Homeschoolers Not Welcome at Spur MTB League

[PygaSchmyga]

ek is afrikaans broer....wat de moer het jy nou gesê... :)

hy se jy praat k@k!

[s14phoenix]

2c...This is whole issue is blown way out but like always this forum likes a good schoolyard fight. 

 

 

I think the series should be a kids series for a particular age group - not "school" kids. Maybe the whole school thing should be dropped from the name and the series. True that there are schools hosting the events etc. which is great but this should not dictate the exclusion of any kids. Hats off to Spur putting their name on something so good for this sport as there is not much support out there lets be honest.

 

Everyone should be allowed to compete no exclusions - we want to cultivate the best of the best and most talented/hardest working - whether schooled, home schooled , school less , homeless... what does that matter? 

 

 

The End.

[Thor Buttox]

2c...This is whole issue is blown way out but like always this forum likes a good schoolyard fight.

 

 

I think the series should be a kids series for a particular age group - not "school" kids. Maybe the whole school thing should be dropped from the name and the series. True that there are schools hosting the events etc. which is great but this should not dictate the exclusion of any kids. Hats off to Spur putting their name on something so good for this sport as there is not much support out there lets be honest.

 

Everyone should be allowed to compete no exclusions - we want to cultivate the best of the best and most talented/hardest working - whether schooled, home schooled , school less , homeless... what does that matter?

 

 

The End.

I said that ages ago, and was told I missed the point (by someone I normally agree with on most things and to be fair there were some relevant issues).

 

But I am beginning to think children should be banned. Would definitely solve this home-schooling thing.

[Rolling Stone]

If your kid is that competitive, just bring them to the track.

Many more medaling opportunities at regional, national and International level.

We don't mind home schoolers .

 

I really hope you guys get this sorted. We need kids on bikes.

Hijack off.  I just cannot help myself.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

2c...This is whole issue is blown way out but like always this forum likes a good schoolyard fight. 

 

 

I think the series should be a kids series for a particular age group - not "school" kids. Maybe the whole school thing should be dropped from the name and the series. True that there are schools hosting the events etc. which is great but this should not dictate the exclusion of any kids. Hats off to Spur putting their name on something so good for this sport as there is not much support out there lets be honest.

 

Everyone should be allowed to compete no exclusions - we want to cultivate the best of the best and most talented/hardest working - whether schooled, home schooled , school less , homeless... what does that matter? 

 

 

The End.

The whole point of this is to get it adopted as a SCHOOL SPORT. Like rugga, cricket etc. 

 

That's the entire point of it being a SCHOOL series. 

 

Yeah, it's a *** one. A really *** one. Girl wants to compete, but cannot as the numbers in GP restrict entries to schools only. 

 

However - this should never have called the legitimacy of homeschooling itself into question. It's an alternate learning track to "normal" schooling. And not in the "alternative medicine" way, either. 

[LeoKnight]

So my question, what will cause this thread to reach a conclusion?  

- By itself?

- By Admin?

 

Because all sides (and the middle) seems to have very strong differences in opinion so getting everyone to agree will for sure not happen.  Just asking if this thing is going to make it to a second friday.

[Lexx]

[Kranswurm]

The whole point of this is to get it adopted as a SCHOOL SPORT. Like rugga, cricket etc. 

 

That's the entire point of it being a SCHOOL series. 

 

Yeah, it's a *** one. A really *** one. Girl wants to compete, but cannot as the numbers in GP restrict entries to schools only. 

 

However - this should never have called the legitimacy of homeschooling itself into question. It's an alternate learning track to "normal" schooling. And not in the "alternative medicine" way, either. 

You have hit the nail on the head.Home schooling is not a school.

I don't see where the principle of homeschooling was called into question tho

[s14phoenix]

The whole point of this is to get it adopted as a SCHOOL SPORT. Like rugga, cricket etc. 

 

That's the entire point of it being a SCHOOL series. 

 

Yeah, it's a *** one. A really *** one. Girl wants to compete, but cannot as the numbers in GP restrict entries to schools only. 

 

However - this should never have called the legitimacy of homeschooling itself into question. It's an alternate learning track to "normal" schooling. And not in the "alternative medicine" way, either. 

 

Then why have a different set of rules in different regions??? - that should never have happened and yes it is *** but where this differs from the other school sports is that there are plenty of clubs and club leagues where the kids play soccer, rugby, cricket, tennis etc etc  and have a chance to compete in their age group.

 

What should have happened from the start is to let all kids compete but where on the entry form you enter your school name etc there should be a "other" option and if there is a benefit to the school having kids compete then in these cases the funds or whatever just goes to cycling development and in entering you agree and understand.

 

Now that would be a more understandable model and one I think would have had much less objection or opposition.

 

It's ok to get the schools involved but let all the kids in.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

You have hit the nail on the head.Home schooling is not a school.

I don't see where the principle of homeschooling was called into question tho

some have intimated that it wasn't, but that's a viewpoint for another day. I sure as hell wouldn't want to homeschool my kid! Joh, that's dedication right there. Rather leave that to people who do it all day every day (and who should be paid better than they are)

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Then why have a different set of rules in different regions??? - that should never have happened and yes it is *** but where this differs from the other school sports is that there are plenty of clubs and club leagues where the kids play soccer, rugby, cricket, tennis etc etc  and have a chance to compete in their age group.

 

What should have happened from the start is to let all kids compete but where on the entry form you enter your school name etc there should be a "other" option and if there is a benefit to the school having kids compete then in these cases the funds or whatever just goes to cycling development and in entering you agree and understand.

 

Now that would be a more understandable model and one I think would have had much less objection or opposition.

 

It's ok to get the schools involved but let all the kids in.

There's already an answer for that - numbers. GPO has faaaar more people contending, and Meurant (a dude I trust implicitly) has said that they've just had to make it that way to manage numbers. 

 

Or, rather we're looking at it the wrong way. Instead of GP excluding HS'd kids, maybe we should trust Meurant at his word that the other provinces made a concession to allow more numbers in to their series to make it more competitive. 

[Kranswurm]

some have intimated that it wasn't, but that's a viewpoint for another day. I sure as hell wouldn't want to homeschool my kid! Joh, that's dedication right there. Rather leave that to people who do it all day every day (and who should be paid better than they are)

The school provides a lot more than just teachers....

Home schooling is a mighty challemge

My sister is the academic and  Cambridge head at a large school in the Cape.The home schooling students have challenges with regards to the practical side of subjects like Science etc.

Anyway that is not what this is about.

[Andrew Steer]

I think the series should be a kids series for a particular age group - not "school" kids. Maybe the whole school thing should be dropped from the name and the series. 

So just make it like every other one of the 600 events on the calendar...???

 

You have missed the point completely. The whole point of the series is to get schools involved in cycling. To get cycling into schools thinking and budgets. To get kids who cycle recognised at school level. And it's working... One age cat at a Gauteng Schools XCO is bigger than our Nationals. 

 

I tried to give insights earlier, since I actually work with one of the driving forces of this series on a daily basis and have spoken at length with him, but was told I was just guessing, so I'll leave this one up to the experts. 

 

No issue with home schoolers, but this series targets schools and is built around qualifying the top school teams for the finals.

[Paddaman]

Then why have a different set of rules in different regions??? - that should never have happened and yes it is *** but where this differs from the other school sports is that there are plenty of clubs and club leagues where the kids play soccer, rugby, cricket, tennis etc etc  and have a chance to compete in their age group.

 

What should have happened from the start is to let all kids compete but where on the entry form you enter your school name etc there should be a "other" option and if there is a benefit to the school having kids compete then in these cases the funds or whatever just goes to cycling development and in entering you agree and understand.

 

Now that would be a more understandable model and one I think would have had much less objection or opposition.

 

It's ok to get the schools involved but let all the kids in.

If you had even read the OP and the link on the OP you would have known that each province has its own conditions for including or not including primary schools and HS.

 

In Gauteng, the High Schools were instrumental in establishing and developing the league, It was a case of BY THE HIGH SCHOOLS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLS.  This and the large number of participants made Gauteng unique regarding not having a primary school catergory and not having HS pupils.  HS was exclude from the start because they were not participants at the start.  They metaphorically were not at the station when the train left.

 

In the other provinces HS and primary schools were included partially because of less numbers and partially because already established events were incorporated into the league, thereby in the spirit of fairness, those who were competing at the start were not disadvantaged by the incorporation of these events.

 

Thus, the requirement for HS pupils to be included in the Spur High School League is a NEW requirement for the league, and will have to be processed through the correct channels, and agreed upon by the members of the league (ie High Schools and organisers).  For thisto happen the request will have to be measured against the purpose of the league, and also against the organisational capacity of the organisers and the objectives of the sponsors.

 

At the moment HS does not embrace the objective of the league, secondly the organisers are battling with current numbers and lastly, te sponsor wants to access a demographically diverse market group.  So, even if HS get their hearing, it is rather obvious that their first move gambit may have been a blunder.

 

Lastly, please stop using the "for the kids" argument, it is emotive, irrational and shows a total lake of maturity.  Rather say "for my kid at all costs, I don't care about other kids losing their access, just so that my kid can participate".

[ChrisF]

So just make it like every other one of the 600 events on the calendar...???

 

You have missed the point completely. The whole point of the series is to get schools involved in cycling. To get cycling into schools thinking and budgets. To get kids who cycle recognised at school level. And it's working... One age cat at a Gauteng Schools XCO is bigger than our Nationals. 

 

I tried to give insights earlier, since I actually work with one of the driving forces of this series on a daily basis and have spoken at length with him, but was told I was just guessing, so I'll leave this one up to the experts. 

 

No issue with home schoolers, but this series targets schools and is built around qualifying the top school teams for the finals.

 

Thank you Andrew.

 

THIS is clearly topic in its own right !!

 

Looking at Oudtshoorn it is good to see how the schools actively promote cycling as a school sport.

 

In Cape Town ... NOT so much !!!  Most schools still thinks athletics is the only sport that does not involve a ball of some sort .....

 

 

I trust our school will be added to the SPUR list on Tuesday.  After which we will contact the parents and try to get more to participate in this event ... all small steps towards getting cycling as another school sport.

 

 

 

Yesterday we had 6 primary school kids at Meerendal.  One kid of about 6 or 7 years old was a real natural, and left the others way behind, and even managing to CLIMB some steep hills.  Two older kids could not even remotely match his skills !

 

 

Absolutely brilliant what SPUR has done !!

 

 

THANKS.

[Andrew Steer]

Thank you Andrew.

 

THIS is clearly topic in its own right !!

 

Looking at Oudtshoorn it is good to see how the schools actively promote cycling as a school sport.

 

In Cape Town ... NOT so much !!!  Most schools still thinks athletics is the only sport that does not involve a ball of some sort .....

 

 

I trust our school will be added to the SPUR list on Tuesday.  After which we will contact the parents and try to get more to participate in this event ... all small steps towards getting cycling as another school sport.

 

 

 

Yesterday we had 6 primary school kids at Meerendal.  One kid of about 6 or 7 years old was a real natural, and left the others way behind, and even managing to CLIMB some steep hills.  Two older kids could not even remotely match his skills !

 

 

Absolutely brilliant what SPUR has done !!

 

 

THANKS.

 

It's a real challenge to get Mtb into traditional schools... even my own school, where one of the teachers is a Munga/Cape Epic rider - no real interest. They focus on what they have, what they have been successful with, what the majority of parents and learners want... there is also the challenge of finding budget, teachers to manage/drive it etc - and then of course pupils not already tied up in the myriad of other sport offerings. 

 

It will require a whole mindset change, but the sport really is great for kids, it combines co-ordination/skill required with the traditional discipline of doing the training... we will get there, especially with the help of companies like Spur.