Not only save money but could get the kids involved in after school sports and physical sports activities. I visited high school tennis intra-school competition matches for many years; in fact I was assistant coach at Woodruff the year they had the best season in the school's history. This week Manual High's tennis "team" played Notre Dame at Manual courts. Two, that's right, two kids showed up to represent Manual, so there was no competitive matches. A couple of weeks earlier, Manual played Central at Manual. Three Manual players showed up.
Several weeks ago, I stopped by Manual to watch the "coach" hold a practice session. First, two kids showed up, eventually three so with the coach as a player, they played doubles. At no time during any of these visits, did I see the coach do any coaching.
About three years ago, I attended a tournament at the Richwoods tennis courts. All conference schools were invited. Manual showed up with ONE lonely kid who was quickly eliminated. As he came off the court, I asked him where his coach was. He said he didn't come.
Why do I point out Manual? I was largely responsible for getting then Superintendent Dr. Griffin to put in four new courts up closer to the school. I was assisting Connie Cassidy who if I recall, coached both boys and girls Manual tennis teams. Connie was a good player and a good coach.
Last week, I asked Manual graduate and now School Board Member Jim Stowell, if he was aware of this situation. He said he was and something needed to be done. All these years have passed with paid coaches who don't really know how to coach yet collect good pay while building their tenure to enhance their retirement pensions while few kids come out to practice and play. What a sorry situation..
Minor sports where kids, principals and coaches show little interest or put out much effort, must be eliminated. Allow kids who want to play tennis, softball, volleyball to play or at least try out, with other area schools and hire coaches who know the sport and are qualified to be real coaches. If the coaches can't coach, can't encourage kids to participate, waste money on bus trips, then set up inter-school intramurals to give them some exercise in a fun and learning environment, keep them out of trouble and save the property tax payers money.
It appears few people care. The emphasis for a few is on basketball and football. Who cares about the minor sports at #150? I have called attention to this situation many times and blogged on the subject.
What a shame and waste of money. And in my general visits over the years, the sports and after school atmosphere at Manual overall appears pretty laid back.
Arne Duncan and all the brass are only partly on track to better the public school systems in the larger cities. Until Board members are full time, rotating 3 year terms, elected at large or dividing #150 in three districts, well paid, each with an office and a shared secretary and the Superintendent has a doctorate or equivalent in finance and business with Associate Directors or whatever title appropriate, in curriculum, Human Services, etc., our leaders can hold all the summits they wish and the system will still fail.
In all the years I followed high school tennis in Peoria Public Schools I noted no board members in attendance and at one time a new principal came to the courts to show his interest. He came one time.
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