This is the thread that keeps weaving on itself. A 101-0 result was enough blood in the water to bring me back. Nevertheless I resisted temptation and logged out again before becoming infected. Now I have to stay around because I am just dying to see all the responses to this letter.
Dear Old Boys
On Saturday, our 1st XV Rugby team had an outstanding win against Newington College that has attracted quite a bit of media attention and comment. The final score was 101-0.
Frankly, much of the media comment is either misinformed or simply incorrect.
As an example, earlier today I took a telephone call from former Wallaby Phil Kearns (1989-1999). He rang to let me know personally that his comments had been misquoted in the press. Not everything you read in the press or online is true.
Yesterday, the Headmaster of Newington College, Dr David Mulford, released a statement saying, "Such a score-line shows how good Scots currently are with their 1st XV Rugby team. Newington had been hit with key player injuries plus were affected with a major gastro attack in the last few weeks. However, Newington acknowledges the superb teamwork and preparation of the Scots team. Even if we had been at full strength, we would have struggled to be competitive in this fixture. Newington understands that sport can go in cycles. We will welcome Scots back to Newington for the round 2 fixture."
The press doesn't cover the complete picture.
So today I am sending you some relevant facts. Our own news service if you like.
Fact number 1:
It is a policy of the College Council that all new admissions to the College in Years 9 to 11 must be full fee paying (see the complete policy below). This policy has been recommended for adoption by all GPS schools, however to date Scots alone has implemented it. Importantly, as a result no new student entering the College in 2014 is representing the College in any senior GPS sporting teams.
Fact number 2:
There is no “strength mismatch” as claimed by former Wallaby Nick Farr-Jones (1984-1993). Mr Farr-Jones was not at Saturday’s game. In fact, on paper, the team from Newington College was stronger with six NSW Schoolboy Representatives, including one Australian Schoolboy Representative. The Scots team included five NSW Schoolboy Representatives including one Australian Schoolboy Representative. Regardless, the safety of our boys and that of our opposing teams is always our utmost priority.
Fact number 3:
All of our sport programs, including Rugby, support the academic focus of the College. In many instances our boys actually spend less time training than their peers at other GPS schools. Sport directors track the classroom effort by every boy to ensure that boys are achieving balance between the academic program and the sport program. Indeed our data reveals that boys in high performing teams average higher scores in their academic results. We will never let sport commitments compromise a boy’s academic achievement.
Fact number 4:
Scots is not professionalising schoolboy sport. We unashamedly aim for excellence in sport in the same way we aim for excellence in Music, Mathematics or any other subject. When a boy’s excellent execution of applying oil to canvas is recognised, we praise his skill as an artist. When a boy plans, and executes an excellent closing argument, we praise his skill as a debater. Our sporting teams are no different. They plan, practice and then execute with precision on the field. We recognise it for what it is – excellence in their chosen sport. It is not professionalism. If executing with excellence is being professional, then as a College that is a tag I am prepared to wear.
I write to you today as a proud and protective principal. I am proud of the way our 1st XV executed its plan during the game. But I am even more proud of the humility and respect they showed for the opposition before and after the game. I am protective of all our boys and will not allow shallow and misguided criticisms to be directed at them without rebuttal.
Yours sincerely
Dr Ian PM Lambert Principal
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Council Policy
Awarding of Scholarships/Bursaries
In an effort to ensure that The Scots College continues to maintain the highest level of compliance with the GPS Code of Practice, the College Council, with the consent of the Principal, adopts the following policy:
a. The Principal will in his monthly report provide to Council details of any new admissions to the College in Years 9 to 11.
b. All new admissions to the College in Years 9 to 11 must be full paying. No scholarships or bursaries will be awarded to enrolments for those years except within existing preferred categories of being sons/grandsons of Old Boys, sons of Presbyterian ministers or indigenous students. Care must be taken in awarding any such scholarship or bursary to ensure the GPS Code of Conduct is complied with.
c. Details of any proposed scholarship or bursary for an enrolment in Years 9 to 11 must be provided by the Principal to the College Council in his monthly report.
d. In special cases where there are exceptional circumstances, the Principal may recommend to Council that a scholarship or bursary be awarded for an enrolment in Years 9 to 11 who does not fall within the preferred category of enrolment specified above. In such a case the Council must approve the award of the scholarship or bursary and if the student has disclosed sporting talent, the Principal must notify the Heads of all GPS schools.
The Principal will ensure that all staff members are required to refrain from any conduct which could constitute a breach of the GPS Code of Conduct regarding enrolments. In particular, staff will need to undertake in their contracts of employment an obligation such as the following:
"I will not approach students from other schools, including offering any kind of inducement or third party consideration, to encourage them to seek enrolment at the College."
