CHANGE is rarely ever easy or smooth, and as the saying goes, one can’t make a great omelette without having to break an egg or two or three, depending on how large you like your breakfast platter.

The argument of the inclusion of Class 4 boys at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association’s (ISSA) National High Schools track and field championships is heating up, and the ISSA body is expected to take a vote on the issue come June.

Currently athletes at ‘Champs’ compete in seven age group classes, four for girls and three for boys, and the argument for gender parity is to get more boys to compete.

At present, the age groups for the boys are 17-19 for Class 1, 15-16 for Class 2 and Under-14 for Class 3; the girls’ Classes are 18-19 for Class 1, 16-17 for Class 2, Under-15 for Class 3 and Under-13 for Class 4.

The County of Cornwall Athletics Association (COCAA) has been way ahead of time as Boys’ Class 4 has been a part of the schedule for decades and is the only regional competition in the island to do so.

There are varying arguments for and against the addition of Class 4 boys, as well as changing the age groups to synchronise them with the girls, which some purists argue would destroy the old records.

Given ISSA’s make-up — being made up of principals of high schools and constitution- it is not necessary that a vote in June would adequately resolve the issue one way or the other.

While not casting aspersions on the integrity of the principals, I can’t see the head of any of the top boys’ schools, all in Kingston, voting on a matter of principle, what is best for the sport. I believe they will all vote for the addition of Class 4 boys which will give them additional points and a better chance of winning ‘Champs.’

I have nothing against the addition of Class 4 boys, and agree with the argument that after competing up to Prep and Primary schools, the boys, if not good enough to compete at the higher Class 3 level, are forced to miss a season, while the girls are streamlined into the system.

One argument however, is that to add a Class 4 boys would give schools in some regions an “unfair advantage” as not all regions have access to the boys coming out of the prep/primary schools systems.

To counter that, some may say that under the present educational system, technical schools such as Holmwood and St Elizabeth Technical are not supposed to have Class 4 girls either… but they do.

A simple solution, in my view anyway, would be for ISSA to adopt what COCAA has done, which would see the retention of the present age groups.

I fear, however, that when the headmasters meet, the voting will not be on a matter of principle and how to strategically develop the sport at that age group, but rather how the changes will help their schools score more points at ‘Champs.’

Maybe on a matter as serious as this, ISSA should allow technical people outside of the schools’ system to consult and come up with a consensus. We have no shortage of wisdom in that area, and rather than allow ‘so called democracy’ to prevail, maybe common sense should dictate in this issue.