Trust, understanding, vision lacking in divided LHSAA

Perhaps my favorite music artist of all-time is Billy Joel.

The pugnacious, sharp-tongued piano man is a poet laureate of American music for my lifetime, writing about human experiences and the emotions we all experience.

One of his hit singles in the 1986 was “A Matter of Trust.”

Appropriately, the song was an album titled “The Bridge.”

The Bridge to unification in Louisiana High School athletics has collapsed.

The words of the song certainly ring true when considering the plight of the membership, specifically, the principals of the LHSAA.

“In my opinion, it’s dead.”

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Those words uttered by LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine were substantive, striking and sobering when he replied Friday morning in Baton Rouge to any effort of any kind to end the split among so-called non-select and select schools in Louisiana. Bonine has tried on many occasions to provide a pathway for reunification. As a former baseball pitcher, he understands the concept of a shutout and those efforts have laid a goose egg.

Despite some enthusiasm and encouraging words leading up to the vote that Class 5A might vote to reunite for the first time in full since 2013, principals of those 5A schools thought otherwise.

According to Ryan Gallagher, principal of Brother Martin High School and a member of the LHSAA Executive Committee, the vote came very close to passing.

Gallagher confirmed to CrescentCitySports.com that the margin was 34-30 against coming back together in basketball but it was not close in football, baseball and softball, where the margin to reunite lost by 10 to 15 votes across the board.

This occurred, despite the persistent chatter and conversations with school officials over the past month about the proposal having a real shot at passing.

In the words of the age-old nursery rhyme, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.”

The bond between public and private schools in Louisiana remains broken and may remain that way for the foreseeable future.

It is a matter of trust. Consider the song words.

“Some love is just a lie of the heart, the cold remains of what began with a passionate start. And they may not want it to end. But it will it’s just a question of when.”

While I am not sure that “love” would be the proper word to describe the relationship between public and private schools prior to 2013, there were certainly amicable, amiable, even authentically good relations between many of the brethren on opposite sides of the spectrum. Many didn’t want those days to end but as relationships eroded between schools, it was only a question of when, which arrived in 2013.

Now, we have the cold remains of what was once a united organization, what once determined true champions.

There are no true champions in the LHSAA, anymore, in the sports mentioned. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial.

“I’ve lived long enough to have learned. The closer to the fire the more you get burned. But that won’t happen to us. ‘Cause it’s always been a matter of trust.”

I have certainly lived long enough to watch high school sports for over six decades and to cover prep sports for over four decades. Every time it felt like there may be a solution in the past nine years, that thought was incinerated. It happened. There is a total lack of trust among many on opposing sides of the issue.

Then, as Genesis, another great band that I have loved for a lifetime sang, “there must be some misunderstanding. There must be some kind of mistake.”

Private schools are convinced that public schools simply misunderstand them and what their mission purpose and goals are, how they operate and what they strive to accomplish.

Public schools, in some cases, are convinced that they understand private schools completely, how they operate and they do not like it in any shape or form.

“It’s hard when you’re always afraid. You just recover when another belief is betrayed. So break my heart is you must. It’s a matter of trust.”

The fear of being overwhelmed by private schools on playing fields is real among some public school brethren (not all). Just when there is movement, when minds are starting to be opened again, sanctions are levied against private schools over the past year which betrayed those positive thoughts and the hearts of private schools were broken again, as evidenced Friday.

“You can’t go the distance with too much resistance. I know you have doubts. But for God’s sake, don’t shut me out.”

The resistance is real. The efforts to come together simply has too much negativity and resistance. The doubts persist. The private schools remain shut out.

“This time you’ve got nothing to lose. You can take it, you can leave it, whatever you choose. I won’t hold back anything. And I’ll walk away a fool or a king.”

Gallagher and private schools had nothing to lose Friday. They went into the class meeting with only themselves to compete with and left with the same. The public schools left it as it was by choice. As The Main Ingredient told us, “Everybody plays the fool. There’s no exception to the rule.”

The main ingredient lacking Friday was the courage of conviction of some principals to consider the greater good, as opposed to the good of the one, the “I, me” approach.

“Some love is just a lie of the mind. It’s make-believe until it’s only a matter of time. And some might have learned to adjust. But then it never was a matter of trust.”

As one private school athletic director told us, he has many friends on the public school side and felt those good relationships would carry over into a positive vote. Those friendships evaporated as soon as those athletic directors and principals stepped into the ballroom to vote Friday. It was strictly a fantasy to think they would change their minds. It was simply a matter of time until the time came to vote.

Now comes a potential adjustment with the lack of trust existing.

What will private or “select” schools do?

If they are smart, they will consider a few viable options.

The first is to reduce the number of classes from four to three to provide a reasonable facsimile of a real playoff bracket in the four sports as compared to the failing farce of a playoff bracket which currently exists, denying the student-athletes the opportunity at new, extensive, totally encompassing competition and not being cheated out of playoff games.

The second, and nuclear option is to bond together and to decide to withdraw from the LHSAA.

That is a growing sentiment among some coaches, administrators and fans of private schools who have grown more and more disgusted with the split and what they consider to be discrimination against their schools and taxation without real representation, paying the fees to be part of the organization and not reaping the benefits that their public brethren do.

All things considered equal, we hope that does not happen but fully understand and respect the sentiment.

Of course, private or select schools have opted to play championships separate and apart from their non-select brethren, aside from Division IV football which voted to continue to play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The clear purpose and rationale is to have an opportunity to make more money.

“I’m sure you’re aware, love. We’ve both had our share of believing too long. When the whole situation was wrong.”

There is no more love. That was lost nine years ago. The belief in each other is long gone with the majority feeling the situation was simply wrong to continue as one organization with a singular championship for each classification, regardless of being public or private in distinction.

“Some love is just a lie of the soul. A constant battle for the ultimate state of control. After you’ve heard lie upon lie. There can hardly be a question of why.”

The kind words and platitudes extended from public to private and vice versa ring hollow. To the soul of the matter of working things out in harmony, there is no sincere, deeply woven desire to do so. That is simply a false premise. Ultimately, each side wants control, ultimate control, and the public schools have the numbers. There is no question why we are where we are at this point in time.

It’s a matter of trust.

There are two sides which simply do not have that, whether one does and one doesn’t is debatable but does it really matter?

As a private school educated person, I greatly value how that education which my parents, who were hard working, middle-class individuals helped choose for me, has prepared me for life and provided a solid foundation and platform from which to make a solid, not wealthy living for my beloved family.

As a private school educated person, I greatly value the public school system as a whole, how it strives to provide a positive learning atmosphere for those who believe in and cherish public education and for those who cannot afford private education.

Both entities serve an important, imperative, intelligent purpose in the lives of all Louisiana citizens, all Americans.

I have been blessed to be in so many public and private schools in my career of work and have seen an enormous number of wonderful educators, administrators and coaches on both sides who love what they do and love helping shape the lives of young people.

Perhaps the concept of open enrollment for all schools is feasible.

In that scenario, parents can truly choose where to send their children to school and those public schools which do an excellent job will survive and thrive while those that do not will stall and fall.

That is exactly the case in private schools. Those which are perceived to provide the best education, social experience and spiritual experience attract a large number of clientele while others struggle.

Keep in mind that there are several public schools that are “choice” schools, either classified as non-select by the fact that many students come from many areas outside of where the schools reside.

As such, we have three tiers of schools in Louisiana, including traditional public schools, which draw strictly from their narrow (in many cases), mapped-out areas.

There are magnet and charter schools which can attract students from outside of their drawing areas.

There are private schools that can draw from anywhere.

There are solid eligibility rules already in place within the LHSAA regarding athletic participation if you do not live in a school’s district.

The “R” word will always dominate the conversation as a divisive issue.

All schools, private or public, recruit.

The difference is in how extreme or how passive that recruiting effort is.

If you are not trying to get students and student-athletes to attend your school, you are not doing your job very well.

As I have said for many years now, the issue is always follow the money.

It is all about how much parents pay for a student-athlete to attend a private school.

If that tuition is too hefty for a family that is not in the middle class or upper class category, chances are that that student-athlete will end up in public school.

As I have advocated, put a cap on the amount of financial aid can be allowed on a percentage basis since private schools have different tuitions. When those tuitions are paid, they are paid by credit or by check. If there is any question about a particular individual and whether they are paying or how much they are paying, it would be easy to track.

The LHSAA has done a considerably better job, ramping up its investigatory process and its sanctions in the last few years, many of which we have reported on. Violators, in the majority, came from the private school population but some notable ones came from the public side as well.

As an eternal optimist with an eternal perspective on life and life after this body breathes its last, I would love to believe that the effort to find a way back together will continue and may still happen.

As a realist with an understanding of the times we find ourselves in and the mindset of many locally, regionally, statewide and even nationally, I believe that the effort to accomplish reunification is very challenging, a long shot to occur, though you never say never.

As a pessimist, which I am not, the realization is that we are nine years down the road from separation and there are still hard feelings.

I continue to wonder why there is no split in volleyball, wrestling, soccer, golf, tennis or even bowling since private schools clearly dominate those sports and dominate the championships? I truly wonder why, given the hostility in other sports where public schools actually compete and compete very well with private schools.

We live more and more, day by day in a polarized society with the mindset of love or hate. Civility has eroded significantly, if not totally disappeared from the narrative of discussion or in actions taken.

That is truly a sad state of affairs and commentary on where we are and it is reflected by the split in athletics in Louisiana. Rather than find solutions, we find fault.

While I was taught to never say never, to have an open mind and to be understanding and respectful of others, I continue having a hard time understanding why different points of view cannot be constructive, productive and instructive, rather than destructive.

Different points of view are good. Debate is encouraged. Continuing dialogue is essential. Listening is as important as speaking.

Try to correct the understanding.

Be transparent and paint a clear picture of the vision.

Never give up.

It can happen.

But then it has always been a matter of trust.

There is no misunderstanding.

There is no mistake.

There is no exception to the rule. Perhaps I was a fool to believe it could happen.

I have and will always respect both sides of the equation and those advocates on both sides, providing they are respectful, as I strive to be daily.

Make no mistake about it, public schools do not feel that the playing feel is a level one and like being apart from private schools and building more trophy cases to utilize.