[lchsalumnus]

It drives me crazy when I hear about schools offering in school elective weight lifting class. It is no wonder much of the states schools rank so low academically. I love sports and think it is great for kids to be involved with, but academic classes need to be taken during school hours and sports before or after school. Highlands is a top tier program whose kids take college prep courses during school hours and lift before or after school. As a parent of a top KY athlete, I can not believe any parent would put sports ahead of academics; what a disadvantage your are doing to your child by not preparing them the best academically as possible. I still say part of the reason HHS is so good in sports is they have smart kids who are able and willing to be coached. The same could be said for St X, Trinity, Beechwood, Cov Cath.

what is wrong with weightlifting class? nothing. schools offer advanced levels of history, math, and science classes for those students who are heavily in to academics and all that. what about the player who is a marginal student, a C+ student at best. Should he take the calculus and trig classes? what if he is a great athlete and COULD get in to college with an athletic scholarship, whereas he would not if it depended completely on his academics?

my point is that these type of classes (ex. weightlifting) serve a purpose, just like the upper level math and science. preparing for the next level, whether it be academics or athletics. it is ONE CLASS. it doesn't fill up a schedule.

and for discipline, when the principal (it is not "principle") steps in and says "he can play" then you have a problem. in my opinion no principal should ever dictate who is eligible and who is not. the coach should decide. if he wants to add more to the school's conduct codes, that is his decision. the players should respect the coach and themselves enough to follow the coach's code of conduct.