim that private schools recruit and good athletes get tuition paid for.
Maybe you could work this out with Todd it sounds as if he will be willing to pay very well.
T
Todd Miedema
11 years ago
I can't speak for every private school, but u specifically mentioned Unity and Western in your examples and I can speak for them. I attended Unity, my wife attended Western as do my kids. My daughter was a part of 2 state title basketball teams and played volleyball. My son has been on the basketball team the last 2 years. We do NOT scholarship. EVERY player on those teams paid tuition. The parents will gladly show you the cancelled tuition checks. EVERY player on those teams graduated from a Christian grade school. EVERY player on those teams has direct immediate family ties to Western. The parents will gladly show you the diplomas, This shoots down your theory that winning tradition draws players to the school. These kids were going to this school either way because their parents graduated from that school. Athletics is not the reason they choose 9 years of Christian education K-8th grade and then 4 years of high school, paying an average of over $4K per year. I have paid over $50K in tuition per child for those 13 years of Christian education. Do you really believe I made that decision when they were 5 years old for the outside chance they might go to state in a sport? Does that seem logical to you? You mentioned foreign exchange students. NO foreign exchange students played on these teams. You mentioned that the families can afford things public school parents can't (such as the best AAU teams). Very few of these families would be considered wealthy by any standard. Almost all are working middle class. I understand that things can look a certain way, but perception and reality are often very different. Please take me up on my offer. Come to Western and I will gladly PROVE everything I am saying. You are making accusations with no proof. I am stating FACT and I can prove every word of it. This is truly no meant as a challenge. I would genuinely love anyone on this blog who feels the way you do to take me up on the offer. I think it wou
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Parent Opinion
11 years ago
Featured
Two words - open enrollment.
The starting point guard for the LeMars boys team open enrolled from Remsen. Should they be moved up a class? The starting center for Sheldon's state championship team in 2013 open enrolled from Sibley. Should they have moved up a class?
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Dan Jones
11 years ago
I just think the Private Schools should have their own State Tournament OR adjustments should be made. This is based on two thoughts: 1. Research shows that schools with lowest number of poverty students earn the highest test scores. Money definitely has a part in experiences. Private schools do not have a lot of poor families. 2. Most private schools do not have special education programs. Christian school parents send their special needs children to the public schools. All of those students are included in the count and how schools are classified for athletic competition. There are definitely advantages for private schools and going to the state tournament. If not, why are so many private schools going to state tournament then public. It's not because God wants them too. Money helps a lot! Most public schools have one middle school program that feeds into their high school program. Most private schools have several middle school programs feed into their high school programs.
T
Todd Miedema
11 years ago
Shaelyn, you listed volleyball and basketball for the past 2 years in your post. You state private schools can waive tuition. Please provide ANY evidence that Western or Unity players participating in basketball or volleyball had tuition waived. I would be happy to invite you to my home, we can go meet the parents of the players of these teams and they can show you their cancelled checks for tuition. Recruiting and waiving of tuition simply does not occur. I am willing to prove it. You mention how we don't have to meet criteria for foreign exchange students. Please show me a foreign exchange student who played volleyball or basketball for Unity or Western Christian girls teams in any of the years in which you site your stats. You state with winning traditions we attract players from outside our district. Please give me ONE example of a player for Western or Unity girls in volleyball or basketball who did not graduate from a Christian grade school. You state we can afford all the "extras" that other people can't afford. I am assuming you mean camps, etc. A majority of our student body come form working class people. They are not wealthy and they give up a lot of "extras" in their home life (vacations, boats, nice cars, etc) to pay for tuition. I am sorry, I don't intend to sound rude, but you simply have no clue what you are talking about. If you take me up on the offer, I would be more than happy to politely show you around Unity and Western, meet the families and students, see their homes and cars they drive. I KNOW you would very quickly see that your claims are incorrect. There are fancy private schools in large areas (such as Oak Hill Academy) where kids come from all over the country to play basketball. That does not apply in the case of Unity and Western and I am more than willing to prove it should you decide to take me up on my offer.
T
Todd Miedema
11 years ago
Cassie, every player on Western's team graduated from a Christian grade school. NONE of those players were recruited. Why would that be considered unfair? Western boys lost 2 years ago to Sheldon Orabs, a public school, with a 6'7" center who transferred to Sheldon from Sibley Ocheyedan because he had a problem with the coach. Don't hear us complaining. Sioux City East boys went to state a few years ago with 3 players not from their district. Spirit Lake this year suddenly gets top ranked prep player Iowa Hawkeye recruit (6'9" from New Hampton) and a 6'5" sophomore from Rock Valley. With open enrollment, there are many schools getting players from other districts STRICTLY to play a certain sport. ALL of our kids graduate from Christian grade schools and have family ties to Unity or Western. They don't attend the school to play athletics. They attend the school because their parents attended Christian schools, believe strongly in Christian education, and pay a lot of tuition for that belief. Every public school has a fair shot. Look at all the success M-OC, Boyden Hull, Sioux Center, Rock Valley, West Lyon, etc. have had in athletics. Each of those teams have won state titles in the past 15 years.
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Shaelyn Adams
· petition starter
11 years ago
This was not just directed at Unity, but schools throughout the whole state both big and small. I'm not saying it happens in every instance, but as I mentioned before there are other advantages as well.
S
Shaelyn Adams
· petition starter
11 years ago
Featured
I am not saying that Unity bought their championship-it was well deserved. I am not saying that they bought their players. However, like my letter says, there are other advantages that private schools have along with the ability to scholarship. I did not say that they shouldn't be able to play with the rest of the state, but that a multiplier, like 62% of states already do, should be used to even the playing field out. Most private schools would be able to compete with schools of bigger sizes, and still do well.
C
Chad Thompson
11 years ago
Let's fix this!
J
Jennifer Westphal
11 years ago
Great idea! Been a long time coming.
J
Jennifer Johnson
11 years ago
Fair is fair. Kids need to be taught that money doesn't give you an advantage in sports.
M
Michelle Huntress
11 years ago
Finally!
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tim loock
11 years ago
Featured
I agree totally that private schools have a distinct advantage over public schoools on how they are able to attract students for both scholastic and athletic superiority. I understand they need to play regionally for logistical scheduling but when it comes to the state tournament I think they should have seperate classifications.
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Nancy Diekmann
11 years ago
.
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Elaine Quastad
11 years ago
This change needs to happen!!!
D
Denise Christensen
11 years ago
No words necessary!!!
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Sharon Swenning
11 years ago
I agree with Michelle Adams petition stating "Private schools have been dominating the high school sports scene for a very long time, but they are not playing fair!" Common sense tells us that this certainly is not fair! Everyone engaged in these activities is more than aware of this---even the winning private schools! Their own athletes are aware that recruiting for them is definitely a plus. (Personally I would think that would dampen the thrill of winning to know that they go into the games with a definite advantage over the other teams.) Shouldn't schools above all else play fair? Schools and fai play should go hand in hand. Character Certainly does count! Unfortunately I do not know how to correct this. But we should perhaps look into what the other 31 out of 50 states are doing to implement a better system. I believe Michelle's ideas are worthy to be considered. It is not in the best interest of any of the schools to leave things the way they are.
This is right on
I agree.
Thank you for addressing this issue!
Dear author of this petition, The facts that were included in this petition may lead to question the success of some of these private schools. But I was unable to find the evidence to support your claim that private schools recruit and good athletes get tuition paid for. Maybe you could work this out with Todd it sounds as if he will be willing to pay very well.
I can't speak for every private school, but u specifically mentioned Unity and Western in your examples and I can speak for them. I attended Unity, my wife attended Western as do my kids. My daughter was a part of 2 state title basketball teams and played volleyball. My son has been on the basketball team the last 2 years. We do NOT scholarship. EVERY player on those teams paid tuition. The parents will gladly show you the cancelled tuition checks. EVERY player on those teams graduated from a Christian grade school. EVERY player on those teams has direct immediate family ties to Western. The parents will gladly show you the diplomas, This shoots down your theory that winning tradition draws players to the school. These kids were going to this school either way because their parents graduated from that school. Athletics is not the reason they choose 9 years of Christian education K-8th grade and then 4 years of high school, paying an average of over $4K per year. I have paid over $50K in tuition per child for those 13 years of Christian education. Do you really believe I made that decision when they were 5 years old for the outside chance they might go to state in a sport? Does that seem logical to you? You mentioned foreign exchange students. NO foreign exchange students played on these teams. You mentioned that the families can afford things public school parents can't (such as the best AAU teams). Very few of these families would be considered wealthy by any standard. Almost all are working middle class. I understand that things can look a certain way, but perception and reality are often very different. Please take me up on my offer. Come to Western and I will gladly PROVE everything I am saying. You are making accusations with no proof. I am stating FACT and I can prove every word of it. This is truly no meant as a challenge. I would genuinely love anyone on this blog who feels the way you do to take me up on the offer. I think it wou
Two words - open enrollment. The starting point guard for the LeMars boys team open enrolled from Remsen. Should they be moved up a class? The starting center for Sheldon's state championship team in 2013 open enrolled from Sibley. Should they have moved up a class?
I just think the Private Schools should have their own State Tournament OR adjustments should be made. This is based on two thoughts: 1. Research shows that schools with lowest number of poverty students earn the highest test scores. Money definitely has a part in experiences. Private schools do not have a lot of poor families. 2. Most private schools do not have special education programs. Christian school parents send their special needs children to the public schools. All of those students are included in the count and how schools are classified for athletic competition. There are definitely advantages for private schools and going to the state tournament. If not, why are so many private schools going to state tournament then public. It's not because God wants them too. Money helps a lot! Most public schools have one middle school program that feeds into their high school program. Most private schools have several middle school programs feed into their high school programs.
Shaelyn, you listed volleyball and basketball for the past 2 years in your post. You state private schools can waive tuition. Please provide ANY evidence that Western or Unity players participating in basketball or volleyball had tuition waived. I would be happy to invite you to my home, we can go meet the parents of the players of these teams and they can show you their cancelled checks for tuition. Recruiting and waiving of tuition simply does not occur. I am willing to prove it. You mention how we don't have to meet criteria for foreign exchange students. Please show me a foreign exchange student who played volleyball or basketball for Unity or Western Christian girls teams in any of the years in which you site your stats. You state with winning traditions we attract players from outside our district. Please give me ONE example of a player for Western or Unity girls in volleyball or basketball who did not graduate from a Christian grade school. You state we can afford all the "extras" that other people can't afford. I am assuming you mean camps, etc. A majority of our student body come form working class people. They are not wealthy and they give up a lot of "extras" in their home life (vacations, boats, nice cars, etc) to pay for tuition. I am sorry, I don't intend to sound rude, but you simply have no clue what you are talking about. If you take me up on the offer, I would be more than happy to politely show you around Unity and Western, meet the families and students, see their homes and cars they drive. I KNOW you would very quickly see that your claims are incorrect. There are fancy private schools in large areas (such as Oak Hill Academy) where kids come from all over the country to play basketball. That does not apply in the case of Unity and Western and I am more than willing to prove it should you decide to take me up on my offer.
Cassie, every player on Western's team graduated from a Christian grade school. NONE of those players were recruited. Why would that be considered unfair? Western boys lost 2 years ago to Sheldon Orabs, a public school, with a 6'7" center who transferred to Sheldon from Sibley Ocheyedan because he had a problem with the coach. Don't hear us complaining. Sioux City East boys went to state a few years ago with 3 players not from their district. Spirit Lake this year suddenly gets top ranked prep player Iowa Hawkeye recruit (6'9" from New Hampton) and a 6'5" sophomore from Rock Valley. With open enrollment, there are many schools getting players from other districts STRICTLY to play a certain sport. ALL of our kids graduate from Christian grade schools and have family ties to Unity or Western. They don't attend the school to play athletics. They attend the school because their parents attended Christian schools, believe strongly in Christian education, and pay a lot of tuition for that belief. Every public school has a fair shot. Look at all the success M-OC, Boyden Hull, Sioux Center, Rock Valley, West Lyon, etc. have had in athletics. Each of those teams have won state titles in the past 15 years.
This was not just directed at Unity, but schools throughout the whole state both big and small. I'm not saying it happens in every instance, but as I mentioned before there are other advantages as well.
I am not saying that Unity bought their championship-it was well deserved. I am not saying that they bought their players. However, like my letter says, there are other advantages that private schools have along with the ability to scholarship. I did not say that they shouldn't be able to play with the rest of the state, but that a multiplier, like 62% of states already do, should be used to even the playing field out. Most private schools would be able to compete with schools of bigger sizes, and still do well.
Let's fix this!
Great idea! Been a long time coming.
Fair is fair. Kids need to be taught that money doesn't give you an advantage in sports.
Finally!
I agree totally that private schools have a distinct advantage over public schoools on how they are able to attract students for both scholastic and athletic superiority. I understand they need to play regionally for logistical scheduling but when it comes to the state tournament I think they should have seperate classifications.
.
This change needs to happen!!!
No words necessary!!!
I agree with Michelle Adams petition stating "Private schools have been dominating the high school sports scene for a very long time, but they are not playing fair!" Common sense tells us that this certainly is not fair! Everyone engaged in these activities is more than aware of this---even the winning private schools! Their own athletes are aware that recruiting for them is definitely a plus. (Personally I would think that would dampen the thrill of winning to know that they go into the games with a definite advantage over the other teams.) Shouldn't schools above all else play fair? Schools and fai play should go hand in hand. Character Certainly does count! Unfortunately I do not know how to correct this. But we should perhaps look into what the other 31 out of 50 states are doing to implement a better system. I believe Michelle's ideas are worthy to be considered. It is not in the best interest of any of the schools to leave things the way they are.