Hoover v. Meiklejohn case brief summary
430 F.Supp. 164 (1977)
CASE FACTS
The high school that the student attended had a varsity soccer team, which engaged in interscholastic competition with other public high schools. The teacher-coach permitted participation by the student as the only female on the team, but the principal of the high school directed that the student be removed from the soccer team because her participation was in violation of Rule XXI, § 3 of the Colorado High School Activities Association. Rule XXI limited the sport of soccer to members of the male sex. The association had not established any eligibility criteria for participation in interscholastic soccer, excepting for sex.
DISCUSSION
The court held that if the purpose of the exclusionary rule was the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the students, it was arbitrary to consider only the general physiological differences between males and females as classes without any regard for the wide range of individual variants within each class. The court concluded that "separate but equal" teams would satisfy the equality of opportunity required by the Constitution.
CONCLUSION
The court held that Rule XXI, § 3 of the Colorado High School Activities Association was facially unconstitutional; that the board's exclusion of the student and the class she represented from participation in any form of interscholastic soccer competition while male students were permitted to participate in such competition was a denial of equal educational opportunity. The court permanently enjoined the board from enforcement of Rule XXI.
Suggested Study Aid For Sports Law
430 F.Supp. 164 (1977)
CASE SYNOPSIS
Plaintiff high school student filed a
class action against defendants, members of the Board of Education of
Jefferson County School District (board), seeking a declaration that
Rule XXI of the Colorado High School Activities Association was
unconstitutional, an order enjoining its enforcement, and mandatory
affirmative relief under 28 U.S.C.S. § 2201 and 42
U.S.C.S. § 1983.CASE FACTS
The high school that the student attended had a varsity soccer team, which engaged in interscholastic competition with other public high schools. The teacher-coach permitted participation by the student as the only female on the team, but the principal of the high school directed that the student be removed from the soccer team because her participation was in violation of Rule XXI, § 3 of the Colorado High School Activities Association. Rule XXI limited the sport of soccer to members of the male sex. The association had not established any eligibility criteria for participation in interscholastic soccer, excepting for sex.
DISCUSSION
The court held that if the purpose of the exclusionary rule was the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the students, it was arbitrary to consider only the general physiological differences between males and females as classes without any regard for the wide range of individual variants within each class. The court concluded that "separate but equal" teams would satisfy the equality of opportunity required by the Constitution.
CONCLUSION
The court held that Rule XXI, § 3 of the Colorado High School Activities Association was facially unconstitutional; that the board's exclusion of the student and the class she represented from participation in any form of interscholastic soccer competition while male students were permitted to participate in such competition was a denial of equal educational opportunity. The court permanently enjoined the board from enforcement of Rule XXI.
Suggested Study Aid For Sports Law
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