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Public Vs Private School Debate
Public Vs Private School Debate
Public Vs Private School Debate
Private 1
Jacob S. Nichols
Abstract
This paper discusses the athletic imbalances in high school athletics and goes through
studies showing examples of it happening. The report is based on a couple research questions:
When did Private schools come to be? Can Private schools recruit individuals to compete for
them? Why do people care if there is competitive balance in high school athletics? What do
people think of private schools compared to public schools? What can be done to create a more
balanced playing field for everyone? Finding include, sports articles, journals, surveys, and in-
depth looks into this debate. All of these sources help in shining some light on the athletic
imbalances in high school athletics. In conclusion, until private schools compete under the same
rules as public schools, then they should have to compete at either a higher classification or
separate division just for private schools so that it is more fair for all.
Introduction
The public vs. private school debates in athletics have been a major issue raging on for
years even during the late 1970s early 1980s. Disproportionate talent level gaps between high
school teams have led to unfair advantages. On the other hand, private schools miss out on a lot
of athletes due to the high cost of attending these schools. If the two types of schools were
competing on more balanced rules then it would not be as big of an issue as what it has become.
Until there is a more level playing field established, then private schools will continue to be
Private schools began in the 18th century and were used as missionaries of the Roman
Catholic Church(Kennedy, 2016, p.1). Their original purpose when first built was just to further
the gospel to young children or those who wanted to get an education. These schools did not
have athletics until the late 1870s when New York first adopted the idea of private school
sporting teams. Private schools did not begin to expand to other states until the early 1900s when
other states began to adopt these types of schools. Private schools were not dynasties in sports
until around the last 30 years where they began winning at a more considerable rate. When these
schools began winning state championships on a regular basis states began searching for a way
One major issue that people really disapprove of is the fact that private schools can
recruit athletes outside of their district. According to Kevin Cacabelos (2009), public schools are
at a massive disadvantage because they can only get athletes from their county. With private
schools being able to compete in the same divisions as public schools, who can not do the same
Public Vs. Private 4
types of recruiting, it leaves a big talent level gap that is nearly unbridgeable by everyday
schools. This causes most of the unstable athletic leagues that are ruled by those who can recruit
to continue to be dominant for years and years to come. The thing is this should not even be an
issue because private schools are not allowed to recruit; however, they are still doing this
practice even though it is against the rules and nobody is trying to stop these schools from
breaking the rules. If states were to implement multiplier systems then maybe the recruiting
According to Jon Timmerman, A possible bill is going through congress right now, that
2012, pg.1). The problem with this bill is that people will exploit it and put false addresses down
and compete for a certain team that they want to play for. This problem would be handled by
athletic directors from that certain school that the student is trying to attend, but if they decide to
look the other way on this and not report these schools would be able to create super teams
essentially. So you may be asking yourself how do you fix this problem? You can fix this
problem by forcing ADs or athletic directors to crack down on infractions of false addresses and
schools need to make sure their students do their work and not allow them to make unstoppable
teams that practice all day long with no consequences. If this bill happens teams that allow home
school students to compete for them will still be penalized and each individual person will count
as 5 people since they were not enrolled in the school they are competing for. And if these
transfers would compete for these schools they would have to play at a higher classification and
In the sport of cross country alone in Ohio of the last 10 years in division two, 7 of the
last 10 state champions were private schools and the only public school that won in this time
period was Woodridge High School and they won it all three times. This shows some of the
dominance that has really started to shine through in high school athletics and it really makes you
wonder should they be able to compete with these public schools that are overshadowed year in
and year out due to these drastic ranges in athleticism? It also shows the lack of diversity and it
displays how the same teams win every year and really makes it hard for the teams in the very
rural areas that have small student counts. Which is why you dont see teams from Southern
Ohio winning state championships very often, in fact it is few and far between. For example,
1989 was the last time Piketon High School was a runner up in the state and this team was the
only state runner up team in school history. In fact it was the best team in our regions history. In
my high school career I have only made it to state one time which was my freshman year in 2014
when we placed 5th in the state and there was a private school in the race I was referring to and
balanced playing field, would be to create private school divisions which would separate the
private schools from public schools in tournament time(James, 2007, pg.1). It could allow for
large and small private school divisions. Which would create separation between the large and
small private schools. Now, this might not solve the recruiting issue or possibly even repeat
champions in these new divisions but it would allow for a equal playing field for public schools
and private schools. And if this was carried out in a professional and efficient way I think it
would be able to make big waves in the discussion about high school athletic balance.
Public Vs. Private 6
In 1999, Ohio first tried to pass a bill forcing private schools to compete at a higher
division which did not go through after a tight vote. If it would have passed it would have lead to
private schools playing better competition and lessening the chances of repeat state champions.
Years later states are still trying to come to some kind of compromise with private schools on
what is the proper way to handle this issue. Georgia has implemented a multiplier system that
counts each individual student as 1.5, which leads to teams having to compete at a bigger
division. In the United States, 19 of the 50 states have no student multiplier in place and have no
According to my survey, 66.7% of people said that private schools should be able to
compete against public schools. On the other hand 33.3% said that they should not be allowed to
compete against public schools. Some of their reasons for this were Private schools have better
athletes than public schools and because of the recruiting aspect they will continue to grow to be
better athletes. From the looks of the survey, people from Southern Ohio seem to be less
worried about the athletic gap between schools and believe their should not be any change made.
If my survey was to be United States wide the results would most likely differentiate.
Why should people care if there is competitive balance in high school athletics?
People should care because if nothing is done to make it more balanced then private
schools will have an unfair advantage that public schools can do nothing to change. If nothing is
to change then you have to remember that if you dont send your kid to private school that he or
she will be competing against these super schools that they have hardly any chance of winning
Public Vs. Private 7
against. But if there is change to the rules on recruiting in schools than public schools and private
schools alike will be competing with equal chances of getting to compete for a state
championship and there wont be a need for all of these multipliers to be in place. These are the
reasons why someone should care about competitive balance in high school athletics.
What can be done to create a more balanced playing field for everyone?
The way to create a more balanced playing field for everyone would be to make each
type of school compete under the same exact rules. Such as, no more recruiting outside of your
district which would lead to a smaller talent gap between schools. Also, private schools should
not be able to take donations from high class individuals who can help them afford state of the
art equipment, world class trainers, constant new uniforms, etc. Because if a public school was to
do the same thing they would lose their high school eligibility and not be able to compete in high
school athletics anymore. Private schools should not be allowed to give scholarships to high
schoolers also because public schools are not allowed to do that, and it is one of the main factors
for elite athletes to want to come and compete for these schools. In conclusion, if private schools
follow the same rules as public schools then I do not see why they could not compete in the same
leagues as each other, but until changes are made they should have to compete at a higher
Writer's Note
I would like to thank you readers for taking the time to read my APA research paper
today and I hope you enjoy it and find it informative and learn something new from this that you
did not know coming in. I also hope that this paper gets the debate moving on this tough issue
and give insight from someone that is being affected by this on a regular basis. Students athletes
Public Vs. Private 8
will hopefully begin talking with their athletic directors to possibly create change in the near
future.
Public Vs. Private 9
References
Cacabelos, K. (2009). High School Sports: Private vs. Public. Retrieved from
//www.http://bleacherreport.com/articles/113694-high-school-sports-private-vs-public
James, J. (2007). Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice. v10 n4 pp.409-432. 24
Kennedy, R. (2016). How Private Schools Evolved in the United States. Retrieved from
https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/blog/how-private-schools-evolved-in-the-united-states
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKas5PYXFaLiPpa_HUecJcxNue38zcJEjKUJhViyHMWN5t
OA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Patsko, S. (2014). Compilation of how all 50 states handle competitive balance. Retrieved from http://
www.highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/-4000324031846785879/ohsaas-competitive-
balance-referendum-the-latest-round-in-a-national-fight-between-public-and-private-schools
Intro: Discussion of Minimal discussion Minimal discussion Limited discussion Clearly identifies
Research of research focus of research focus or of research and discusses
Your score: 10 and purpose of purpose of research. focus/purpose of research
research.Research Research question research. Research focus/purpose of
question and thesis and thesis is not question and thesis research. Research
is poorly articulated well articulated is described but not question and thesis
or is absent as well articulated is clearly articulated
altogether
Intro: Background Provides very little May not give Gives the reader Briefly gives the
Information & infomoration for the enough information enough information reader enough
Importance audience. The to thoroughly to thoroughly information to
Public Vs. Private 10
Use of Sources Not all information Most information is All information is All information is
Your score: 10 is supported with supported with supported with supported with
credible sources. A credible sources. A credible sources. An credible sources. A
clear understanding vague understanding understanding of clear understanding
of who has already of who has already who has already of who has already
written about this written about this written about this written about this
subject is not subject is subject is mostly subject is
demotnstrated. demotnstrated. demotnstrated. demotnstrated.
Findings/Results: Results are not Results are not very Results are not very Results are clearly
Organization (b) clearly explained. clearly explained. clearly explained. It explained. There are
Your score: 8 The paper is lacking Some major is clear that there are multiple major
any major findings. findings are hinted major findings, but findings that are
at, but not clearly they are not clearly clearly and
explained. articulated. The thoroughly
findings are not all described separately
described in-depth and in depth.
or separately.
Conclusion The paper fails to The paper reiterates The paper reiterates The paper
Your score: 10 reiterate the thesis, some of the the thesis, major concludes very
major claims, and following: thesis, claims, and nicely with a
significance. New major claims, and significance, but is reiteration of the
information could significance. Some not as smooth. If thesis, major claims
be provided. new information is appropriate, a and the importance
provided may be recommendation is while offering a
provided. A made. No new look to the future. If
recommnedation information is appropriate, a
may be appropriate, provided. recommendation is
but is not provided. made. No new
information is
provided.
Documentation of Does not cite Cites some data Cites most data Cites all data
Sources sources. obtained from other obtained from other obtained from other
Your score: 10 sources. Citation sources. APA sources. APA
style is either citation style is citation style is
inconsistent or used. accurately used.
incorrect.
Public Vs. Private 12
Spelling & Excessive spelling Noticeable spelling Minimal spelling & No spelling &
Grammar and/or grammar and grammar grammar mistakes grammar mistakes
Your score: 10 mistakes mistakes
Manuscript Format: Title page Title page deviates a Title page Title page has
APA completely deviates bit more from APA approximates APA proper APA
Your score: 10 from APA formatting. The formatting. The formatting. The
formatting. The abstract is mostly abstract is mostly abstract is clear and
abstract does not clear but a little clear and concise. concise.
clearly summarize wordy.
the paper.
Comments:
Total: 108/120
The essay is well organized and clearly explains and supports what can be done to level the
playing field. However, the only evidence you have that shows that this is a true issue is
anecdotal. You're not proving to your audience that the current practices are adversely and
unfairly affecting athleticism between public and private athletes. You're approaching it as if it's
a given. This is probably because of your personal bias on the issue. However, in a research
paper you must fully prove all of your conclusions.