I consider myself fortunate to grow up with an educational experience from both public and private schools. I spent a majority of my elementary school years at a parochial elementary school in a small town in Alabama. I then transitioned to public school for middle school and one year of high school before enrolling in an all male prep school in Tennessee for my 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years. I call myself fortunate because I believe I was able to get a great education at each stop along the journey and also have a very balanced social experience. I had gifted teachers at all of my schools and still have close friends from each in my adult years. Perhaps it is because of my blended experience with both types of schools that I have never fully embraced the animosity that exists in so many communities between public and private schools, especially when it comes to high school athletics.

In so many communities around the country, there is no fiercer rivalry than a public school squaring off against a nearby private school. While the public vs. private conflict plays out quite differently in each state, there seems to always be an underlying tension between the two teams and their fans. Some state public high school associations do not allow any competitions between their member schools and private schools. Others allow it in the regular season but separate the schools for state competitions. A few still treat public schools and independent as relative equals. (An article written in 2014 by Scott Patsko lists how each of the 50 states handles the public/ private issue.)

The reasons for conflicts between public and independent schools in most states tend to revolve around three central issues with the third in this list being likely the most significant.

1. Selective admission (or “recruiting”) of student-athletes for private schools who have the ability to take students from any attendance zone

2. Disparity in financial resources for scholastic and athletic programming

3. Increased success and/ or a greater number of state titles won by private schools

The media in many communities loves to stir the pot for public/ private debates.  There is a great deal of resentment in many areas when private schools appear to have an advantage over public schools when it comes to winning championships.  There is nothing inherent about the structure of a private school that should really give them an advantage on the playing field, however.  As a matter of fact, at some independent schools where academic standards keep many highly talented athletes off the classroom rolls, the odds should be stacked against them.  So how do private schools excel on the field and in the gym?  While some may blame recruiting and selective admission policies, most often independent schools excel for the exact same reasons certain public schools excel – affluence and positive parent involvement. There is little doubt that many private schools have a financial advantage over their public school competitors when it comes to athletics. However, in most cases they have no more of an advantage than affluent public schools. A paper written in 2013 by Dr. Timothy Vick studied the relationship between school size, wealth, and district type to athletic success in public schools. School size and wealth were the two variables that appeared to be most highly correlated with athletic success.

The fact remains, given the current political and social climate in our country, public and private schools may need to be together on the playing fields more than ever before, if for no other reason than athletics is the one place where all of our students-athletes can connect and learn together. If high school athletics are truly educational, then administrators and coaches must be able to see the value in bringing our student-athletes together in the gym, in the pool, and on the field.

Consider the following statistics:

1. By at least one measure, income inequality is greater today than it has been at any time in US history since 1928.

2. Segregation based on not only income but education in our society was discussed in Murray and Herrnstein’s The Bell Curve published in 1994. A recent follow up with Murray showed that these issues continue to divide our country and in many cases are more pronounced today than at the time that controversial book was published.

3. Income gaps between racial groups continue to widen. The difference between the median household incomes of whites and blacks in this country is 40% larger than it was 50 years ago.

4. Our country is becoming increasingly segregated on political thought as shown in a recent article in the New York Times.

How do all of these dramatic macro issues relate back to the Public vs. Private athletic debate? While it certainly will not solve all of these divisions and unify our society overnight, the athletic field may be the one place remaining where all students can play games by the same rules. Students can compete, learn, and develop into men and women who will shape our country in the next generation. Allowing public and private schools to compete in athletics may be one of the few remaining avenues many of those student-athletes have to come in contact with one another. The opportunity to challenge and break stereotypes and prejudices is far greater than in any simulation that the schools could do on their own campuses. The line of scrimmage on the football field can be a great way for teens to learn how to handle success and failure. The handshake line at the end of a soccer game gives athletes a chance to connect, show respect, and communicate with one another. Given the social issues that challenge our country today, we may need public-private athletic competition more than ever.