Typically, the average day of a high school student consists of seven long hours of school; followed by an extracurricular activity. According to the National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS), as of 2014, there was a record high of nearly 7.8 million high school student athletes in the United States. Two experienced authors from The New York Times have contrasting views on athletics in schools. Amanda Ripley, the author of The New York Times bestseller, The Smartest Kids in the World, argues that sports should definitely be removed from high schools across the country. On the other hand, Donte Stallworth, former NFL player, is determined to keep children involved with sports. The main focal point for both Ripley and Stallworth …show more content…
He begins with putting an emphasis towards a great coach and what he or she has to offer. He believes that a coach can have a huge impact on a child’s life. He adds that a coach can be a great role model for athletes and teach them beneficial life skills. Stallworth believes that a strong coach and a committed athlete can go a great distance together and can achieve more than imaginable. He states that there is so much to be learned and much of it is not offered in an actual classroom. Stallworth uses “teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, [and] accountability” as examples of life skills that are learned through athletics. Stallworth does agree with Ripley that school is needed for basic skills, however, Stallworth believes that sports offer numerous amounts of skills that will benefit the athletes in their current and future life. Another aspect of his article portrays that sports are more than about winning, they allow children to “step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves.” Much of his writing explains what many people overlook when considering children and …show more content…
However, they each have contrasting views on how sports will benefit or hinder athletes in their future. Ripley argues that sports are allowing children to think they could become the next Michael Jordan or Simone Biles. She states that athletics are giving children the chance to think they could be someone great, but believes that the athletes will be disappointed because they will not be able to pursue their dreams. She suggests that in the end, all of the time put into sports will be a waste, while the athletes could have focused on academics. Ripley is sure that the students involved in academic extracurricular activities, like debate or speech, will be more likely to succeed later in life and “rule the real world”. Stallworth, however, contradicts Ripley, saying almost the complete opposite. He gives the message that “the magic of high school sports isn’t about how a kid can go pro someday.” This statement implies that the power of imagination allows children to challenge themselves to be the best they can be which will later benefit the student athletes in their later lives. A portion of Stallworth’s article suggests that the skills learned through sports will allow the athletes to be more versatile in the real world. He implies that these skills are better learned on a court or field rather than in a classroom. When considering life after high school, Stallworth
In the article, “The Case Against High-School Sports” Ripley discusses how some schools put a bigger emphasis on sports rather than academics. Ripley explains that since sports gets more attention, nobody pays attention to the academic side and their needs. According to the author, some schools are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure a sport runs, even if there is no money in the budget. She states that too much of a focus is being put on sports is affecting academic achievement negatively in American high schools. The author gives the reader three reasons why schools should focus more on academic achievement and less on sports.
In reality, sports still contain completely of knowledge, arguments, debates, problems, complex statistics, and pictures that make it to be more attractive and intellectual than school. Graff insists that street smarts are more necessary than school smarts because it comes from real life, our real experiences, and for sure it can be used in real world. However, Graff also attests “ To say that students need to see their interests “ through academic eyes” is to say that street smarts are not enough. Making students’ nonacademic interests a subject of academic study is useful, then, for getting students’ attention and overcoming their boredom and alienation, but this tactic won’t in itself necessarily move them closer to an academically rigorous treatment of those interests” (Gerald Graff, 250). School smarts are superfluous because everything we have learned would become worthless if it is not practiced in live, therefore, street smarts and school smarts need to be combined together to work
“More than one million High School students fail to graduate high school each year. This not only affects the individual and his or her education but also takes a toll on society and the economy”.-Unknown. Today’s education cap affects society in many ways. Education is one key element that is needed throughout everyday life. It is needed for critical thinking, problem-solving, and great independent decision making in our lives. Without education, we wouldn’t be able to communicate with one another or make something out of ourselves. So we might ask ourselves how can we make education better for us and the future generations? In the book “Smartest Kids in the World”, Amanda Ripley gives an explanation of the difference between the education system in U.S. and in countries like Finland, Poland, and South
Amanda Ripley’s idea that athletics are a distraction in “The Case Against High-School Sports” sparked within me the question of whether all people are equally distracted by athletics in an environment which is heavily focused on academics. The author states, “During football season in particular, the focus of American principals, teachers, and students shifts inexorably away from academics.” I can clearly remember a day last May in high school where I had a late football practice and two AP test the following morning. I recall waking up very tired, sluggish, and upset that I did not get a last minute chance to look over my materials. I remember feeling like I had maybe taken on too much, but I knew I would be alright because I had prepared
Amanda Ripley argues in The Atlantic in her article “The Case Against High School Sports”, that the United States place too much attention on sports rather than academics. Ripley argues that sports programs at schools should be reduced, maybe even cut out completely. She states that there are a lot of countries that outperform America on international tests, and it is because they put more of their emphasis on academics, where the United States puts more of an emphasis on athletics. Ripley says that high school sports negatively affects academics. (1). I disagree with Ripley on this topic; I think that sports are important for young kids because it teaches them very valuable life lessons and it keeps them out of trouble.
When applying to University there are multiple steps which lead to many frustrations and stress. Everyone from the top student to the student who is forced to apply, deals with these frustrations. In my experience, I threw things, abused my computer, and my eyes may have watered from the frustrations of course. Not only is the process hard, filling in every form, obtaining letter of recommendation, but the four years that you spent trying to come up with the information you are providing was hard.
As Miller and Wilson revealed, athleticism is not always analogous with success. Willy regarded Biff highly because he observed Biff’s presence and athleticism, and he believed these qualities would result in immediate success. Today many parents associate sports with success and therefore pressure their children to excel in sports. In today’s society it is very rare that fears of discrimination would cause children to not pursue a lucrative career in sports. Both Miller and Wilson knew the impact of sports on family dynamics, and how sports have evolved from a leisure time activity to a full-time commitment. Clearly, many of the qualitative aspects of sports--competition, teamwork and physical dexterity can contribute to being a success in almost any career.
High school athletics can be an integral part of the development of teenage students to young adults. Team sports teach fundamental values such as sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication, time management, confidence, commitment, and, most importantly, how to win and lose gracefully. These principles positively mold youths and instill life skills that are vital for teenagers to evolve into functioning adults. During my time in high school, activities that influenced my development came from the athletic teams in which I participated. In total, I played three different sports.
High schools across the nation are destroying our society by implementing sports into our culture according to Ryan, especially when some schools and teachers encourage students to be athletic and tryout for sports. Ryan then goes on to express what will become of society if we continue to encourage such behavior within our school system. Through examples, this is directed towards all students that want to or are a participant of athletes through schools. Ryan says the effects that sports can have on the society, and want to separate it from its role society. Specifically addressing students time energy and future and how then can avoid commitments with athletics.
Some student athletes say they do not have enough time to make it to class. According to many that have opinions from both sides of the issue have come up with a possible solution. They said it depends on the person if they want to push to receive an education or not. There are some who have been able to do both. Even though student athletes do not have time to attend classes they need to get an education to have something to fall back on if sports does not work out, and they need to have a certain GPA to be eligible to play.
Are high school sports beneficial or not for students? I personally believe if a student is in a high school sport they’re forced to prioritize between school and their sport, and at a young age I believe the student would decide to use his time to improve in his sport instead of school. Which in the long run would affect his academics, unless they decide to stay up late and work on their homework to keep up with both school and their sport. But, even like that in time the lack of sleep would catch up to them, and cause them to do even worse in both academics, and sports. High school sports are like the lotto in my opinion, many play but only a few get rewarded for their work. Therefore, high school sports cause more negativity than positivity.
Sports programs have been an integral part of all schools. They support the academics of the school and therefore foster success in life. These programs are educational and help produce productive citizenship. They help students experience and build skills that may help them in their future, like interpersonal and time management skills. Education may kindle the light of knowledge, but sports help to maintain the proper physique. Sports are also an important means of entertainment and a use for energy after long hours of study. Sports increase a student’s performance not only in the classroom but also in their life.
Millions of children worldwide participate in a multitude of sports, either in school or outside of school. As they grow older, they get better, but some of them stop playing. We have discussed that the best and sometimes oldest of the kids (in their age groups) are given more chances and more opportunities, as well as better coaching. This results in them gaining more experience and practice. Ultimately, some of them end up being national or world-class athletes competing and representing their country. In order for that to happen, they have to be recognized as talented and be presented with a chance to become great.
Many life lessons can be taught through sports. Children can learn the importance of work ethic, working with others, perseverance, and the list goes on. There are studies that have shown that kids who are involved in athletics are more successful in the business world. It is only when parents turn the sporting events into an ultra-competitive requirement for their child that it can become detrimental. The lessons that sports teach kids about real life is one of the greatest benefits that can be gained from sports. Because so much can be learned through sports we need to make sure that we put focus on teaching lessons through sports rather than making it all about winning. It is a sad when parents turn a great beneficial thing into something that can be harmful for their children.
One argument leaning towards the stance, that minors participating in athletics does not keep them out of trouble, is the opinion that student athletes are granted more leeway than that of their purely academic counter-part. “There are still too many coaches who care more about getting a student athlete out on the court in a uniform than about getting them in a cap and gown four years later.” Arne Duncan, a columnist from Huffington Post, perfectly represents the idea that athletes’ grades are being manipulated in order for that student to see playing time on game day, which is reinforced by the ‘dumb jock’ stereotype. Pop culture is especially fond of this label, consistently portraying these players as brutes who are incapable of forming a coherent sentence and who most likely reside on the left side of the IQ scale. Movie characters such as Andrew Clarke (The Breakfast Club) and Stifler (American Pie) are prime examples of this recurrence.