Referencing my "American Education Comment: # 1: What's Wrong With American Education?" I write this comment on number 6, the "social component" of American Education.
Oh boy, "the fur is going to fly," with this essay!
The "social component" of American Education includes sports, clubs and activites.
Simply stating my opinion: All these "social components" of education in the USA, should be ELIMINATED from the school setting. Schools, should not be responsible for providing social activities for your child, especially sports.
I realize, this is "heretical" thinking. Eliminating sports from schools will cause much anger among some parents, some school alumni and long-time sports fans of whatever school.
First, too many schools make the sports program, the school's "true priority." It's "nice" if the school scores well on State Standardized Tests. It's nice if my child is "doing well" in her/his academics, but really, how does the school do in football, volleyball, basketball, track and baseball?
MY CHILD WANTS (is ENTITLED TO) a "FULL ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP," from a Division 1-A University (Colorado University, Colorado State University, Notre Dame, The Air Force Academy, etc., etc.). If her/his public-tax-supported High School, doesn't play sports, how can s/he receive a scholarship?
More than a "FREE RIDE" to a Division 1-A University, MY KID is "gonna be" a "PRO." S/HE is the BEST (fill in the blank, here: Football, baketball, volleyball, track, baseball) STAR at their school.
Most of the time, the REAL reason "sports parents," think school sports is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY, to the school's (social) curriculum, is the deep conviction that their kid will "make a whole lot of money," playing a professional ("play-for-play") sport or at least, having a sport "scholarship," pay for their child's college education. Speaking from experience as a school administrator, I can't begin to relate the number of parents who, privately, stated just exactly that, to me. Don't try to "talk sense" to such parents by telling them that it is "easier for an elephant to slide throught the eye of a needle," than their kid's athletic talent, leading to a career in professional sport. THEY WON'T HEAR YOU!!
Some parents state openly and loudly, to all within the range of hearing, they think their child is a potential "pro," who will make an obscene amount of money, playing a professional sport.
Some parents are more cautious and "cloak" their sports-program EXTREME support, in educational terms. "Sports teaches competition." "Sports makes my child really, physically fit." "All my child's friends are out-for or on, the team" (Aha! Back to the social part of the school). Much of the arguments for sports and the social component, being included in the school's curriculm, is "hogwash."
If school administrators and teachers "know what's good for them," they'd better support the sports program (or, at very least, not speak of it at all ESPECIALLY in negative terms). Lots of American Educators feel compelled to give the school's sports program, "lip service." In the case of school principals and superintendents, since they are "at will" employees of the Board of Education, they are VERY aware, they would (not, could) lose their jobs, if they didn't ENTHUSIASTICALLY, support the sports program. Any teacher is courting an organized parent group, to get them fired from their job, if they don't support the school sports program.
This is no exaggeration, in too many American Schools.
Here's the TRUTH: The day sports and other "social" components is removed from the school setting, will be the day AMERICA begins to compete globally, with other countries, in achieving EXCELLENT results in student learning.
See my blog: What's Wrong With American Education, # 3: Why Delete Sports From the School's Curriculum?
Dr. Walter Wayne Hopewell
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