[Hoot Gibson]

Most states do have publics separate from privates. If they don't they do the one plus rule. That is if you have the numbers for 1a and you are private you play 2a. You all know this is an unfair practice and the only reason it is allowed is because the private schools have pull in the legislative bodies of this state.

I have already given you two examples of states bordering Kentucky where large public schools dominate their private counterparts. West Virginia is a third example.

Kentucky's 6A public school teams are much weaker than the large public schools in Indiana field. Trinity and St. X would both struggle in most years to compete in the conference with public school teams from Warren Central, Ben Davis, Carmel, and Center Grove. Kentucky's large public school teams would go years without beating the top public school teams in Indiana.

When state athletic associations isolate private schools in their own divisions, it just sends a message across the states that public schools are inferior. I just don't understand why Kentucky taxpayers want to broadcast that message instead of finding ways for their local schools to improve and compete both academically and athletically with private schools. Other states have done it and there is no reason that Kentucky should not be able to do the same.