Proposal for letting success-starved athletic programs drop a class will go nowhere

That's the proposal to the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, developed by the athletic directors of Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Putnam City public schools, urban districts with teams in a variety of schools and sports that have no chance at simple competing.

And speaking of no chance, the proposal will go nowhere, since the OSSAA is ruled by administrators of small districts that have little interest in the travails of those from the big cities.

Not that the plan necessarily should be implemented. It's a faulty premise — schools that have open enrollment (public, basically) that have greater than 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunches and a winning percentage below 30 percent over three years would drop down a class.

That's not the American way. That's not working your way to success. That's more handout than helping hand.

But maybe it's the Oklahoma way. After all, our state adopted the new plan that requires private schools that reach a certain threshold of success to move up a class.

What's good for the gander is good for the goose.

Schools that control their enrollment have a clear advantage. Not just private schools. Magnet schools, charter schools, boarding schools. But the OSSAA targeted only private schools that succeed in a particular sport.

Which gave Oklahoma City's Keith Sinor, Tulsa's Gil Cloud and PC's Dick Balenseifen ammunition for the natural extension, to boost up public schools whose teams are chronic losers.

The original private school plan is fundamentally flawed. Schools should not be penalized for success.