FEB. 2
WEST CATHOLIC . . . DEPLETED AGAIN
   Due to academic/discipline probation the Burrs hoops program has YET AGAIN been besieged by mass losses. So, when the JV game began at 5 PM they had just five JV members in uniform. In order to have someone on the bench they had to take a varsity player. One problem – There’re only five of them left! Three are seniors, thus, ineligible for JV participation. That left Eric Brennan and Rob Holloman to sit on the bench. Here’s the kicker – These two players are the varsity captains!! Can you say? ONLY-IN-THE-CATH!!! I think the plan was for both kids to just sit there in case something happened to the five players on the floor. Something did! Bah was hit in the nose and it started to bleed, so E. Brennan was forced to go in. He scored two points in a brief stint. Amazing! By halftime, the freshman team had arrived back from a game at O’Hara and two players who usually dress JV were added to the bench. This allowed the varsity captains to join the rest of their teammates in the locker room. Underneath are some additional comments I have about the situation currently going on at West . . .
Huck’s Comments—
     I really don’t want to get into a long, drawn-out tangent about the problems I perceive there to be at my former school (West Catholic), in not only these days, but ongoing for many years now. I’m going to admit that it may not be my place. I haven’t spent a day during school hours in the building since I graduated. I’m not in the school on a day-to-day basis and I really don’t want to question the methods of the people (adults) involved without hearing their side of the story. I feel that would be totally irresponsible of me if I did. However, with that being said, I feel the need to release a little frustration and disappointment that currently overwhelms me about a school that I truly love.
     First, these comments have absolutely nothing to do with wanting to have a competitive, winning, or championship-contending basketball team. It goes much deeper than this. I believe that the academic/discipline problems the basketball team has felt are just a microcosm of what goes on throughout the school with many of their students.
     I have been assisting the basketball team in a statistical sense for nearly twenty years, going way back to my own time at West. Win or lose, I have and will continue to love every minute of it! Would I like to see the Burrs be a consistent contender for championships? Of course I would! I’m a fan and it would do wonders for the school. But my frustration now has nothing to do with wins or losses.
    Well, it’s the first week of February, which means its report card time at 45th and Chestnut. It’s also hold-your-breath time for the athletic programs and other school-wide activities. The Burrs basketball team lost three varsity players this week to grades. Not sure how many the JV lost. To date, Head Coach Bill Ludlow has lost AT LEAST seven players who played in a varsity game to academic/discipline miseries. A few other JV and freshman players have also been given their walking papers. Currently, the entire program has just 19 players left. Typically, you would probably see anywhere from 30 to 35 kids in a program.
     As an educator myself (Philadelphia Public School System – Elementary level) I’m fully aware that teaching and dealing with kids can be quite difficult. No one is ever going tell me that it’s an easy job. On occasion, and it’s unfortunate, you’re going to run into ‘bad’ kids and you’ll need to deal with these individuals in a serious manner. Sometimes in dealing with these kids you’re going to have to make a decision that’s probably not going to be all that pleasant. A school that promotes discipline and structure, along with  responsibility and accountability, are tremendous institutions in my opinion. We probably need more of them. This is not where my issue lies.
     Personally, I feel that West Catholic, in its every day operations, needs to have better balance in their methods, and without a doubt better and more DISCRETION when dealing with their students. The way one recent player was dismissed from the team because of a behavior incident just blows my mind. Did the kid need to be punished in some form? Absolutely! After looking at the facts, did he need to have 30 points taking away from his conduct grade (Was at a 96), therefore, putting him under a seventy and meaning he was now on conduct probation? Absolutely not! It’s called discretion and it needs to be applied and used on most occasions.
     Yes, losing kids to grades and discipline problems is inevitably going to happen. It’s a part of life. However, it is my opinion, that the rate it happens at West is borderline incomprehensible.  It’s mind-boggling and more importantly -- extremely SAD!
     If I went to the fifteen other schools currently playing in the Catholic League I could almost guarantee that they didn’t lose the amount of kids that West has combined. Combined!!
     OK, maybe it’s a bad year. Nah, hold on a second, this has happened every year at West for at least a half-dozen years now. And even before this, though it may have not been as bad, it has still been worse than any other school. Why??
     I’m not going to pin this terrible situation on just one person, or just one group of people. I believe there are many people that need to take responsibility here, including the students. However, I refuse to believe for one nanosecond that the kids walking around the hallways of West are any worse academically or more of a discipline problem than the kids patrolling the corridors of other Catholic high schools. I refuse to believe it! Not at this staggering rate at least!!
     Something serious is wrong with this picture and it needs to change. It’s not about having a good athletic team, it’s about saving lives. And if you think for second that throwing kid off a team or out of school doesn’t affect their development and potentially their path in life, then you are sadly mistaken.
     Again, and though it pains me to say this, but some kids are inherently bad and some just can’t handle the academics/discipline components of a Catholic school. I understand this! But it shouldn’t be at the level of what I see at this school. It just shouldn’t!!
     If these kids are that bad, then don’t accept them in the beginning! Don’t take their money. Tell them I don’t think West Catholic is for you. It’s not fair and it’s not right!
     I have heard disappointing stories of the amount of failure warnings and actual failures some of the teachers have submitted over time. Not saying some probably weren’t well-deserved. However, as teacher myself, I would have to seriously question my own capabilities if I had this many kids in danger of failing or actually failing.
     In the end, I just want West Catholic to survive and be a productive school for the young people who choose to attend it. It was a great place for me and I would love to see it be a great place for others.
     I don’t think it’s a lost cause and with a little bit of change from all involved, I think it can be a successful, nurturing, and rewarding place for EVERYONE.
     I know I said I wasn’t going to go on and on, and it seems like have, smile! However, West and its existence are very important to me, and I just would like to see it become a better place for the students here to learn, develop, and be more successful.
     I’m not sure how many people with West ties will read this. For those who do I’m sure some will applaud it, some might frown upon it, and for some maybe a light will turn on. In no way did I write this to upset people, but only to make people aware and for change to possibly come.
Thanks!
Ed “Huck” Palmer

Your Comments . . .

Hello Sister Mary,
      My name is Matt McCauley.  I am a graduate of
West. (1989).  I absolutely love West Catholic and
have been a supporter since my days as an elementary
student in Southwest Philly.  We were brought up on
"West" and its pride and history.  To this day I still
bleed Blue and White, and follow the school and its
alumni.  I am in attendance for most (if not all) of
the football and basketball games.  I continue to fill
up with pride whenever I see or hear of West's
successes, whether it be inside or outside of the
classroom.  I  know a lot has changed since my days of
walking the halls of "The Boy's school".  However, one
thing has NOT changed.  This is the LOVE and pride my
friends and family have for "The West Philadelphia
Catholic High School". 
    I am a middle school teacher in the Upper Darby
School District.  I have been teaching and/or
coaching at some level for over ten years.  As a supporter of
the school and its athletic programs, I am
EXTREMELY disappointed with the situation regarding the
student/athletes.  As a teacher I know fully what kids
are like.  There are some GREAT kids and some truly
"BAD" kids, with many in between.  Granted, I haven't
been in a West Catholic classroom for almost twenty
years, however, my teaching/coaching experience has
given me some perspective on the current situation at
West Catholic.  A very close friend, a columnist on
a local high school sports website, has expressed what
MANY of the West Catholic extended family have been
feeling for the last few years. 
     I do not  mean to be out of line or disrespectful
to you, Sister, Brother Tim, the faculty, or the
staff.  I have met you and Brother Tim on several
different occasions. I see that "Our school" is in
good hands.  I realize that two of you have only the
good of West Catholic on your minds.  It is not my
intention to "slam" the school and its operations. I
just would like everyone involved to know that there
are people out there concerned.
   In closing, I fully endorse following posting, and
hope that you consider it in the right spirit and its
message of heart-felt loyalty to West Catholic. 
   I wasn't able to get Brother Tim's e-mail address.
 Could you, please forward this to him and Mr. John
Jackson, as well.  Thank You.
Sincerely,
Matt McCauley  '89
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Hi Huck:
         I agree with you 100% about the standards that they put in at West!  As a West grad
myself ('63) I notice every year that they always seem to lose a large portion
of athletes to either academic or conduct problems!  It seems that during
football season, every year, they seem to lose a few starters during playoff
time.   I would like for one person to name ONE other school who holds their
student athletes to the same standards as West does?  This school has to realize
that some of these kids only way to better themselves is through the athletic
programs.  If they would realize that they would know that there is hope beyond
academics.  The student enrollment at West has changed an awful lot since the
days you and I went there and also has the environment that these kids
grow up!
  As you do, I will always love West for what they did for me but at the same time
I'm very disappointed that they haven't changed with the times!
  In short, hopefully things will change, which I doubt, but I want you to
know that I agree with you 100% on this subject.  Keep up the good work!  I
enjoy your insight on the catholic league, especially when it comes to West
football!  Take care!
Bill Lacomchek
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Huck, 
  Not sure what the problem is at West and I'm not going to begin to
guess because I am not there. But I do know that as a West BBall
alumnus I was embarrassed to read the Sat DN about the academic
problems at west. I agree with your rant on TS.com that something needs
to be looked at to dissect the problem....Everybody needs to take
responsibility in the Matter. The Students, The coaching staff and the
faculty. Like you, I care about the Bball program and would like to see
a competitive team put on the floor night in and night out.... 
  One solution is to have an academic advisor for the programs that
monitor their progress and if the student needs help they can tutor
them or whatever. This way everybody knows where the student athlete
stands and there is no surprises come mid term...Just my two
cents.....I'll talk to you later...... 
-- Mike Carlin, '91
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