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The disturbing rise of "academies"


badrouter

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It is clear there is a rise in these "Academies" that purport themselves to be almighty in the hopes of persuading teenagers to sign up. That they pose as actual schools as well represents an attack on public education. Actually, it is an attack on private education as well in a sense. Schools that have been around for decades and have been held to the highest of standards and placed under significant scrutiny are now being challenged by new "schools" that are ran, often, by novices. American Collegiate Academy in Clearwater, Florida is an example. The school director, who is the person who created and served as the director of the athletics program, does not appear to have a college degree and is currently an UNDERGRAD at the University of Tampa. There is an attempt made to portray him as having a degree from Columbia, but a little digging reveals that he merely holds a certificate from a six course, online-only "Sports Industry Essentials" program.

linkedin profile for school director, ACA

The extension program certificate in sports from Columbia

I think a lot of self-described "free market champions" are inclined to support these kinds of schools popping up because they only see an increase in competition. "What could hurt?", they ask. Lost in all of that is the fact that, quite frequently, the people in charge of running schools are not the least bit qualified to run a school.  Should any parent want to send their kids to a "Collegiate Academy", whose vision includes rhetoric about " ...in order that they may be better prepared for the rigor of “higher education.” ", when the SCHOOL DIRECTOR himself has not yet earned a bachelor's degree? I'm certain he has a wonderful smile and an AMAZING handshake. So, he's probably really persuasive for some folks. 🤑

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6 minutes ago, badrouter said:

It is clear there is a rise in these "Academies" that purport themselves to be almighty in the hopes of persuading teenagers to sign up. That they pose as actual schools as well represents an attack on public education. Actually, it is an attack on private education as well in a sense. Schools that have been around for decades and have been held to the highest of standards and placed under significant scrutiny are now being challenged by new "schools" that are ran, often, by novices. American Collegiate Academy in Clearwater, Florida is an example. The school director, who is the person who created and served as the director of the athletics program, does not appear to have a college degree and is currently an UNDERGRAD at the University of Tampa. There is an attempt made to portray him as having a degree from Columbia, but a little digging reveals that he merely holds a certificate from a six course, online-only "Sports Industry Essentials" program.

linkedin profile for school director, ACA

The extension program certificate in sports from Columbia

I think a lot of self-described "free market champions" are inclined to support these kinds of schools popping up because they only see an increase in competition. "What could hurt?", they ask. Lost in all of that is the fact that, quite frequently, the people in charge of running schools are not the least bit qualified to run a school.  Should any parent want to send their kids to a "Collegiate Academy", whose vision includes rhetoric about " ...in order that they may be better prepared for the rigor of “higher education.” ", when the SCHOOL DIRECTOR himself has not yet earned a bachelor's degree? I'm certain he has a wonderful smile and an AMAZING handshake. So, he's probably really persuasive for some folks. 🤑

Agree 100 percent with what you say.

The trend is disturbing. The schools and the tactics are disturbing and being disguised as a "free market" option.

But what is really the worst- Is the people CHEERING on these schools and these behaviors. They have no respect for anything or anyone. It is truly sad. It is like cheering on the big banks and big companies to make billions while you sit on the side and make zero. Bizarre way of thinking.

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The world of K-12 academics, and HS sports, reminds me a little of the drinking/card game "asshole". You play according to a set of rules, but then when someone wins, they can make a rule where the "asshole" has to give them their two best cards. The "asshole" now has to try to win having given up their two best cards. If you're just sitting around a card table with friends and getting drunk, who cares?!? Apparently, the difference between a card game for drunks and the education of children is lost on many of the more desperate glory-seeking adults.

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The smartest people on the internet don't exactly hang out on this forum...you can't possibly expect them to care about any of this stuff.

Take a look at the PrepNation HS Basketball poll for kicks and ask yourself who are 10-11 of those schools?. lol

That will be HS football soon enough.

 

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45 minutes ago, 954gator said:

Not a big fan of academies.   I find it funny none have been able to win a MNC yet.  MD and SJB might take transfers but will never be considered academies and they’ve both been around for a while.

Yep. They are real schools. We have no reason to believe their athletes are held to a different standard.

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26 minutes ago, GardenStateBaller said:

Need to lump SFA in with MD and SJB above. IMG (the only real academy as of today) hasn't won a MNC to date because its schedules have been very difficult for the most part. Since 2104, IMG only has three losses. To SJC, MD and SFA. If they played slappies in those three games, they could have 3 MNCs they their credit at this point. But kudos to them for taking on the best annually!! 

IMG went undefeated in 2016 and 2017 with the best 2 teams in program history and didn't get a single share of a national title

 

Why do you think their weaker teams in 2014, 2018 and 2019 would have gotten it while being undefeated???

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1 hour ago, RedZone said:

The smartest people on the internet don't exactly hang out on this forum...you can't possibly expect them to care about any of this stuff.

Take a look at the PrepNation HS Basketball poll for kicks and ask yourself who are 10-11 of those schools?. lol

That will be HS football soon enough.

 

And you are probably the most idiotic poster on this entire forum

 

Go back to being a bitch on those Louisiana small school private boards while real posters on here talk football you parasite

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27 minutes ago, GardenStateBaller said:

Need to lump SFA in with MD and SJB above. IMG (the only real academy as of today) hasn't won a MNC to date because its schedules have been very difficult for the most part. Since 2104, IMG only has three losses. To SJC, MD and SFA. If they played slappies in those three games, they could have 3 MNCs they their credit at this point. But kudos to them for taking on the best annually!! 

Looking around, it appears as if there are many more academies out there than we assumed. Of course, most are worthless losers like ACA in the original post. But, people are sure trying. There's the other academy in Clearwater which played at Elder as well. And, I haven't looked into this Life Academy that's had a few high profile games, but they sound like another one as well.

Taking on the best of what? High school football? I'm failing to see where some of these academies deserve mention as high schools.

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27 minutes ago, frankyjames said:

False.

Most people now consider them academies. This is a fact. Kids attending there are NOT attending for academics...especially the ones from out of the area, which represent a large majority. 

They have stacked their sports rosters with players from all over, and in a way very few schools ever realistically can do. But, they are not in the same category as these pop-up academies run by pathetic adults who want their mugs on ESPN for playing some other stacked team. They are real schools, firmly established and thoroughly vetted/scrutinized. 

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Just now, badrouter said:

They have stacked their sports rosters with players from all over, and in a way very few schools ever realistically can do. But, they are not in the same category as these pop-up academies run by pathetic adults who want their mugs on ESPN for playing some other stacked team. They are real schools, firmly established and thoroughly vetted/scrutinized. 

I agree for the most part. However, there is still very little difference in the two. 

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1 minute ago, frankyjames said:

What is "real" to you?

Academies? 50 plus recruit privates?

Tell us what is real to you. :) 

Real is football that is discussed for what it is

 

Not some glorified spam of why a few schools in a tier 3 state are great and then stalking a poster thread to thread because they tell you that your college team isn't the greatest team ever assembled and your so insecure you need that college team to win to make yourself feel relevant like that clown redzone does every day

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