Public and Private School Sports

As everyone knows, one of the biggest parts of high school is going to sporting events, but some schools are saying private schools have the advantage with their athletic teams. Public schools are made up of districts, and students can only attend school and play sports at the school in their district unless they play a hefty fee. Private schools, on the other hand, are allowed to recruit students from anywhere, without having to worry about where they might live. Now this doesn’t seem fair, does it? On the other hand, private schools do require students to pay tuition each year, which may discourage athletes from going there and instead attend the public school in their district. A school’s athletic program can make or break the school’s reputation, and the best players go where they can be a winner.

There have also been similar debates on which school can better prepare students for the pressures of college, athletically and academically. Many parents say private schools offer more intense training because there is a smaller student to teacher/coach ratio, giving athletes more time to improve their skills. Public school students claim they are exposed to stronger competition and are offered better equipment to use, as well as the finances they need to maintain a gym and new uniforms when needed.

In my opinion, both types of schools have equal opportunities to recruit great athletes, and both have the ability to train their athletes to be winners. Coming from a private school, I know how difficult it can be to get student to come to your school for sports, mostly because tuition can be a burden on families. No matter where a student attends school, athletes can always find a team to play for.

Resources

Parks, Brad. "A Public Debate - The Shifting Balance of Power between Public and Private - High Schools Has Turned Competition into Pure Contention." The Star Ledger [Newark, NJ] 16 July 2012: n. pag. Print. 1 February 2013