Sanitised sport recruiting the Keith Noel way

A former principal of St Jago High School, Mr Keith Noel, in a letter titled 'Are sports and performing arts not legitimate career goals?', states that some believe "the efforts made by ISSA to prevent the widespread transfer of students ... are not good enough".

In recent times, there have been so many alleged instances of transfers for sports purposes, including 13 at St Jago who were prevented from competing at Champs because of improper registration, that one could hardly be faulted for concluding the attempts by ISSA have been pathetic, lame and ineffective, so much so that a growing number of persons feel convinced ISSA must be working in concert, in cahoots, with the importers.

There have been alleged transfers for sports purposes involving seventh-, eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders and sixth-formers. There was even a strong accusation by one high school last year, quietly supported by others at the offending school, that a school had transferred more than 30 students for sports purposes in a year.

I have been told of many instances, often by the beneficiaries themselves, where youngsters in Kingston have been picked up, sometimes in a bundle, and carted off to schools in other parishes for sports purposes. The same is true in the other direction, with affected coaches crying out from time to time.

A few years ago, nine transfers were counted as regular starters on the 11-man football team of a well-known Corporate Area high school. Recruiting continues unabated. If ISSA gives a damn, it should at least commission a serious study by reputable persons looking at recruiting for sports purposes by our high schools.

According to Mr Noel, "So, if a boy shows tremendous talent at cricket and is sent to a high school that, for whatever reason, has no cricket programme, his parents try to get him into a school that does, depending on where he lives and his academic prowess."

There is absolutely nothing wrong with parents trying to get their children into any high school for whatever reason, even if the children live at the other end of the island and cannot spell, read a word or understand one concept in mathematics! It is the parents' prerogative so to try.

LACK ACADEMIC PROWESS

The problems are with the principals whose schools not only accept, but oftentimes actively scout these unqualified youngsters who lack the required "academic prowess" for their schools. High schools import to win - full stop!

I have written extensively about the ills associated with this practice and about the need to organise youth sports differently in Jamaica, as do the overwhelming majority of countries who are educationally and economically successful.

Their schools are not used as the developmental arms of sports associations. They focus on intramural sports with further development in sports taking place separate and apart from school although they are fanatical about sports and excel internationally at many.

There is no conflict of interest between sports and the technical, vocational, academic and socialising core mission of school, and more youngsters are offered the rounded, holistic education they deserve. By the way, sports in the great majority of these countries offer much wider career opportunities than in Jamaica.

My extensive research has produced no educator who says "that a child should be moved easily from school to school for 'academic' reasons only." Is this another straw man?

Mr Noel needs to remember that all human actions have benefit. However, they also have consequences. We need to critically assess both in arriving at rational conclusions.

Dr Lascelve 'Muggy' Graham is a chemist and former Jamaica football captain. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and long1@flowja.com.