Next month, the City Council is slated to continue its debate on a bill to improve New York City high schools. But they won’t be debating graduation rates, funding for textbooks, construction needs, or even classroom size. No, of all the issues facing the city’s school system, aluminum bats will be the focus. Believe it or not, baseball bats are top priority for our city’s schools.

Ignore the fact that nobody remembers when the last serious batted-ball injury occurred in the Public Schools Athletic League. And while you’re at it, also try to ignore the fact that wood bats actually may be more dangerous than aluminum ones.

The City Council’s proponents for banning aluminum bats have paid very little attention to the reason aluminum bats were introduced to the game more than 30 years ago. Wood bats break, shatter, and splinter. Parts of broken wood bats have hit players, umpires, fans in seats, and players in the on-deck circle. That’s why the National Collegiate Athletic Association, high schools, and other leagues allowed aluminum bats — they were seeing an increase in broken bat injuries.

Unlike aluminum bats that are regulated and monitored, there is no standardized wood bat. However, one little known secret is that the “best wood” — whether northern white ash or maple — is given to major league players. Wood bats found in my stores — and in every retail shop — are not the same as the ones used by big leaguers. Bat manufacturers give the best wood to their pro players. City baseball players will find themselves at the bottom of the order in getting their hands on wood bats.

Lower quality wood translates into more broken bats, plain and simple.

The council has given no consideration to potential broken-bat injuries — to players, umpires, and fans. And unlike Yankee or Shea stadiums, where distance and nets separate fans from the plate, not all New York City high school fields are designed to prevent injuries from wood bats.

Admittedly, 10 years ago, there was a problem in amateur baseball as aluminum bats were becoming too good. Some called it an “arms race” among the bat makers. The unusually high statistics in high schools and colleges were distorting the game. Home runs soared. Batting averages jumped well over .400. earned run averages ballooned. A 21-14 score in a college world-series game in 1998 was the tipping point. Changes had to be made — and they were. The National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations acted by dramatically changing the weight, shape, and performance of aluminum baseball bats. By rule and then through independent testing, aluminum bats were mandated to be heavier, with narrower barrels, and the maximum exit speed of the ball off the bat was capped. The nation’s leagues adopted the Ball Exit Speed Ratio certification test for all aluminum bats.

Today, each aluminum baseball bat for high school players in my store has been tested and certified by both organizations — players, coaches, and umpires all recognize the “-3 BESR” stamp on the bats. These certified bats have had their desired impact on amateur baseball. Each national baseball league and association around the nation has rules and performance limits on aluminum bats. These leagues monitor their use and the safety of the game.

The bottom line is that baseball is among the safest sports played in our city’s high schools. And aluminum baseball bats are not a problem or safety issue for student athletes. If City Council wants to get involved in our schools, there has to be a more pressing need than baseball bats. If City Council wants to get involved in the national pastime, improving fields, building more practice space, and providing equipment and uniforms should take priority.

Mr. Heppner manages DePhillips Sports in Bayside, N.Y.