MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

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November 5, 2009

Schools’ shame in state athletics

Oklahoma school superintendents need to stress the importance of following the rules regarding student-athletes in light of two recent Tulsa scandals.

Early last month, Jenks High School suspended its football coach for the year and the district reassigned him to another school because of recruiting violations. Booker T. Washington High School suspended its football coach late last month, and both coach and school principal were reassigned duties following revelations this month that more than 40 students were ineligible for athletics.

Tulsa Public School Superintendent Keith Ballard said that this was not a black eye for school or district because the district addressed the problems on its own. However, the numerous violations at both schools point to flagrant indifference to the rules and a lack of concern for fairness in state competition.

The greatest disservice is to the student-athletes caught up in the scandal. As the name implies, education is supposed to come first in student-athletics, not sports. However, Booker T. allowed many students involved in four different sports to play even though their grades should have made them ineligible.

Also, Jenks and Booker T. assistant coaches were transporting student-athletes to their school daily from other districts. Their actions were unfair to other schools that obeyed the rules.

The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, the ruling body for high school athletics, needs to address the Jenks and BTW violations severely to prevent other schools from doing the same.

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