To the editor:

At this time, the public and private schools across Missouri are voting on a proposal that will reclassify the private and parochial schools. Public schools see this as a way to level the playing field.

As a long-time follower of prep sports, this is not a good idea. Public schools feel the private-parochial group is recruiting or gaining athletes outside their boundries. A petition, which started in northwest Missouri, has enough signatures to force a vote. It proposes multiplying the private-parochial enrollment by 1.35. How the 1.35 multiplier was arrived is a big question.

The Missouri State High school Activities Association has sent ballots to its member schools regarding reclassifying schools. Votes have to be in by May 4. There may be some detremental long-range effects. Many athletic directors feel it may pass. It would go into effect with the 2002-03 basketball season and 2004 for football.

In Cape Girardeau, Central will stay 4A, whether it passes or fails. Not Notre Dame. Beginning this fall, ND is set to be a 3A school. If the proposal passes, it could bump them to 4A. If Eagle Ridge joins MSHSAA, they are too small to be effected.

This accusation is not new. It seems to surface every time a non-public school wins state in an athletic event. When Steve Stipanovich and DeSmet won consecutive basketball titles there were charges. When Rockhurst won state in football, everyone complained.

On the public school front, some of the things that were said about Jefferson City when it won 72 straight football games can't be printed in a family newspaper. When several of the better St. Louis athletes were bussed to the more affluent county schools, there were charges of recruiting.

If schools are breaking rules, it seems the MSHSAA should do better checking. This is not a good proposal and will hopefully be defeated.BOB EVANS

Cape Girardeau