New policy confusing

For the past 13 years I have had the honor of coaching varsity basketball at Schenck High School. I coached the girls team for several seasons and most recently coached the boys team. I am very proud of all my teams. I was informed by the superintendent of schools that my position was to be opened for applications and would be advertised as such and I was welcome to apply if I chose. This came as a real surprise since this same superintendent had told us coaches earlier that he wouldn’t “play games” with us at contract renewal time; he would simply make a recommendation to reappoint or not reappoint to the school board. I suppose technically I haven’t been fired, but without the confidence of the superintendent my chances of remaining coach are small.

I believe this situation developed because of a policy introduced this year by the superintendent and the school board. The foundation of the policy is that extra and co-curricular activities are an extension of the classroom and the participants should come away from those activities feeling they’ve had a “positive experience.” I believe those are worthy objectives and I also believe I have always followed them.

If coaching is to become an extension of the classroom then the coach must act like a teacher. A teacher first must define the objectives of the course and guide the learning process keeping the objectives in mind. Second, the objective must lead to a result that can be measured so that the performance of both teacher and students can be measured. The problem with our new policy is that the superintendent, principal, athletic director and even individual school board members presented the coaches with different, often conflicting objectives which created an impossible situation for me as coach. With so many different parties measuring results by their own standards, the coach is doomed to fail in someone’s eyes.

During the course of the season, I tried many times to get the new policy clarified by the administration. It was frustrating to say the least. I was told that quality playing time was a criteria. I was later told it wasn’t a criteria (and later by a school board member it was the criteria). I was told behavior of players and coaches in game situations was a criteria and later praised by the principal, athletic director and superintendent (he attended one game) for my efforts in that area. I could go on, but it gets boring.

I am very concerned for the future of Schenck athletics. As long as the athletic policies remain the way they are coaching is going to be very difficult. It is obvious to me that the rumors and opinions of fans, parents and others are given greater weight than the word of the coach. The superintendent said to me that he has heard many detrimental things about me from sources he would not name and he admits he cannot substantiate. I wanted a chance to refute these rumors but was denied, because in the superintendent’s opinion, “the perceptions of the community, right or wrong, become reality.” Those were his words.

Regardless of what happens to me, I want to thank the fans, teachers and administrators who have supported Schenck athletics during my tenure. Most of all, I want to thank all of my players. I admire and respect every one of you. Steve LeVasseur Medway

Loyalty saluted

To coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie: Loyalty is something. It is everything! Thank you. Richard Cosmos

Bangor

TV coverage lacking

I have never been so disgusted, disappointed and disgruntled with all three of our local TV stations as I was Monday evening.

All day they promoted the festivities at the Alfond Arena for our winning hockey team and the live coverage at 5:30 p.m. When they weren’t cutting to commercials, we had to listen to two reporters describing what was going on behind them when what we wanted to see and expected to see was live coverage as promised. The remote control helped to get around some of that since they were all at the same event.

During commercials we totally missed the tribute to Richard Britt and many of the players’ comments. If that weren’t bad enough, all three stations cut out completely at 6:30 p.m. promising “highlights at 11.” Is this what live coverage is all about?

Thanks to WZON radio we were able to hear all of the celebration at the Alfond Arena. WZON stayed to the end with their live coverage. Television will never totally replace radio! Carlista Winter

Old Town

Thanks to the Bears

To Shawn Walsh, his excellent staff and, especially, to the players who were so well conditioned – mentally as well as physically – and who had the heart and the will to succeed, thank you so much for giving us a truly great season.

And Alfie, you were superb! Without you we would have been an “also-ran.” I can’t wait until next year. Dick Mailey

Moosehead Lake Richard H. Mailey, Jr.

Greenville Jct.

Conduct deplorable

I want to be one of the many to congratulate the University of Maine hockey team, coach Walsh and all involved in the hockey program and their championship in the NCAA Tournament. What a thrill to see and I am so proud of you.

Next, I wish to express my disappointment with the few students who felt they had to destroy property to celebrate the win. I felt this was not a celebration but just an excuse to raise “H—.” They should be held accountable and made to pay for the destruction. They should be proud of their university and be beyond such actions. I say shame, shame on you. Lavon Harris

Milo