[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'241414\' date=\'May 25 2010, 03:39 PM\']Adding on a lesson I learned last year after inquiring about starting a quiz bowl/Academic Challenge team at my school... If you are unionized and there is nothing in the bargaining agreement about an academic team coach position, go no further. ("If there's no pay scale listed, such a position doesn't exist" was what I was told.) Apparently my district does not want to showcase their smartest...[/quote]
Interesting. In PA, which is a unionized teacher state (do they go by state? at least all of our nearby schools have unions, my mom was the head of her union for awhile), most schools offer a stipend at the beginning of the year to the quiz bowl coach. It never comes close to a decent hourly wage for as much work that goes into it in most cases, of course.
Sir Matt's point earlier about the kids with the best grades not being the best players is apt. The well-rounded kids who may very well tilt towards nerds are great. Perhaps you could hold an after-school J!-type tournament, and have the kids group into teams for a quick round-robin play, and feeding them wouldn't hurt. You'd be able to spot the stars very quickly. Our leagues ran October-March, so you would have to do this very early in the school year if your league would run at the same time.
Media aren't a bad place to turn to locate activity in your area. Our local newspaper sponsors the main league and posts results.
