Parent Post 1: I would like to apologize for the error in regards to the MS wrestling coach. The comments were not intended for him. I misspoke and I am sorry for that.   Yes, thank you to the parent that cleared that up.  It's unfortunate that your son has had such a negative experience with coach McGill.  Unfortunately, your son is probably not the only one that has had a negative experience.  Again, I apologize for my error.

Parent Post 2: A few days ago I posted a query about all the fundraising that seemed to be going on in a district that used to tout a no-fundraisers position.  I asked for some enlightenment, and that's precisely what I got.  So, to all of you readers and to the staff of the Post, thank you so much!  That's why this site works!  Keep it up!

Parent Post 1: I was appalled and disgusted when I read about the high school wrestling coach (Howington) and his coaching tactics.  This is simple NOT true.  He does NOT have wrestlers do military style push-ups.  These people who write in must get their facts straight.  

I was in the military for 12 great years and military push-ups do not require a person to perform a push-up with a person twice the size sitting on your shoulder blades, on the hot asphalt, and with your feet propped up on the curb!  By the way, according to this coach, if you can't do it because your knees are scraped and bleeding from the pavement, then you are a "Pu**y." 

My son was introduced to this coach a couple of years ago and this was the only time I have ever allowed my child to get out of a sport.    Military Push-ups.............How about Child Abuse!

Parent Post 2: I would like to express my feelings about the middle school wrestling coach.  I have been to all the tournaments to watch my son and have experienced first hand the character and coaching style of this coach.  I sit in the stands among all the parents and hear and know exactly what is going on.  Ninety-five percent of the parents love him.  We think he is not only a great wrestling coach, but it is obvious he cares about his wrestlers. 

He works EXTREMELY hard and EXPECTS a lot out of his wrestlers.  It is frustrating that 3 parents can write in to the post over and over to make it seem like the majority doesn’t like him.  Ask any parent and they will tell you what a great wrestling coach he truly is.  Ask the wrestlers themselves and I bet 100% of them will tell you they love wrestling for Coach McGill.  One parent told me personally that the wrestling coach gives up his planning to work one on one with her son in the weight room.  She went on and on about how terrific he is and how her son has really bonded with Coach McGill.  Ask the parents.  We all recognize that he came into a tough situation only to make it better!

Parent Post 1: I asked my son about his off-season coaches and routine again after reading the post from yesterday.  He was surprised when I said that I had heard some negative comments.  He had no idea what "military style" push-ups are (he demonstrated what they do in class - looked regular to me) and said that the off-season activities can be "hard" but "not bad."  He likes the class and has never had a bad word to say about it.  BTW - he\'s not the most talented athlete either, but played football this past fall (enjoyed it) and is playing soccer for DCMS this spring.    Did anyone recently read about the high school basketball coach at the (girls) state playoffs that was attacked by a parent because his daughter was not in the starting line-up? It is often a thankless job, coaching, and if parents have concerns they should be asking the coaches directly.    Just an observation... 

Parent Post 2: I have asked my child about Coach McGill and he thinks he is fantastic!  It was sad to loose Coach Draper but we have a winner in Coach McGill!  He doesn't tolerate a bunch of crap so kids that are used to getting away with everything, won't like him!  We need more teachers at the MS that are reasonable and don't put up with crap.  As for the fundraiser, I had heard that the reason the MS boys got the fundraiser late is because they did want to divide out the money to provide for the MS Baseball Field.  I am hoping this is true and would love to know for sure.
 

Parent Post 3: Shame on the parent who would write such hateful things about one of the coaches.  The DCMS wrestling coach is one of the nicest, caring, and compassionate coaches that my son has experienced in his time at DCMS.  Actually, he is one of the finest that we have experienced in our last 5 years of wrestling. I am so proud that my son was on a team where the kids are respectful, disciplined, and focused on learning more about wrestling. I have heard about the mob who is on a power trip to defame this man. They should be ashamed of themselves. This man has strong character and values and my son looks up to him as a mentor in life.  I believe that we had an undefeated regular season. What more do parents want than an upstanding man of character who loves his job and is able to teach our kids how to win? There are many of us who love what he has done for our children. At what point did this site become an attack machine on the very people who work so hard for our kids every day? Disgusting.
 

Parent Post 4: While I agree with your reply that fundraising is necessary and is here to stay....

I think you are missing something. Fundraising is an option to help.  Kids/athletes can not and should not be "required" to participate.

To the parent who asked:  the kids were told by the coach that they were "required to sell 10" - I asked a dozen or so kids before believing they really said it - and like the other parent stated in their post - they were told they were required to sell them as well.

Finally, while you know about band - maybe you don't realize how mistreated you really are.  Football, for example, is the most expensive sport to purchase uniforms for due to pads and helmets.

Does the school provide ANY of the money for uniforms for that?  Why don't they provide an equal amount to each school supported extra-curricular activity?

How fair is that?  Because your child plays in the band; they provide all of their own equipment?  Is it a penalty to not be an athlete?

This pertains to any other electives at school.  They should be treated equally whether they generate funds or not. 

As far as coaches go...I have to say that is a whole new subject not really related to this one.  But, I can say...I know of SEVERAL incidences that the wrestling coach has had with many different students.  I am shocked to hear about him as often as I have when I don't have a child who has him as a teacher or coach. 

HE IS HORRIBLE TO THE KIDS!  All I have to say is if he does any of the MANY things I have heard about to my kid:  I will sue the school district for allowing him to stay!  They KNOW about some very horrible situations and turned a blind eye.  One more way our school board spends our money so poorly - don't fix a problem until it triples our cost - like court would!

Parent Post 5: Several people have brought it to my attention; therefore I am taking it upon myself to resolve the major error Parent Post 2 reported about the MS wrestling Coach.  It is obvious Parent Post 2 meant the HS wrestling Coach.  Although we moved into the district three years ago, I am a very involved parent and my two boys tell me everything.  I have had a student at the middle school and one at the high school.  All of these characteristics reflect that of the HS wrestling coach.  He belittles, degrades, and ridicules them by constantly calling them “Mental Midgets” and making them do military push-ups that he has named after himself.  My child came home last year and immediately told me that he purposely kicked a kid’s wrist and broke it.  He later explained to the class that he was attempting to kick a ball. 

As Parent Post 2 stated, “Ask your child what they think or feel about this coach.  Bet you will get an earful.”  They will probably say the HS wrestling/MS football coach is an adult bully who barely understands how to play kickball.  As I have already stated, he evidently can’t kick a ball.

As for the real MS wrestling coach, he is awesome.  My son said he has worked harder this year in one week than all of last year.  This year he learned how to become a better wrestler through a variety of techniques while last year he learned how to be a better dodge ball player during so called wrestling practice.  This year, there was a terrific wrestling website that was always current and we actually knew when our child had a match, dual or practice.   There were even directions to every school. 

The MS Coach knows wrestling and how to motivate the kids.  My son looks up to him and has a lot of respect for him.  He has been a breath of fresh air for a program that was only successful because my older son, and his teammates, was exceptional athletes. 

The only regret I have about the MS wrestling program is that my oldest son did not have the opportunity to experience the current MS coach.  He is outstanding and should be commended on a terrific season! 

As for Parent Post 2, I do understand your slip-up being that the HS wrestling coach teaches at the MS.  I am just thankful that I caught it and “you are very welcome” in advance.  

Our Reply: As can be seen by the different responses it should be clear that with every coach there is going to be differences of opinions.  Some people are going to love the coaches while others will hate them. 

To parent post 3, while it bothers us that people will make such attacks the best part of the website is you get to respond and show that not everybody feels the way the attacker does.  This way other people can hear both sides of the story and make up their own minds.

To parent post 4,  we totally agree with you that fundraising should not be mandatory to participate.  We also know how inequitable the distribution of funds is amongst the co-curricular activities.  We just didn’t want to stray from the subject.  But I could write for days on the subject of why certain activities get more funds than others.  Band is not the only activity that requires the kids to provide their own equipment.  There is softball, baseball, golf, and we are sure many others we haven’t listed.

Parent Post 1: MS football players sell the same cards that the HS players sell, as well.  We were also told they had to sell 10 but found out after that 10 was not a mandatory thing.  You may want to clarify with the coach because we were kinda miffed that we bought a couple to make it to the 10 requirement only to find out we didn't need to.

Parent Post 2: I too have a son who will be playing baseball, and those are good questions to ask.

So why is it we received ours 3 weeks after the High School players?

And, do we get any of the proceeds from the fundraiser?  Since we at the Middle School do have our own program why are we selling to help the High School baseball program?

Which by the way in my opinion, the High School baseball program could stand to get rid of their Head Coach.  It's a shame that we have coaches in our district that have just sucked the wind, self esteem, and desire to play a sport from kids that have played ever since they were old enough to play. Coaching should be about teaching kids in a positive, up-lifting, encouraging way so that kids will have confidence in their abilities.  Not lack of confidence and self-esteem.  No, not every child is going to be a star.  However, we do not have to be degrading, belittling, ridiculing, or criticizing in such a way that causes kids to drop out of a sport because of poor coaching staff.

While we are on the subject of coaches, let's take a look at the way the new wrestling coach at the Middle School coaches.  He also has the off-season training session at the Middle School.

He belittles, degrades, and ridicules the kids that are wrestlers with his so called "coaching style".  He's another one that tears our kids down. The kids talk amongst themselves about how horrible is he.

Parents that have kids in the "off-season" training need to look at the excessive, and over the top things he is having these kids do. He has the same "coaching style" with these kids that he has with the wrestlers.

My goodness these kids are in Middle School.  He's treating them as if they were adults with the load he is putting on them.  Not to mention making kids do military style push-ups,(even those that are injured). 

Ask your child what they think or feel about this coach.  Bet you will get an earful.

I ask you is this the kind of coach we want coaching our kids.  Someone that is tearing our kids down instead coaching and  building them up in a positive manner.  I would hope not.

Our kids have a hard enough time in school with other all the changes they are going through, the social aspect, and peer pressure that our kids have to face on a daily basis, without having an adult/coach putting them down, ridiculing, and destroying their self-esteem.

His contract is up or due for resigning in April.  I hope he is told to hit the road and find a different career. One that does not involve our kids or any other kids for that matter. 

Parent Post 3: I love this site!

This morning, having gotten a little behind in my reading, I clicked on my News Favorites and read with much interest the Parent Post about the baseball fundraiser.  Perhaps it's not just my reading in which I've fallen behind; maybe I'm just completely out of the loop.  Perhaps someone out there can enlighten me. . . .

Several years ago we moved here from the Edmond Schools district.  One of my biggest complaints there was that literally on the first or second day of school, my kids came home with fundraiser stuff - wrapping paper, candy, Christmas trinkets - it was infuriating!  After a year or 2 of calling in favors from friends and especially family members who had older children from whom we had bought far too much "stuff", we called it quits and found other ways to contribute to our school.  Then we moved to Deer Creek.

One of the very first things I remember learning when we enrolled at Prairie Vale was that "we don't do fundraisers here."  No catalogs were sent home, no order forms, no requests at PTO for ideas about what to sell this year.  I was thrilled!  And we found plenty of other ways as a family to contribute time and resources when one or both were needed.  And for a brief time, that seemed to hold true, but only for a BRIEF time.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE????

We are, as all know, growing and growing and growing.  New taxes are being levied and collected every day.  By all appearances, we have so much money in this District that, among many other troubling items, the Superintendent got a big fat raise and a new car!!!

Why is it that nearly every weekly email from the principal talks about raising money for this and raising money for that??  Why are my kids bringing home flyers and pamphlets and, basically, "junk mail" about this group needs funds for this project and that group needs money for that activity??  Why do my kids occasionally have to pay to get into a function or sporting event at their own school??  Where is the concession money from all these events going??

I'm not getting it, and I like to think I'm pretty intelligent.  But it's gotten past me completely.  Does anyone know where things got diverted??

And to that Parent who posted, you may be on to something.  You cannot be compelled to participate in such a way as you described.  And you and yours cannot suffer any consequences as a result.  Whether you can afford it or not -- and neither could we -- your participation is a personal choice.  For me personally, if your understanding is accurate, I wouldn't do it just on principle alone.

I'd almost rather sell wrapping paper and chocolate bars.
 

Our Reply: We totally agree with all the parent posts that the fundraising can be annoying and frustrating.  But being so involved with the programs that my children are involved with we have a better understanding today about fundraising.  Let’s take the band program alone.  We have spent out of our personal pocketbook over $3000 for instruments( and are not done yet), we have spent over $1500 on band trips(and we are not done yet), we have spent over $1000 in private tutoring(and we are not done yet), and the list goes on and on.  We don’t think the school should be paying for any of these items so that means we have to pick up the tab.  We would rather the school spend the money on textbooks, buildings teachers salaries and such.

Now let’s talk about band uniforms.  The average band uniform is between $200-$300 a piece.  To outfit an entire band the cost is between $30,000-$40,000.  Who should be paying for this?  It would be nice if the school had the funds to do it but they don’t.  Therefore it is up to the band parents to help pay the bill.  How are we going to do it?  Through fundraising.  Would it be great if somebody, anybody just cut the school a check to pay for it?  Yes, but that doesn’t happen very often.

So when it comes to fundraising it is a necessary evil that will never go away.  Could the people responsible do a better job at communicating? Yes but it is not as easy as you think as most of you already know due to your involvement already.  Remember the other alternative is the school could shut down these programs and we wouldn’t need to raise any funds.

Instead of questioning the Superintendent's raise and car, maybe the question should take in the bigger picture. Is the school as a whole fiscally responsible? No it doesn't seem they are. If they were, would fundraising go away? No fundraising is here to stay. Are there other options to organizing fundraising as a whole for the entire district so that it would be less instrusive but raise enough money? Definitely and Toni Jone's elementary walk-a-thon was one great example of thinking out of the box that worked.

Now onto the comment about coaches.  Not everybody is going to like every coach and not everybody is going to agree with every coaching style.  Having played sports my whole life I never let anyone or any coach affect my enjoyment of the game.  If a child truly loves the game teach them to overcome the coach instead of letting the coach overcome them.  Easier said then done but it will be a lesson that they will use the rest of their lives.

The question on being required to contribute is more troubling still. Was the message that parents had to fullfill fundraiser goals deliberate or accidental? Is preferential treatment given to those who donate the most? We may never know the answers.

Parent Post:

Why are the MS baseball players expected to sell the HIGH SCHOOL fundraiser "coupon credit cards" when we are building our own field?  And if we are to share in funds.....why did we get these same cards 3 weeks after the high school kids - so all of our neighbors/mutual friends have already been hit up?  And supposedly, we are EXPECTED to sell 10?

And if we don't, we have to buy them! That is a direct quote from our Athletic Directors mouth!

Legally, I don't think they can say or do that can they?  I cannot afford $200 for one child’s fundraising event just because we are expected to sell the leftovers....

What is our district stooping to now?