Some Parochial high school coaches and their supporters recruit athletes. These private schools are not restricted by geographical boundaries as it would relate to enrollment-residency. The logic is anchored in the right to pursue a religious education.
In the effort to 'balance' and equalize this unrestricted private school residence factor against public school restricted boundaries, State Athletic governing bodies keep designing enrollment classification rules. These measures can best be compared to tax rules, which tries to stop 'tax cheaters.'
Last boys basketball season, Beleville Althoff high school finished second in their IHSA state finals class. They return all but one non-starter this season. I saw Althoff play last week in the Collinsville holiday tournament. They are a juggernaut. They are well coached. Their players deport themselves in a fine manner. My money is on them to win it all this season. Althoff high school may not be guilty of recruiting athletes, I don't know. I have been told the following: One Althoff player should be playing at East St. Louis high school. Another Althoff player should be playing at Belleville East high school and a third youngster should be playing for Belleville West high school.
On another rail, we have private school people pushing for 'vouchers' to send their kids to parochial schools in cities where public schools are deemed failing to meet academic standards. Therefore it would appear that some in the parochial school community, if they could would like have the best inner-city Black basketball player and leave the non-basketball playing Black kid in decaying inner-city schools while local tax payers pick up the tab for some kids' religious education. That's simply wrong. Reference the United States Constitution.
It is in our best interest to 'fix' what is broken; not circumvent and run.
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