Parents not happy about playing time

[JackJD]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

Whats done is done but I don't agree with the statement that the school board made a mistake by buying into the pressure in April.  The pressure has been there for 5 years!  If they would have cracked wouldn't it have made sense to have cracked early on?  They stood their ground for 5 years and your right, they made a huge mistake and for that the school board should be held accountable.  Who gets by these days with saying 'oh weren't not renewing' and a week later 'oh crap, we don't have legitimate grounds to do so, so we're renewing'!  To me thats a question of ethics and integrity!  Although I still don't agree with Hofers coaching ability I will admit now that i agree that he should not have been let go for matters regarding the school boards lack of integrity.  

Hofer should be upset himself that the SCHOOL BOARD allowed this!  As a school board its their responsibilty to not make such a tough decision unless they are 100% confident they will follow through with it!  Right now to me the school board looks like a pack of dogs with their tails between their legs running for the hills.  These are grown, adult men and women that for 5 years obviously felt they were doing the right thing and for that I will never buy into any thought that they were pressured.

Generally, a tenured teacher has certain protections in state law regarding his/her dismissal from a teaching position.  Usually those protections to not apply to extra-curricular assignments such as a coaching position.  In other words, a school board will have to have a good reason and follow certain rules and take certain procedural steps to terminate a tenured teacher; but, the school board has a lesser burden in taking away an extra-curricular assignment such as a coaching position.  IMPORTANT:  particular school boards may negotiate contracts with the teaching staff that add requirements for terminating a teacher's extra-curricular duties.  Compare:  Where I live, a coaching assignment can be taken away from a tenured teacher with little explanation.  

I disagree that school boards have the responsibility stated by rabbitcoach.  While I can share his sentiment that school boards should be darned sure before making such decisions, I certainly hope school boards are willing to admit they may have made a mistake and to rectify a mistake.  I've seen responsible school boards do exactly that.  

Interesting news in the last few days about the McKinney, TX high school cheerleaders who were totally out of control....  They have been referred to as a clique which ignored their coach and did a lot of improper things (e.g. taking their coach's cell phone and sending improper text messages to her spouse; placing suggestive pictures of themselves on MySpace etc.)  The leader of the clique happened to be the daughter of the school principal.  The cheer coach felt the girls were untouchable and she quit...they ran out four coaches in one year.  This week the principal/mom resigned her position and the girls have apparently been reined in.  In the ABC news report, there is a quote from an education specialist or psychologist who bascially said it is not the job of parents to protect their kids...it is their job to raise their kids to be ethical people and to discipline them when needed.  They should not fight their kids' battles including disputes over playing time.  

[SD-STATE]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

I really don't want to see anyone debating the coaching skills of any high school coaches on this forum. I can't prevent it from happening but I really don't want to see it. It will lead to nothing. Time to lock this thread.

I'm asking for the Trooien supporters and/or anti-Hofer side of the story. Apparently some are not happy with his coaching.

We debate about every thing else on this board. We debate the skills and actions of Deubrook school board, but not their basketball coach? I don't see any bold "moderator" titles under your name.

[rabbitcoach]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

SD-STATE, you can read all of my posts. I am the only one posting on here that is against hofer and ironically I am the only one out of all of these people that HAS played for Hofer! Whos point do you think should have more merit?

[DirkChambers]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

The Deubrook school board undoubtedly has had some hard decisions to make in this whole process, and I'm sure that many of the board's decisions were made under recommendations from the Athletic Director and Superintendent. That's how it has been in H.S. board situations that I'm familliar with. That said, I would say it's a near impossibilty that any one person was doing all the talking during the commonplace board practice known as executive session -- and of course one of those occurred during Hofer's reinstatement hearing.

I know a number of people that know the Deubrook board member that has served for 20 years and I've learned that he also serves as the President of the regional HD Electric board -- which is an elected position that demands a lot of responsibility and sound judgment -- a position that wouldn't just be obtained by someone that has the characteristics rabbitcoach has explained. I would imagine he's been in some tough situations before and knows how to handle them.

One more thing... Deubrook Supt. Kevin Keenaghan's comments in the Sunday Argus Leader strongly suggest that pressure (from a loud minority) was a huge factor in why Hofer's contract was non-renewed. During Hofer's requested hearing for reinstatement, I've understood from reputable sources that people showed up overwhelmingly in favor of the coach, including current and former players, basketball coaches from other schools, and I'm sure a ton of parents.

Here's a portion of the Argus article:

By the end of the last basketball season, Keenaghan decided that perhaps the best way to bring peace to his school district was to not renew Hofer's coaching contract. In April 2006, he made that recommendation to the school board, which unanimously embraced the idea.

"I made him a sacrificial lamb," Keenaghan said. "Was that fair? No. I think the work he was doing was good. But I asked him, 'Why do you want to come to work and be subjected to this stuff every day?'

"So due to what I viewed as harassment by these concerned citizens, and the perception he was not a good coach, I recommended not renewing his contract."

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...=2007701070310

[SD-STATE]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

SD-STATE, you can read all of my posts. I am the only one posting on here that is against hofer and ironically I am the only one out of all of these people that HAS played for Hofer! Whos point do you think should have more merit?

I'm not trying to pick sides or question the merit of anyone's arguement, I was just curious to know more about a particular side that seems to be under represented in the discussion. I like to hear both sides of any argument and I have no connection to either side, I am just a casual bystander with an interest in the dilemma.

[BTownJack]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

Reading the article above from the argus is probably your best bet. I felt they did a pretty good side covering both sides of the coin on this story. I agree with what was said in the article that is was for the best interests of high school athletics that this motion was turned down in court. A scary precedent would have been set had the motion been granted in the parents favor. It would have sent a bad wave throughout SD high school athletics if not the nation. Hopefully we can put this behind us and let nature take it course in situations like this in the future.

[Bunny2010]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

I have read with interest all the posts about this situation at Deubrook.  I live in the school district and my children go to Deubook.  The majority of the school district is extremely embarassed about this whole deal.  And we hope that others realize that this is just Tim Trooien and a few of his followers trying to stir up trouble again.  For those of you who don't know Timmy, he is a trouble maker.  And for those of you who think this is over, it's not over.  Timmy does not EVER give up.  I don't know what will happen next but it is not over.  And as anyone who's dealt with him knows, he will push and push until he gets his way.  I'm guessing that's why the school board gave in at the April meeting because it was obvious he was not going to stop until he won.  Maybe I'm not being fair but if Hofer's coaching ability can be discussed so can Timmy's state-of-mind.

What about the person they would like to replace Hofer?  How long would it take before they turned on him?  Nobody's perfect and you cannot please everyone.  Fortunately, most people don't take it as far as Trooien did.  The attitude of these parents is:  If we win the game, "Good job, players"; If we lose the game, "what a crappy coach we have".  They've been that way for a long time.

Lastly, I do not believe that winning State Championships in High School will make you a success in life.  I DO believe that playing sports builds character & self confidence and teaches teamwork.  I also believe it is important for kids to learn how to lose.  That life is not always easy or fair.  Sports teaches them that hard work pays off.  But, they also need to be taught that they will not be good at everything and that just because they're a senior, they're not guaranteed a spot on the starting 5.

So, Dolphins, let's put this matter behind us and have a good season.  Good Luck!

[rabbitcoach]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

" I also believe it is important for kids to learn how to lose. "


LOL!!!  This is the funniest post out of all 90 right here!

[propar80]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

rabbitcoach,
You're obviously WAY to close to the minority side of this situation.

There's a good website for you to visit.   www.sdsportstalk.com
Check out the "high-school bball" section.
Your hike school style rants will go well over there.

This thread has become a sociology experiment in the mentality of the average "hard-core" S.D. high school sports fan.

P.S.  you're starting to embarrass yourself on this COLLEGE level fan board. :-[

[rabbitcoach]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

Propar80, I am not embarassed one bit for sticking up for my opinion based on personal "real life" experiences with the coach being discussed. Your right, this is a college level forum in which I am trying to voice my ADULT opinion! Thanks! I see this is your first post regarding this matter and nowhere did you take the time to voice your opinion regarding this matter, your only opinion mentioned was in regards to me personally! Last I checked this thread is about Hofer and the school board!

[rabbitcoach]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

And I believe I am entitled to my opinion whether I am "too close" to the minority side or not.....if you want a website designed to discuss issues but only want opinions from one side then I highly suggest you create your own website that does just that!

[BTownJack]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

Propar80, I am not embarassed one bit for sticking up for my opinion based on personal "real life" experiences with the coach being discussed.  Your right, this is a college level forum in which I am trying to voice my ADULT opinion!

Anyone in agreement with me that rabbitcoach is a long ways from expressing his opinions in an adult manner?  You may be an adult expressing your opinion but you're coming across as though your a freshman in high school.  Quit wasting our time with your rants, please!  The judicial system has taken its course, accept it and move on.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time


This whole deal is really starting to drag on and on!  

I move that this thread be locked!

Is there a second?

Moderators please use the powers vested in you to lock this thread!

SUPERBUNNY

[BTownJack]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

I second that!

[rabbitcoach]

Re: Parents not happy about playing time

BTownJack, its funny to me that in an attempt to degrade someone you have done nothing but make yourself look extremely inmature! I have never attacked anyone personally on this site. People were seeing one side of the story and had asked to hear more of the story from someone closer to the action. That is all I have done!