I recently read an insightful article by Bill Halsten discussing the compensation of high school football coaching in Oklahoma. While the article primarily focuses on coaching salaries, it briefly touches upon the topic of musical programs.
It’s worth exploring how the compensation of band directors in Northeast Oklahoma compares to their athletic counterparts and non-competing band directors, considering the high caliber of their programs and successful participation in national competitions. Oklahoma high school football coaching.
One aspect that I wish the article delved into further is the student-to-coach ratios in athletics compared to classroom ratios. Taking assistant coaches into account, the numbers provided in the article suggest that athletics have an extraordinary ratio of 5-to-1 or even lower. This means that there are approximately 500-600 athletes supported by 130-135 coaches. In contrast, classroom teachers typically handle 20-30 students each.
Another aspect worth investigating in this article or a future piece is the examination of other costs and expenses. It seems likely that the per pupil expenditure for equipment and supplies in athletics is disproportionately high compared to classroom expenditures.
Just imagine the positive impact on our schools if teachers enjoyed lower student-to-teacher ratios, allowing every child to receive the individual attention that athletes receive. Furthermore, what if teachers were compensated based on higher standards of performance?
Additionally, providing teachers with the necessary equipment and supplies to excel could significantly enhance their effectiveness. And lastly, what if academic achievements were celebrated and acknowledged with the same enthusiasm as athletic accomplishments?