Position Statement Regarding the Promotion of National High School Championships
The Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) believes interscholastic athletics are secondary to the academic program of schools and are partners with schools non-athletic activities in providing students opportunities to develop loyalty and school spirit, to practice teamwork, hard work, discipline, sacrifice, leadership and sportsmanship and to gain lifetime appreciation for the arts, sports, and a healthy lifestyle.
The Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) believes that the proper philosophy of interscholastic athletics emphasizes participation by many, not for a few, and academic scholarship in high school, not athletic scholarships to college.
The Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) believes that to promote competitive equity and a program that is educational in both its means and its ends, the policies and procedures of interscholastic athletics must be determined by school representation, not by courts, legislators, or commercial interests.
The Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) believes all Michigan secondary school principals should oppose the formation of national tournaments for high school athletics. The MASSP Board of Directors urges all school districts to resist efforts to enlist their support for, and participation in, these tournaments.
The Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) believes the National Federation of State High School Associations should continue to oppose the development of such national championships.