Controversy
In February 2008, St. Mary's Academy made news when a female referee was told that she could not officiate at the high school basketball game. The other referee claimed that someone told him it was because "as a woman," she "could not be put in a position of authority over boys because of the academy's beliefs". St. Mary's Academy was on the Kansas State High School Activities Association list of approved schools, but not a KSHSAA member, and plays "one or two games per season" against member schools.
St. Mary's official reply to the incident was in a press release:
- This alleged reason was neither stated nor is it held by any official of St. Mary's Academy, as evidenced by the fact that the faculty and staff of St. Mary's includes many honorable ladies of talent and erudition....
- St. Mary's Academy follows the directives of the Catholic Church regarding co-education. The Church has always promoted the ideal of forming and educating boys and girls separately during the adolescent years, especially in physical education (Cf. Divini Illius Magistri - Encyclical on the Christian Education of Youth, by Pope Pius XI, 1929 and The Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of Religious on Co-Education, A.A.S., 25 (1958) pp. 99-103). This formation of adolescent boys is best accomplished by male role models, as the formation of girls is best accomplished by women. Hence in boys' athletic competitions, it is important that the various role models (coaches and referees) be men.
As of 2008, the school was no longer on the KSHSAA's approved school list.
In 2004, the school forfeited a football game against White City High School because the opponent had a girl on the team.
Read more about this topic: St. Mary's College (Kansas)
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