Are you kidding me?
It appears that no one in Washington School District has the requisite expertise to handle the delicate and extremely complicated task of hiring someone to show kids how to play football and be better humans. Superintendent Roberta DiLorenzo said the district might hire a “neutral football expert” to review applications from those interested in replacing Bill Britton, who was let go as coach last month. Are we to believe that the district will spend valuable taxpayer dollars to pay a football coach-hiring consultant? Are the members of the school board not qualified to hire an athletic coach? Are the administrators equally incompetent in this regard? Doesn’t the district have an athletic director who has been around since shortly after the Crucifixion? Said DiLorenzo, in explaining the idea, “It’s a critical position, a hot topic in the community.” Is teaching English considered a “critical position”? Is an outside expert required to hire a science teacher? If the district is hell-bent on going this route, I just heard that Brett Farve is retiring, again. Maybe he’d be interested in lending a hand to this all-important pursuit.
Labels: Sports
posted by Brant at
10:42 AM
12 Comments:
This just shows how little value is placed on education these days. I shudder to think of the probably imbecilic interview process a prospective teacher might go through, but by God, let's have an expert interview football coaches!!!
What happened to the old days when a football coach was just some old ex-jock meathead who also taught phys ed or history at the high school? Didn't schools make it to state championships back then? Didn't some of those kids go on to college and NFL careers? This is depressing.
This is nothing but a spineless school board afraid to make a choice because they might hurt someone's feelings. What lizards.
Doesn't the school have an athletic director? Isn't that supposed to be one of his responsibilities, find qualified candidates? The board should review the recommendations and make a decision. How hard is that?
What's going to be the first question this "Football Expert" asks: Are you going to play my son or not?
Hey school board! Stop spending my tax money for ridiculous programs that will not better the education of these terrific kids (not just the few that play football)!! A stronger, more aggressive classroom will better prepare all kids for the real economic challenges life presents, especially in this poorer, western Pennsylvania area. The default here is always sports which is incredibly short-lived and for so few which creates a negative regional pattern for so, so many graduates. The small sports population is doing fine without this new implementation and brings much joy to so many. However, I don't think the school's academic reputation and college preparation will increase or decrease with the hiring of special consultants to perfect an athletic program.
I still support my beloved HS. School spirit and local pride is just as strong and as moving as it was back in the 1950s.
So many people are unfocused, lost and complacent because they lack the direction and skills that should've been presented to them in HS. Why not thoughtfully redirect tax dollars to show ALL these kids their great career options, how to be "better humans", and that life is full of possibility through education.
Consulting... if you're not a part of the solution, there is good money to be made in prolonging the problem.
I have a column on this very issue in Friday's O-R
And it contains much truth. Perhaps it should lead us into a discussion of what we expect from our youth athletic coaches. Moral guidance? Development of a good work ethic. Moderate success in terms of winning and losing. Championship-caliber teams year in and year out? Personally, pretty much all I'd expect from a coach is to teach kids the sport in a competent manner and not touch them in "bad places."
Especially in Western PA, football is a religion. Too many school districts long ago sacrificed the ideals of education to produce winning teams. My team in high school sucked -- three wins in three years until they brought in Chuck Abramski, who later would coach Joe Montana at Ringgold. I think we won 7 games my senior year. As I recall, the football team's success didn't attract more quality teachers or produce any geniuses.
Is any adult outside of pro athletes asked on a job interview:
How fast do you run?
How high do you jump?
Can you block?
Can you catch?
Can you dribble?
Can you hit a 80 mph slider?
I never have been. I love sports, but the schools don't emphasis education.
How many times is the kids on the honor roll praised or written about in the newspaper versus the kids on the football team.
Let alone we talk about who gets the girls more often.
As someone who feels that high school football is only a reason for a band halftime show, I feel this coach consultant business is a bunch of bunk. I'm sure the AD can sort through the applicants and find a few to present to the board. Then, if they are related to administration, they'll get hired.
-amom
Wait, I think that's Trinity. ;-)
I understand that the Washington athletic director is retiring after this year. They will probably give the new coach this position also. The salary will be many times what they are paying now. The only responsibilities other than coaching football will be scheduling all other athletic teams. Similar to the deal Montecalvo received by going to Canon-Mac. I could be wrong, but I don't think a teaching degree is required for either the coaching or athletic director position.
In any case, Washington will get their high profile coach at great taxpayer expense.
Chuck
Oh, another thing. All employees of the Washington School District can have their children attend district schools, tuition free no matter what district they live in.
It helps, if these students are on one of the athletic teams with the priority being football. Here again, the taxpayer takes it on the chin by educating students that should be going somewhere else.
chuck
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home