The issue of recruiting in the scholastic athletic world simply won’t go away.
The beginning of a new school year will find athletes enrolled in schools they were not in when the last school year ended. This is true of both middle and high schools in most states in the country.
Transfer on the part of a student-athlete stimulates discussion and accusations to a great degree. The charge of recruiting is cried loud and long when a talented athlete shows up at a new school. The loud accusations are made mostly by nearby schools or intense rivals.
Before we examine the reasons student-athletes transfer from one school to another let us all agree that transfers do take place. There are well defined rules, provisions and regulations by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) concerning transfers and eligibility.
I hear the uninformed and the misinformed uttering all kinds of accusations toward schools with successful programs and winning records. Little comes of these accusations by reason that the facts don’t support the assertions.
Let me go on record as affirming if anyone ever hears from my voice or my written word that someone is ineligible because of a fraudulent transfer, the evidence will be in hand and it will be accurate. That will be true lest I “transfer” myself to the group of false accusers and gossipers of the world. Enough said on that.
Why do kids decide to leave one school and go to another to play sports?
There are two reasons and please read carefully. I believe the explanations will be clear and simple. The explanations might not be liked and even denied. Examination of records over the years will prove these two points made.
Kids who transfer fall into one of two groups:
1) Kids who realize they can’t play at the school where they attend. They find their talents and abilities are not as good as their friends and they have got to find a place they can play.
This type of kid doesn’t improve themselves or the team to which they transfer and often denies himself or herself of being on a winning or championship team they left.
From the parents of this type of kids goes up the howls of how the coaches did not treat their kid fairly or did not give their kid a chance. In the end, parents and kids did not hurt the team they left; they only hurt themselves.
2) The second group is more attractive and more admirable. These are the kids who could play at any school they attended. They are good enough to play and make an impact on any program. Still, if they transfer they must do it legally.
Someone remarked after I wrote a year or so ago about the rules of legitimate transfers that I was just telling people how to do so. My point was a warning to parents and students not to mess up their eligibility if they do transfer. I support following the rules. The GHSA Constitution sets forth the rules better than I did. They do not encouraging transfers and neither do I. My, what ignorance?
So, why does the kid transfer that has the talent and ability to play anywhere and make an impact at any school in the state?
They see an attractive program and they desire to be a part of a winning team. That sentence embraces many factors. It is unfair and dishonest to accuse a team to which a talented athlete makes a legitimate move without the facts. Calhoun City Schools have come in for their share of criticism in past years. It is true that talented athletes have come Calhoun’s way in various sports and at various levels.
Possibly those families embraced the sentiments I expressed three years ago when I said, “If I had a young talented athlete (boy or girl) and lived in Northwest Georgia, I would turn the world upside down to legally and fairly get my child in Calhoun City Schools.”
- Jerry Smith
"It's been said that figures lie and liars figure."
Oh, the irony of this coming out just before you throw a wild numerical percentage into the wind.
Would you mind telling us where that 30% illegal alien school population figure comes from? Some credible source would be nice.
I agree with GoGC...I am also disappointed in the Calhoun Times for printing Jerry Smith's column. And as educationsupporter posted, it is definitely time to retire Smith's column...he loves the attention he gets for writing on such topics and stirring up controversy in the community.
[However, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at his comments in today’s paper about Sonoraville’s Big Victory over the Calhoun softball team Saturday. I figured he would declare a miracle had happened, make excuses, and somehow twist things around, denying SHS the credit and bragging rights they are due. The game was a nail-biter, with all girls on both teams giving their all. Calhoun is always expected to win, but Sonoraville proved they have the talent to change peoples’ expectations. The teams square-up again tomorrow and I hope and pray that everyone (players and parents) can behave. Most of the girls and parents are friends when they’re off the field, one-on-one; but it turns ugly when the teams are pitted against each other. But that’s another story for another day.]
In today's paper, Fred R. Penick's Letter to the Editor points out the fact that Smith "has family members that are on the coaching staff of Calhoun High" and questions why the Calhoun Times would print an article such as the Transfers and Recruiting one that started all these comments. (For those who may not know, the "Coach Diane Smith," he refers to in his column today is his wife. She coaches CHS the softball team. see how this is all related, in a round-about way?)...
Along the topic of Transfers and Recruiting, remember the star softball pitcher a few years ago, Maddie Munroe? I find it interesting how she suddenly transferred to Calhoun days before the first game that year, from the Dalton area I believe. Did she ever even move to Calhoun? I mean, sure she was great, they had a winning season, and she has been successful at the college level, but she was ushered in at the last second and knocked the Calhoun girls out of the chance to prove themselves. Similarly to what bseballfan posted when referring to Nance & Moss transferring in and being put ahead of the QB and catcher, shouldn't those kids have gotten a fair shake to earn their position?
oldtimer63 points out the numerous spelling mistakes that the Times prints. I remember an article last fall praising the CHS football team in which the word "there/their/they're" was used many times, and most being in the wrong form. You think an article about a school could be proofed for spelling and grammar. But, I know everyone makes mistakes now and then, (there may be some here), like the Calhoun Primary PTA Cookbook several years ago which listed the school's administration, including the Principle (tip--think about the Principal as your pal to help you remember correct spelling)...I guess the people that put it together were educated in the county schools.
2 conclusions:
1) Stop printing Jerry Smith's column--he is beyond his prime and his ramblings only stir up controversy and add to the competition between the city and county, and not in a healthy way.
2) We need to remember the children, as several posters said. The parents and supporters need to show some maturity and quit putting each others' school down in such a ruthless, vengeful manner, both academically and athletically. (Including myself...although I believe there are good teachers in both the city and county schools, I still question the city’s ethics concerning sports). We should be exhibiting better sportsmanship and show the children what good, healthy rivalry is all about. We should support all children living in Gordon County, of which the City of Calhoun is part of.
As I stated before can't we just agree to disagree and support the students and teachers at all of our schools? It just seems like we are overlooking one major thing in all this uproar---THE CHILDREN.
calhoun must be blissful because ignorance is bliss as all of you demostrate day after day here.
Calhoun and Gordon County schools graduate equal amounts of good students. Because you were not one of those students, Calhounmustbeblissful, is no reason to blast the school system. 2009 graduates of Gordon Central got full or partial rides to schools like Georgia Tech, Texas Christian, Mercer and Davidson- and there are a few studying pre-law and pre-med at UGA. Doesn't sound too shabby to me.
And the statistics you cited so scientifically (where, exactly, are the graduation rates and test scores you're referring to?) are probably affected by the number of pregnant students Calhoun schools send to county schools every year. If a school system decides to support students who have personal crises, then why are we giving them a hard time about it? Both schools are great for what they are, but neither is totally exceptional.
I say stop holding a grudge. If you aren't succeeding, blame it on yourself rather than the school system that "wronged" you.