Summary:
In the article ‘How high school sports save
our schools’ By Jay Mathews, In the last school year, a new national survey found that 7.7 million
boys and girls took part in high school sports. High schools have found ways to
not only keep sports alive but increase the number of students playing. We have
data indicating sports and other extracurricular activities do better than
academic classes in teaching leadership, teamwork, time management and other
skills crucial for success in the workplace. Coaches might be the only faculty
members still allowed by our culture and educational practice to get tough with
students not making the proper effort. In addition the Partnership for 21st Century
Skills has published a list of what it calls life and career skills, including
flexibility and adaptability, productivity and accountability, leadership and
responsibility. Many teens find the most congenial way to acquire such
competencies is after-school activities.
Comments:
I'm all in favor of students' participation in
sports. I'm in favor of all of the usual and some of the unusual school
extracurricular activities, Mr.
Mathews's point that students do better in activities they
choose seems indisputable. But this
column does not remotely support the headline of “How high school sports save
our schools," as I'm sure Mr. Mathews would agree. A more fitting headline
would be something like “the vital role of extracurricular activities” or "communities of common purpose help
students learn and succeed."
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