Beginning July 1, 2009, MSHSAA requirements for academic eligibility will change.
Students grades 9-12 must have earned, the preceding semester of attendance, a minimum of 30 units of credit or have earned credit in 80 percent of the maximum allowable classes in which a student can be enrolled in the semester, whichever is greater, and shall currently be enrolled in and regularly attending courses that offer 30 units of credit or 80 percent of the maximum allowable credits which may be earned, whichever is greater; or a student must be enrolled in a full course at his or her level in special programs.
Many have criticized the new requirements. I recently read an article in the February 2008 edition of MSHSAA Journal written by a high school junior at Center High School, Daunte Monroe, entitled “Considering the Welfare of Students Should Help Raise the Academic Bar.”
She stated in the article, “Right now, less than half of the student athletes with college aspirations have an educational foundation to make it through most colleges and a good number of college teams require student athletes to maintain a certain GPA in order to play and retain their awarded scholarships.”
She went on to say that the schools in the state voted overwhelmingly by a 3 to 1 margin to support the new academic requirements. Requirements should not be unreasonably high but leaders on the field or court should be leaders in the classroom as well.
In the final paragraph of Ms. Monroe’s article, she says it all when she states, “This in turn will equip all students with the tools necessary to succeed - not only in college, but also in life. In the end, emphasis on academic success fulfills the purpose of the educational system as a whole.”
This young author makes so much sense to me. Negative attributes of young athletes are often publicized but they generally have so many more positive attributes that go unnoticed.
Adults can learn a lot from listening to their opinions and thoughts.
• Well, it looks as if college football fans will have to wait to see a playoff format until 2014. Don’t hold your breath that it will EVER change.
n The saga of Roger Clemens is really difficult to understand and tough on the many positive things he once stood for. Stuff like this is just plain sad for everyone involved.
n District and sectional competitions for spring sports are scheduled for the next couple of weeks. If you get a chance, get out and cheer them on. This group of athletes doesn’t tend to get as much attention as the fall and winter program athletes. That’s a shame, because their effort deserves it.
n My quote of the week is from American columnist, George Matthew Adams: “Everyone knows that weeds eat out the life of the garden and of the productive fields. The gardener and farmer alike each has to keep the weeding process alive. It’s like that in the building and developing of character. No one knows our own faults and tendencies better than we do ourselves, so it is up to each one of us to keep the weeds out, and to keep all growth vigorous and fruitful.”
Tim Crone, a former activities director and coach at Blue Springs High School, writes a weekly column for The Examiner. Reach him at tcrone@bssd.net
