Shaun Green Posted May 9, 2018 Author Posted May 9, 2018 Mr Green, surely your child can just go compete without you having to stress yourself over this issue at events that cater for her specific condition? Without trying to now change it for the sake of it for your kid? Is it really that important in the short or long run?Homeschoolers, including my daughter, do participate in many of the other MTB races. It has gotten to the point where we are also questioning whether this is worth the effort for our daughter. Probably not. Not for her only. But for the sake of others the answer is: yes. It is always worth it to stand for change in the face of unfair and unnecessary discrimination. It is worth it for all of us. Better for the Spur Brand, better for the organizers, better for the sport. Those who would like to sign a petition, please do so here:https://www.change.org/p/spur-steak-ranches-allow-participation-of-homeschoolers-in-the-spur-mtb-league Thank you all for your contributions so far. It is appreciated!
Kalahari Vegmot Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 Homeschoolers, including my daughter, do participate in many of the other MTB races. It has gotten to the point where we are also questioning whether this is worth the effort for our daughter. Probably not. Not for her only. But for the sake of others the answer is: yes. It is always worth it to stand for change in the face of unfair and unnecessary discrimination. It is worth it for all of us. Better for the Spur Brand, better for the organizers, better for the sport. Those who would like to sign a petition, please do so here:https://www.change.org/p/spur-steak-ranches-allow-participation-of-homeschoolers-in-the-spur-mtb-league Thank you all for your contributions so far. It is appreciated!Signed. Come on Hubbers!
V12man Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 True that... Parents get pretty ridiculous when they feel the need to live through their kids... The reason I ask is, Mr Green has made the decision to homeschool his kid. Which is great, for whatever personal reasons. Now he's trying to incite a change simply to accommodate his kid... To me, it seems the school series is set up so that schools can compete, not children... When I played schools rugby, we couldn't have homeschooled kids play with us just because... I dunno. It would be nice for event organisers to explain themselves, BUT to hold spur to ransom because of their sponsorship is exactly what our sport does not need as it will simply turn their attraction to sponsorship off... Mr Green, surely your child can just go compete without you having to stress yourself over this issue at events that cater for her specific condition? Without trying to now change it for the sake of it for your kid? Is it really that important in the short or long run?You don't have kids do you? Just keep it that way.
Butterbean Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 Homeschoolers, including my daughter, do participate in many of the other MTB races. It has gotten to the point where we are also questioning whether this is worth the effort for our daughter. Probably not. Not for her only. But for the sake of others the answer is: yes. It is always worth it to stand for change in the face of unfair and unnecessary discrimination. It is worth it for all of us. Better for the Spur Brand, better for the organizers, better for the sport. Those who would like to sign a petition, please do so here:https://www.change.org/p/spur-steak-ranches-allow-participation-of-homeschoolers-in-the-spur-mtb-league Thank you all for your contributions so far. It is appreciated!But why is it discrimination? They've decided the conditions under which a participant may participate, and it's your choice on whether to do so... 2018 is crazy... We feel like we must force the issue everywhere... Boy scouts now allowing girls to participate... Do we just fear exclusion for the sake of exclusion, or what is it really? When I grew up, there were activities I couldn't do because I hadn't yet met the conditions of participating... I didn't try change the conditions, but tried to meet them instead. You decided to homeschool, you can't now express butthurt cause your child got excluded? Just do the other events and allow her talent to shine through where it needs to.
Stretch Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 You are completely correct - and this principle must prevail. There is, however, at least a question to be asked, as follows: If the Spur league is set up in a particular way, and the needs of literally ONE kid were not anticipated when setting it up, then WHY SHOULD the whole thing be changed to accommodate a single participant? Let me be the first to say that I do not know enough about how the series works, but what is actually at stake in changing the rules to accommodate a single disgruntled participant? Can we dial back the wailing and tearing of sack cloth for a second? This pitch fork reaction is typical hub mob outrage, and yes, very sad that a young girl is prevented from participating, but what happened to the greater good argument? How many kids have benefited from this series? What risk to the entire series is presented by accommodating outliers? I have not read the answer to this in any of the commentsIt's not complicated at all. A homeschooled school that does not compete in the school's competition but where individuals can still fight for on the day positions. There was also a comment made earlier about it not being fair that a homeschooled kid could train all day....well boohoo that's called competition
Vermooten Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 Another thing to keep in mind about Gauteng specifically - the number of participants at these races. They had to split the province in 3 sub groups this year because the tracks cannot physically accommodate 200+ kids racing on a +-4km lap. These routes are laid out on and around school grounds, with a lot of singletrack. Its quite difficult to pass a [not yet skilled] kid stuck in singletrack on his/her Makro[spur] bicycle- it causes a lot of frustration for the more serious riders. Now throw in another 50odd serious homeschoolers into the already super crammed track...CHAOS I have other issues with this league- giving every rider a point towards their school for just starting the race. This is to "promote the sport" but how demotivating for schoolA with 10 good riders competing with schoolB who pitches with 70+ riders (75% of which are just there to get 1 point for their school and their main goal is to strategically slow down the riders behind them) Like many previous posts said; rather take your daughter to the usn,xco,Trailseeker,SAcups and spare her [and yourself] the frustration. The level of competition and competence at these races are much more worth it!
Lexx Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 Done Signed. I fully agree with the OP. Why can't a homeschooling kid not enter the race. If it's already happening in the WC,the president have been set. It makes me de moer in when I hear stories like this. The poor kid just want to ride and have fun. But my guess is that some or other "Click" at a big JHB school prob said they dont want those type of kids in the race. Its all about their Image...
MDJ Posted May 9, 2018 Posted May 9, 2018 But why is it discrimination? They've decided the conditions under which a participant may participate, and it's your choice on whether to do so... 2018 is crazy... We feel like we must force the issue everywhere... Boy scouts now allowing girls to participate... Do we just fear exclusion for the sake of exclusion, or what is it really? When I grew up, there were activities I couldn't do because I hadn't yet met the conditions of participating... I didn't try change the conditions, but tried to meet them instead. You decided to homeschool, you can't now express butthurt cause your child got excluded? Just do the other events and allow her talent to shine through where it needs to. Consider that you could be home-schooled due to many reasons i.e. medical (injury), psychological (sensory overload, bullying etc), distance from school, relocating too much, and yes a legally permitted choice etc etc. The point is the child and sometimes their folks do not have a choice in the matter - by banning something outright you take away the ability for someone to 'tried to meet them' ... that is what's unfair. I think the people banning someone who is home-schooled forget that it could be their child at some point. Setting the bar high is one thing, banning a child from an "open" schools event due to something they may have no control over is discrimination. So yes as much as 'you tried to meet them', how's about helping/supporting someone else "get a chance" to do the same. I'm sure their are complexities around points, abuse etc - but an outright ban as per the entry rule front-page is discriminatory. Petition signed and Facebook feedback added.
Kranswurm Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 You don't have kids do you? Just keep it that way.What kind of a comment is that??
Gen Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 Another Now throw in another 50odd serious homeschoolers into the already super crammed track...CHAOSIsn't that the point..the grow the sport at youth level? If it is getting too big for the trails then do it the same way all sport is done...have district leagues or pools and have run it as a round robin top 2 schools from all districts go through to next round ... it's really not too complicated.. Add in a homeschool as an affiliated school and tada..everyone rides there bikes and development starts happening...and in 6 years time we have a thread title that says "SA XCO athletes dominate u23 level" instead of "Where are all the SA junior riders" Signed and shared... I can not believe that the one excuse was that homeschooled kids can train more... that's like telling *insert successful school name here* aren't allowed to compete in *insert sporting discipline here* because they train better/have better fascilities and have access to better coaches than other schools. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
Jewbacca Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 hahahaha They are KIDS. Being excluded because adults decide it because it might make things 'complicated' really sucks. In AR you are only an official team if you are 4 with at least 1 lady. Teams of 4 men CAN enter, they just don't get an official position. Pairs too. Same thing. They can still compete, they just don't get world series points. I actually can't believe people are turning this around telling the OP he must just 'suck it up and walk away'... If that were the attitude of everyone we would still have slaves and women wouldn't be allowed to vote
King_Crispy Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 If that were the attitude of everyone we would still have slaves and women wouldn't be allowed to vote****, I wish. Imagine how good life would be?
hubbernero Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 I can't help but think what Ariane Lüthi, as a Spur Schools MTB ambassador, must think of this. The founders want to include more girls apparently, as per below... https://www.netwerk24.com/ZA/Worcester-Standard/Sport/spur-schools-mtb-invite-girl-riders-to-open-day-20180321-2
Loose cog Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 I am amazed that there are still people out there supporting the spur brand. Amazing!
GLuvsMtb Posted May 10, 2018 Posted May 10, 2018 #Boycott SpurAnd WHAT?! Lose the sponsorship all together?! We need to think further than our noses people. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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