Pecan

This is for anyone. Over the past few years I have been somewhat amused and puzzled about the issues between the public and non-public programs in TN regarding what is fair and what is not fair. I don't understand all the conflicts between the public and non-publics, but I do know that such does not provide good examples for the students or parents. These clouds, which in my opinion are caused by the coaches, appear to be setting bad tones between the public and non-public school systems and may be raising questions regarding the credibility of the TSSAA. All of the ariticles I have read in the paper leaves the impression that the entire situation has been brought on by football coaches in the public school systems who push for the changes, not necessarily the school administrators, parents or students. Personally I have problems with classifications and sometimes wish all states would go back to the no-classification arrangement. It is more in keeping with the American Spirit and corporate environment in which the players and students will have to live in their adult years. Classificiations do nothing to prepare the athletes and other students for the big world they will face. They will find that classifications in college and the corporate world are not relevant to competing among their fellowman and living a successful life. Do divisions or classification "enhance the educational experiences of students"? Of course not. I could go on and on, probably because I can remember the days when there were no classifications in TN. Incidentally, GA has a small multiplier of 1.3. Obviously TN went to 1.8 because it took such to move many of the small private schools to 2A. Their calculator were the "coaches", not a systematic fair approach

Thanks bbsesq. I'm beginning to feel that someone should cry "foul" about Tyner being in 2A. It sounds like there is a good case to re-evaluate their classification (as well as the other magnet schools) with the possibility of moving them up in the classifications. This argument may surface in time. Surely the private schools have already raised the question. Although it is obvious that magnet schools are technically "public schools", they seem to have the same characteristics and drawing power as private schools. It is apparent that the magnet schools similarity to private schools didn't get a lot of attention when the multiplier was being discussed. I just looked and see that there is absolutely no private school representation at all on the TSSAA Board of Trustees. This in itself raises many questions. All of this concerns me because I have heard from the grape vine (whatever that may be worth) that the private schools are meeting fairly regularly to consider establishing their own association, which means that they would pull completely out of the TSSAA. It seems to me that the TSSAA would be fighting to keep the private schools because of the financial advantages, prestige, etc. Interesting isn't it? Time will tell!

I assume by your answer that you know for sure that the "magnet/open zone" schools such as Tyner do draw from the entire county. Assuming you are correct, I can see that the "magnet" schools may have a deeper advantage than most small private schools. Therefore, I don't understand how the TSSAA justifies not treating the "magnet" schools like the private schools. However, based on the lack of TSSAA PR skills, I certainly will not hold my breath until such is explained. This may be an oversight of the TSSAA or politics may come to play. Who knows! Let me know if you have any other thoughts. Thanks.

This is for anyone. Does Tyner HS draw students/players from all over the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County because it is a special arts and science type school? If so, should the 1.8 multiplier be applied to Tyner because of the wide area in which they draw? If they do have students from far and wide then don't they perhaps have more advantages than most private schools? I'm not really sure of their situation? I have heard that this is true. If so, I don't understand the TSSAA's position for not applying the multipler in this case. Just wondering.