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Post by coachjongordon on Nov 13, 2006 1:39:10 GMT -5
When I coached in Florida, I had an athlete by the name of Michael James, he was National Gatorade "Will" to win Athlete winner for cross country in 2001, (currently at Harvard) and he and I were both told for him to miss a meet for a Latin competition by the President of the booster club. (daughter was on the Latin Team). I was willing to give in, but called the Latin instructor to get her view on the situation, and she told me to have him run in the meet. He surprised everyone, and managed to run in the meet, and then make it in time for the latin competition as well. So everyone was happy.
Recently, I've encountered an unusual problem with a Latin instructor in 2006. I currently coach at Northside College Prep, and I have athletes who are not in the Latin Club, but talented Latin students, with great grades, being told that if they don't attend a 3 day latin convention during the middle of indoor track season, and skip a meet to attend the convention, it will be difficult to maintain their GPA. For a teacher to tell a student in November, that they will have trouble with their grades in February if they don't attend a Latin convention has me concerned. Has anyone else delt with a similiar problem?
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Post by dbandre on Nov 20, 2006 19:19:52 GMT -5
Being a college prep school, you are going to find many here who don't understand the importance of Latin in the prep school experience. For those students wanting to attend a Harvard or Yale, knowledge of Latin used to be a must. Ovid and Homer's works along with other latin classics are usually read in the original latin. The foundation of America's first educational systems were latin based. Therefore to a high degree prep schools include and emphasize latin within their cirriculums as it is much easier to attend an Ivy League school with a Latin background.
In this instance, I think you are quite right to be concerned about the ethical issues involved in outside activities being used as a way to maintain or decrease GPA. However, if the track meet is small one, ie.. not an invitational then I think you can raise concern with your AD about the ethical questions surrounding the situation, but don't force to make the kids between class and track, because you'll lose all your smart kids. However, if it's on an invitational date, I would be concerned and fight like heck thru your AD to allow the kids to be able to make the choice without being punished either way.
Dan
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Post by oldschool on Nov 23, 2006 13:37:48 GMT -5
That's unfortunate. We have an International Baccalaureate program but have had few, if any problems. Our issues typically come from cheerleading and pomme-pon but we have always been able to work them out.
I certainly would address the issue with the AD and suggest that the AD discuss it with the principal. I suspect that the teacher will prove pretty intransigent and will "win out". I'm guessing that the teacher likely views it as a personal turf struggle given the direction that the discussion sounds to have taken.
Bonus fortuna, Cogo.
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Post by coachwagz on Nov 27, 2006 15:58:31 GMT -5
I ran into situations similar to this while at Driscoll Catholic and Immaculate Conception, where conflicts ranged from participation and practice in school plays to meets on Sundays that conflicted with the religious backgrounds of the schools (the Sunday meet being the Annual Private Catholic Schools Invitational.)
In all cases, I drafted a letter to the parents detailing the essence of the conflict and had it okayed by my administration (Principal and AD) and looked for their input. In the end, the parents are paying the bills with a particular end in mind; this results in the tragic debate over education vs. athletic participation.
Like another poster mentioned, the teacher will defend their policy/procedure just like the coach would theirs if the teacher came in to debate coaching methods. The parents are the consumers, so see what they want for their kids. Then, the parents, through the Principal, will change the policy if demand. . .um. . .demands it.
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