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Central now allows Alternative Education Center students on its teamsSunday, October 19, 2008An unspoken policy ruled over Alternative Education Center athletics for 13 years. A written prohibition never existed, but no alternative student played on a Central High School sports team. That is changing this year. With a new school and new leadership, administrators are encouraging students to participate, with the hope it will motivate them to raise their grades and behave. "If they meet their eligibility requirements in terms of academics and citizenship, everyone was in agreement this is something students should be able to do. It's a really good incentive," said Carla Fee, who is in her second year as principal of the center. Students attend the Alternative Education Center mainly to catch up on credits. Classes, which serve about 100 students in grades five to 12, are smaller and more focused. A small percentage attends for behavioral reasons. In terms of state records, students are still considered part of the school that sends them. Last year students questioned why they could participate in Central's graduation but couldn't play on its teams. They said it made them feel ostracized and unmotivated. Central High School principal Dr. Mike Cowan said many alternative students would have been ineligible to play. "Usually there is a reason they are in alternative school. ... If they are off track for graduation, chances are they will fail to meet academic standards for eligibility," he said. This summer, Fee and Cowan met with new superintendent Dr. Jim Welker to discuss students' interest in playing. They decided to allow and encourage participation if they met requirements. One student made the cross country team but has since moved out of state, Fee said. Next month, two students will try out for winter sports. "I want to remember something about high school," said Paige Smith, 16, who will try out for the basketball team. She attended the alternative school last year but returned to the high school in August "because I wanted to play ball." Her grades slipped, so now she's back at the alternative school. She's excited she'll still have an opportunity to play. "For me, it will be all about keeping my grades up," she said. Perry Harris, 17, plans to wrestle. He had to quit in the middle of the season last year because of grades. He transferred to the Alternative Education Center and has been working on catching up on credits. "I missed wrestling," he said. Cowan said some people may be "philosophically opposed" to alternative students playing on Central's teams. "But it's not a matter of personal philosophy. It's whether they meet eligibility standards. We are trying to keep students as engaged as we can, and for some that is through sports," he said. 388-3627
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This should come as no surprise. Schools have been babying and coddling these students for years. Students who refuse to maintain the minimum academic and behavioral standards to stay in traditional high school have no business enjoying the PRIVLEDGES thereof.
Many of these kids have disrupted classrooms with their poor behavior or have slowed the progress of the class because they refuse to do simple things like....say, HOMEWORK. In rare instances, such as a student who may have fallen behind because of a major illness, are students in an alternative environment.
When these kids get into the REAL world they will not be babied or coddled. The real world has an alternative "school"---it is called PRISON. Don't let the district sit back and bullsh it you about how wondertful their "alternative school" is. Keep in mind that the district is only worried about them meeting the MINIMUM requirements to graduate high school---which in Missouri is a joke.
I sit back and wonder how long the parents of these kids who do what they are supposed to and are well behaved are going to allow the district to undermine their student's educational experience by teaching to the lowest common denominator and allowing misbehavior that twenty years ago would have been unheard of. And parents, don't let the administrative rhetoric fool you----that's what teachers in these schools are doing. Up until a couple of years ago, I was IN these schools as a teacher and I saw what education was becoming......and I got out.
That's why my children will be attending a private school.
Finally!!! Just think, the Cape Central football program may now discover a hidden gem among its alternative education students. Imagine a Lawrence Phillips or a Pacman Jones. It will take the support of the Central glee club, and the community as a whole for that matter, to bring themselves to lavish praise on these players, who have for so long struggled with accepting the burden of discipline in the normal classroom atmosphere. And most of all, if by chance you should have an encounter in life with one of these promising young men, please telephone a Tiger booster for an offer of settlement before contacting any law enforcement agency. After all, these fine young people are representing you and what your community stands for when interacting with other area and regional peoples. When all is said and done, its winning that counts. Character is for losers.
thank-you jack torrance for your comments. i especially thank-you for leaving the field of public education as a teacher. i am sure that you have nothing further to give to any student that would help them become a productive citizen. if you are fortunate perhaps your children will not be burdened with 'educators' such as you. please re-read the article, especially the third paragraph, about the students meeting 'eligibility requirements in terms of academics and citizenship.' and thank-you carla fee and mike cowen for your professionalism. please do not give up on any student.
The article stated that "Students attend the Alternative Education Center mainly to catch up on credits. If the majority the kids only need to catch up on credits - then why have a whole seperate facililty? Wouldn't it be cheaper to keep those kids on Central's Campus and offer extra credit courses there? The tax payers of Cape spent alot of money on the new Alternative School now we find out - that the main reasons kids are there is to make up credits, wow I'm shocked. How much money does the Alternative School cost the district?