The Leaguer USPS 267-840 The Official Publication of the University Interscholastic League VOL LXIV. NO. 2 SEPTEMBER, 1979 AUSTIN. TEXAS Rules 'not applicable Opinion clarifies foster child bill Poster children assigned to homes by fail to meet a durational residency re­ state agencies or judges are not bound by quirement. League rules governing attendance, resi­ "On the other hand, a foster child who dency or transfer matters, the result of has been with a family for a period of action by the Legislature and Attorney time may be subject to being declared in­ General's office. eligible in the same manner as any other The Legislature passed and Gov. Bill child if the family with whom he has Clements signed a bill (S.B. 1218) intro­ been placed moves to a new district. duced by Sen. Grant Jones of Lubbock "Section 6, the attendance rule renders which stated: ineligible for participation in a League "A child placed in foster care by an contest a person who has not attended the agency of the state or a political sub­ school for 30 calendar days immediately division shall be permitted to attend the preceding the contest or since the first public free schools in the district in day of the second week of the school year. which the foster parents reside free of A child may attend tuition free the public any charge to the foster parents or the schools in the district where he resides or agency. No durational residence require­ where his parent, guardian or other per­ ment may be used to prohibit such a child son having lawful contol of him resides. from fully participating in any activity "Thus, in the usual case, school atten­ sponsored by the school district." dance in a district is based on residence Passage of the bill itself superceded there. In our opinion, the attendance rule the Leagne's residency requirements, but constitutes a durational residency re­ questions remained whether a Lorena quirement when imposed on foster chil­ youth, for whom the bill was written, dren whose nonattendance in school re­ would be eligible under the prior partici­ sults from their nonresidence in the pation rule (Art. VIII, Sec. 14). district prior to placement with the foster parents there. In an opinion released August 14, the "However, it would not constitute a Attorney General ruled the League rules durational residency requirement as ap­ did not apply in the case of foster chil­ plied to foster children who move into a dren at the time of the placement, even new school district with their toBter par­ when the previous residence was another foster home or an orphans home. ents subsequently to placement with them. The opinion states in part: \ "Section 13, which provides a one-year "In our opinion, the law) reaches du­ waiting period for students changing rational residency requirments that take schools if the parents reside outside of a form other than the straightforward the school district or school attendance NUMBER ONE—Scenes such as this are indicative of the emotion high school foot­ requirement of physical presence in the zone, is clearly a durational residency ball evokes statewide, and of the quality photography entered into Interscholastic district for a set time period. We be­ requirement as applied to foster children lieve the statute is designed to apply to who change schools upon placement with League Press Conference contests. This shot of Pat Ray (top) and Mike Chapman students at the time they are placed in a foster parents. However, a foster child was taken by Howard Castleberry, a 1979 graduate of L B. Johnson High School in foster home. Thus, a foster child could who changes schools by moving with his not be disqualified from participation in Austin and freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. foster parents after placement with them interscholastic activities when his place­ would still be subject to section 13. ment in the foster home causes him to "Section 14 provides a one-year period of ineligibility in football or basketball for a student who changes schools after having represented another school in that sport. Like the 30-day attendance rule, 'Dough' boys this rule imposes a durational residency requirement on a student who changes Foundation donations surpass $2 million srhools because he has changed his resi­ dence. It may not be applied to students This fall, 250 young Texans will at­ liams said. "Fortunately, there are a The Permian Honor scholarships will who change schools due to placement tend colleges and universities, with the number of individuals and foundations be four grants of $1,200 each, to be dis­ with foster parents. However, it can be financial assistance of Texas Interscho­ in Texas who are interested in the young bursed over a four-year period to stu­ imposed upon students who change lastic League Foundation scholarships. people of the state, and willing to invest dents attending Howard College, Mid­ schools by moving with their parents TILF awarded scholarships, valued at in their futures." land College, Odessa College, Western after placement." $233,650, to 141 graduating seniors and During the past year, the Founda­ Texas College or the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The Attorney General ruled that renewed 109 scholarships worth more tion has expanded its list of contributing "agency of the state" included all state than $85,400, said Dr. Rhea Williams, foundations and associations to 22, with Other contributing foundations and instrumentalities which assign students TILF secretary. the addition of grants awarded by Philip individauls include Diamond-Shamrock, to foster homes, including the courts. Since its inception, the program has R.'Jonsson Foundation of Dallas, two two awards of $500 each; Clark Foun­ Forms have been mailed to member granted 3,110 scholarships worth more grants to be awarded next year by Paul dation, 60 awards of $1,000 each; Ham- schools from the UIL state office. These than $2,468,800 to outstanding Texas L. Davis, and four grants sponsored by man Foundation, two awards of $500 forms should be completed on all foster high school graduates, Williams added. the Permian Merit Scholarship Founda­ each; and Houston Endowment, 20 children prior to approval of the eligi­ "We started in 1959 wtih one $250 tion. awards of $1,250 each. bility of the students by the respective grant," he said. "Through the dedicated The Jonsson Foundation will present Also, King Foundation, 14 awards of district executive committee. efforts of a group of individuals, TILF two scholarships of $250 to be awarded $1,000 each; King Endowment, two Questions should be directed to the has been built into the outstanding pro­ to a participant in the UIL science con­ awards of $1,000 each; Welch Founda­ League office. Also, if it becomes apparent gram it is today. test and one journalism contest partici­ tion 15 four-year awards of $1,000 per that the administration of this law tends "We may never have enough money to pant. year; and Beckman Number Sense to create inequities or undue problems award scholarships to all eligible stu­ The Paul L. Davis scholarships will be Award, one grant of $1,000. to create inequities or undue problems, dents, but we will not stop trying," Wil­ $500 grants to two students. (Turn to TILF, Page 8) please notify the League office in writing. inside Critics Back-sliding Fair comment? Elsewhere Whose interests do those who Slip-sliding away. John Cog- The student press should de­ Editorials page 2 criticize the UIL have in dell discusses the final year of velop fair editorial coverage, Journalism page 3 mind? Dr. Bailey Marshall slide rule competition, and and avoid mistakes of its Music page 4 comments on page 2. what lies ahead. Page 8. professional counterparts. See Drama page 5 page 3. Athletics pages 6-7 editorials Page 2 Director's corner Critics should know philosophy of program By BAILEY MARSHALL sional athletes but rather to provide a Solicit the support of education- public with what it has and what it League Director program of equal educational competition oriented groups in your community, and stands to lose, if special interest groups The public school competitive program for the majority of students. inform your public of the goals, the are allowed to play havoc with the rules Likewise, it is not the vocal parents, has come under some criticism in the structure and the philosophies of the and regulations our educators have set the college or professional coaches or forth. not-so-recent past. But just who are those Interscholastic League. We have a good making the most noise? even the public school coaches of the in­ So, we can sell our program, which will dividual activities who set the philosophy program—the finest of its type in the Is it the vocal parents who want their result in public concern and intelligent, and objectives of the League. Certainly, nation. It is not by accident that Texas' children to excel in a certain activity? Is constructive criticism, or we can stand it professional coaches and directors? each group has some input in League extracurricular program blossomed into back and allow special interests and Overzealous fans and out-of-school business, but it is the school administra­ its prominent role. "amateur" competitive directors and tors—those responsible for the overall It's high time we start bragging on other lobbyists decimate what others coaches? Sports writers and other media educational program—whose responsi­ ourselves a bit in order to acquaint our have worked to build. representatives? Or is it our own school bility it is to keep the program in line administrators, coaches and students? with its original purposes.