I received several e-mail messages from a parent who was unhappy with UIL. While this is not an uncommon occurrence and addressing such concerns is an important part of my job, much of this parent’s frustration was due to inaccurate information.
He was under the impression that UIL offered team competition only in the art and music memory contests. This is not the case. Along with art and music memory, UIL offers team competition in calculator applications, dictionary skills, listening, maps, graphs & charts, mathematics, number sense, science, spelling and, of course, the oneact play contest.
The district executive committee for the UIL district determines which contests are offered at the district meet. It may choose to offer all competitions, but it is not required to do so.
As this parent communicated with the campus coordinator, he continued to receive inaccurate information. After the League receives the participation card for a school, we mail a copy of the A+ Handbook, which contains all rules pertaining to elementary and junior high contests to the campus coordinator. The Constitution & Contest Rules is posted on the UIL web site at http:/ /www.uil.utexas.edu/admin/rules/index.html.
The Leaguer, the UIL newspaper which contains information regarding UIL activities, is posted at http:/ /www.uil.utexas.edu/leaguer/index.html. Every UIL coordinator and coach is responsible for knowing the rules for UIL events, and disseminating this information to contestants and parents.
If a copy of the A+ Handbook has not been mailed to your campus, call me and find out if your campus is registered. I can easily remedy the situation. Give the web site address to parents, and let them print the rules. No child should be left to discover the rules after he or she participates in a contest. Such a situation is a formula for failure, and creates the type of frustration experienced by the parent who contacted me. Having the rules clearly understood prior to the contest makes everyone’s job easier.
Another great web link to give sponsors and parents is http://www.uil.utexas.edu/forms/newrule.html, which is the address for the form to propose a new rule or a change to an existing rule. As all educators know, parental participation is vital to student success, and allowing parents to be part of the UIL process is a great way to nurture their interest. Input from sponsors, administrators, parents and students is integral to the success of the UIL program. Let’s just make sure that people aren’t frustrated due to lack of accurate information.
I hope most of you have had or will have positive UIL experiences this year. You certainly are participating in greater numbers.
The number of registered campuses for the 2002-2003 school year has increased from the 1999-2000 school year by almost 800 schools. You are doing something right out there!
I hope all children who try out and prepare for contests are counted as UIL participants. I told more than one tearful competitor that contest results don’t determine one’s success in life but the knowledge he or she absorbs from the experience will contribute to success. I hope you remind your students the awards are fun, but it’s the getting there that counts. Best wishes for a great denouement to another year’s journey.