The Leaguer USPS 267-840 The Official Publication of the University Interscholastic League VOL LXIV. NO. I AUGUST, 1979 AUSTIN, TEXAS Conferences offer early training Thousands of Texas high school stu­ academic champions," Marshall said. there will be no registration fee. The gional runners-up are eligible to apply dents will take the first step towards "Preparation for the contest is without sessions are free to all students and for TILF grants. possible successful careers in League doubt one of the most important factors teachers. Also, the State Board of Education academic and literary competition when in determining the various champions "We will have information at all con­ modified one of its administrative pro­ they attend one or more of nine student and these conferences are an excellent ferences concerning the Texas Inter­ cedures related to inservice days so that activities conferences, to be held at host means of preparing for the spring scholastic League Foundation scholar­ these conferences will count as inservice colleges statewide. meets. ships, which are awarded to selected credits. The student activities conferences are "I urge students and sponsors to at­ State Meet participants and to some re­ The board ruled that instructional designed to provide a trial run on sev­ tend the conference nearest them," he gional meet runners-up," Marshall said. workshops planned or sponsored by re­ eral contests, as well as furnish new added. "In June, we awarded more than gional education service centers, the ideas for competition training, said Dr. Instructional sessions in journalism, $185,000 in TILF grants and we hope Texas Education Agency, or other insti­ Bailey Marshall, League director. drama, ready writing, slide rule, num­ to build upon that in the coming years." tutions of higher education will count as All State Meet participants in League inservice credits. "We find these contests especially im­ ber sense, science and all speech events academic and literary events and all re­ portant to the student and contest spon­ will be offered. Some conferences will sor alike, who has the opportunity to also offer sessions in spelling. September 22 West Texas State University, Canyon meet with the state contest director and Information regarding the conference September 29 The University of Texas at Austin learn firsthand the practice techniques will be mailed to League schools in October 13 - Odessa College, Odessa suggested," Marshall said. early September. A special invitation October 20 _ University of Houston, Houston Demonstrations and practice tests are will be mailed to all schools in the con­ October 27 Midwestern University, Wichita Falls often given in order to give students a ference area approximately three weeks November 3 Sam Houston State University, Huntsville taste of actual competition, he said. prior to each conference. November 10 + Kilgore College, Kilgore "The student activity conferences are There is no limit to the number who November 17 + The University of Texas at Arlington training grounds for many literary and may attend from any one school and December 1 Texas A&I University, Kingsville TSSEC champs listed For the sixth consecutive year, Ander­ son High School of Austin won the Con­ ference AAAA Texas State Solo-En­ semble Contest Sweepstakes Award, collecting the highest number of points scored on the basis of Division I and Division II ratings for solo perform­ ances and Division I ratings for en­ semble performances. Winners in other conferences include Austin Westlake (AAA), Randolph of San Antonio (AA), Clint (A), and Val­ ley High of Turkey-Quitaque (B). Anderson HS Anderson students earned 28 Division I solo ratings, 48 Division II solo rat­ ings, and 12 Division I ensemble ratings. Lisa Cearley and Maria Valastro were named "Outstanding Performers." The music curriculum at Anderson in­ cludes intermediate concert, symphonic and honors band, intermediate, concert BAND CHAMPS—For the sixth consecutive year, the Austin Anderson High School band won sweepstakes in Texas State Solo- and symphonic orchestra, brass ensem­ ble, percussion ensemble, woodwind en­ Ensemble Contest competition. In fact, Anderson has won the award each year of the school's six-year existence. Principal semble, advanced guitar, mixed chorus, architects of the achievement include music directors Verda Herrington, Richard Watkins, Nancy Drifmeyer and Gary Glover. concert choir, music related arts and music theory. Music faculty members include Verda Herrington and Gary Glover (band), Blue chip stocks Nancy Drifmeyer (orchestra) and Rich­ ard Watkins (choir). Scholarship foundations invest in future Texans Westlake HS Westlake captured thev AAA sweep­ More than 260 Texas students will be "I think it goes without saying that were added to the list for the 1979-80 stakes honor for the third consecutive attending some 42 different colleges and we are greatly indebted to the individuals school year. They include: year. Its students earned nine Division I universities this fall, thanks in part to and foundations who have invested their —10 F. W. and Bessie Dye Founda­ solo ratings, three Division I ensemble financial assistance from the Texas In­ interest and funds in the young people tion grants of $500 each. ratings and 19 Division II solo ratings. terscholastic League Foundation. of Texas," said Dr. Rhea H. Williams, —Two Johnson Foundation scholar­ Kirby Corbitt was named an outstand­ This past year, the TILF awarded 140 TILF secretary and former UIL direc­ ships of $750 each. ing performer. new scholarships and renewed 120 more tor. —Five Permian Honor Scholarships The Westlake band has been featured for a combined expenditure of more "These persons have shown confidence of $1,250 each. at major conventions throughout the na­ than $210,000. Since its inception in in the extracurricular program of Texas The TILF scholarships are available tion and Japan, and was the Texas 1961, the foundation has awarded more and we feel their investments have paid to all state meet participants and re­ Music Educator's Association honor band than $2 million to deserving high school handsome dividends." gional meet runners-up. To be eligible, in 1974 and 1978. graduates. Williams said three new scholarships (See TILF, page 8) (See Champs, page 6) inside Music Summer camps Under attack Elsewhere This special issue of the The question over specialized Rather fight than switch ? Editorials page 2 Leaguer contains a full list summer sports camps is again That's the choice the UIL Journalism page 3 of solo-ensemble and sweep­ with us. Read the UIL view­ faces. Bailey Marshall com­ Drama page 4 stakes winners of 1979. See point on page 5. ments on page 2. Athletics page 5 pages 6, 7 and 8. News page 8 Page 2 editorials Director's corner Educational nature of League its strength By BAILEY MARSHALL nothing wrong with this, and we can nature of the program as well as excel­ activities for the others who do not wish League Director continue to push youngsters into spe­ lent activities themselves. to spend 12 months a year with one ac­ The schools of Texas, through the cialization, though they might rather be If we produce a student who is better tivity. efforts of administators, coaches, teach­ working, or vacationing, or participating adapted to our society, isn't that what We have the choice: To fashion the ers, laymen, students and college edu­ in other activities. we most desire? program for the talented few, or for the cators, have developed the strongest Coaches and directors often justify If our own goals are to produce the best masses. It is doubtful we could justify competitive interschool program in the their actions by contending that it is athletes for colleges, or the very finest the former program in the schools, giv­ world. what is expected and desired of them by performers for the various professional en the tax reform/accountability move­ The strength of this program is de­ community peers. But does the majority crafts, then we need to totally reorgan­ ments of the past few years. rived from the continued efforts of all of the community expect or desire that ize our contest structure. We need to So what is the answer: To change concerned to retain the educational and their children be ramrodded into a spe­ form a league for these competitors by amateur nature of the program. cialized program, or is it more con­ selecting from various schools those few our program to accommodate the col­ Professional athletics, music and dra­ cerned with having their children receive who have the ability to meet the highest leges, professionals and special interest ma activities have gained great interest the best overall education possible. of performance standards. We need to groups? Or fight to maintain the educa­ over the years. As support of these pro­ The latter should be our goal. It is en­ organize teams and competition for tional and amateur program we now fessional activities swelled, the pressure tirely possible to retain the well-rounded these few, and then organize interschool have? on public school people to make every effort to produce the outstanding per­ formers likewise increased. The same phenomena was observed in college ac­ tivities and the colleges added to the League official notices overall pressures by intensively recruit­ ing talented individuals in the various SAN ANGELO CENTRAL BOLES HOME school year for violation of Rule 9 of the specialized contests. The 5-AAAA district executive committee has Boles Home ISD has been disqualified for Basketball Plan. The results of high-pressure recruit­ placed Central (San Angelo) on probation for district honors in boys' basketball for the PERRIN HIGH the 1979-80 school year in one act play for vio­ 1978-79 season for violation of Rule 9A Perrin on the basketball list is listed as ing are ubiquitous.