North Point coaches and students deserve an apology

This letter is in response to Mr. T.T. Thomas’ unfair critique of North Point High School athletic and educational programs [‘A loss for Charles County,’ Maryland Independent, March 25].

Mr. Thomas is correct in describing North Point as a 4A school. But he is incorrect and ill-informed in his characterization that North Point recruits players. Students who are not zoned for North Point can only attend North Point if they are accepted into one of the STI (Science, Technology and Industry) programs. Parents and students must apply. Students are required to fill out an application and sit for an interview. Teachers and coaches are removed from the process. Mr. Thomas’ false and inaccurate accusations are an insult to the coaches, teachers and students. The students who are accepted into the STI programs (whose numbers are capped by the board of education) come to North Point for an education, not to play sports. Furthermore, Mr. Thomas fails to understand that student athletes are teenagers. It does not matter the size of the school, they are all teenagers and wins and losses are not determined by the size of the school. North Point teachers and students deserve an apology.

Derek L. Brown, Waldorf