Speak Out: Should the State Education Department Govern Athletics?

Some South Carolina lawmakers are looking to remove the S.C. High School League's authority to regulate the state's athletic programs, and place the duties and responsibilities under the state Department of Education. 

Last week, the House Education and Public Works Committee voted on an amended bill — sponsored by Reps. Joe Daning, R-Berkeley, and Bill Crosby, R-Charleston  — that would create the Division of Interscholastic Athletics, which would be the only governing body of the state's public school sports. 

According to the bill, schools "may not contract with, join, or otherwise associate with the S.C. High School League."

Lawmakers are pushing for the change after the Goose Creek Gators football team was disqualified from the state playoffs by the league's governing body for allowing what league officials said was an ineligible player.

According to a report from the South Carolina Radio Network, some legislators met with the league to discuss making several changes including establishing different levels of punishment and creating a new independent panel that would hear appeals from its executive committee.

Not all legislators agree with the bill and ask that supporters of it wait and see if the league comes to a resolution at its annual conference in March.

What do you think? Should the state Department of Education govern athletics programs? Tell us in the comments.