Having fun in school outside the classroom
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/9/3/14939570/5041158.jpg?0)
Students are participating in after school swimming.
They are getting physical exercise and making friendships.
Both are benefits of after school sports.
(Image taken from the website bay.k12.fl.us.)
They are getting physical exercise and making friendships.
Both are benefits of after school sports.
(Image taken from the website bay.k12.fl.us.)
Extra-Curricular Sports in Schools Need Support
Schools across the nation are cutting extra-curricular sports activities from their budgets. Governments need to reduce funding to many school districts because of current economic conditions. This leaves school boards with the unenviable task of choosing what exactly to cut from their programs. Some items
that are frequently or typically cut should not be, for reasons that are often
overlooked. This includes extra-curricular sporting activities which should not be cut or reduced from a school’s budget because the benefits are too valuable to eliminate. These benefits include: an increase in sound educational behaviors, stimulation to the brain, lower participation in negative risky behaviors, improved problem solving skills, enhanced social skills, and a future with a successful
career.
There is a strong positive correlation between student engagement in
sporting activities and sound educational behaviors, the main reason why the
programs should not be cut. The grade point average of students who are involved in sports is higher than those not participating. Athletes have a
better attendance rate to class than their non-athletic counterparts. Dropout rates are fewer among athletes, leading to a higher graduation rate among athletes than non-athletes. In a study done in North Carolina High Schools by Gary Overton, it was found that the mean GPA for athletes was 2.98, while it was 2.17 for non-athletes. This same study showed the average number of absences by athletes was 6.3 days compared to 11.9 days for non-athletes. Perhaps the most staggering statistic cited in the article is that the dropout rate for athletes was 0.6% as compared to 10.32% for non-athletes. Finally, graduation rates for athletes were 99.4% compared to 93.5% for non-athletes. (“The Case for High”
7).
Correlation is, as we know, not causation, but there remain many reasons
to support extra-curricular sports programs. Sports demand physical exercise by the student, and physical exercise provides many benefits to the brain.
In the article “Fitness: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain, A
Psychiatrist Says Exercise Can Improve Cognitive Performance,” author Shari Roan quotes John Ratey, a psychiatrist who teaches at Havard University.
An expert at ADHD who has studied exercise extensively, Ratey reports
that “exercise [is] the single most important tool people have to optimize brain
function”(qtd. in Roan). Ratey’s theory is straightforward: “Humans evolved as physical creatures. When they are lulled into sedentary lives, their bodies and their brains - - get flabby from lack of physical exertion”(qtd. in Roan).
He goes on to say that exercise is “one of the best treatments we
have”(qtd. in Roan). Ratey’s own book is entitled Spark, because
“exercise is adding spark to the brain. It gives energy to the brain”(qtd. in
Roan). In it, he describes the benefits of exercise for the brain, including
that it helps to maintain cognitive memory and prevent memory decline, while
increasing powerful neurotransmitters. Extra-curricular sports programs offer this opportunity to get the exercise that stimulates the brain.
Athletes often need to take positive risks associated with their sport.
Not surprisingly, there is a correlation between participation in sports and lower participation in negative risky behavior. According to Ratey, “exercise can fend off addiction-related cravings” (qtd. in Roan). Therefore, students in sports have fewer tendencies to use illicit drugs. Studies have also found that
there are lower odds of suicidal behavior among school athletes (Taliaferro,
Rienzo, and Donovan). Another risky behavior common among high school students is promiscuous sex. Studies have found that females and white males in sports are less likely to engage in sex and have multiple partners (Taliaferro, Rienzo, and Donovan). Participants in extra-curricular sports are less likely to smoke cigarettes and use marijuana (Taliaferro, Rienzo, and Donovan), and they are significantly less likely to use cocaine (“The Case for High” 6).
If they are not involved in sports they are 49% more likely to use drugs.
Teens are 37% more likely to be teen parents if they are not actively involved
in sports (“The Case for High” 3). Conversely, some healthy behavior is more prevalent. Those who participate in sports are more likely to remain physically active as adults (Taliaferro, Rienzo and Donovan), and studies indicate that athletes eat more fruits and vegetables on a regular basis (Taliaferro, Rienzo, and Donovan).
Students participating in sports have many opportunities to improve their problem-solving skills. Sports provide numerous situations that require strategies for coping with daily problems. For example, a quarterback learns to recognize a blitzing defense in order to throw the correct pass, just as a student learns to recognize the best escape route in case of an emergency situation. Similarly, a swimmer learns to pace himself in the 500 yard freestyle event in the same way a student learns to pace himself when writing an argumentative, five- page paper:
Through participation in activity programs, students learn self-discipline,
build self-confidence and develop skills to handle competitive
situations. These are qualities the public expects schools to produce in
students so that they become responsible adults and productive
citizens. (“The Case for High” 4)
Social skills, which are not specifically in a school curriculum, are important aspect of personal development and growth. School athletes have the perfect scenario to form new friendships and interact with peers under constant adult supervision. Student athletes also develop habits that lead to being a more productive, socially aware, member of society:
In a 2006 study published by the Center for Information and Research on Civic
Learning and Engagement, it was found that 18-25 year olds who participate
in sports while in high school were more likely than non-participants to be
engaged in volunteering, …registering to vote,…feeling comfortable speaking
in a public setting, and watching news … more closely than non-participants.
(qtd. in “The Case for High” 4)
Student athletes have more opportunity for a more prosperous future. In
the article,“Learning to Play and Playing to Learn” Ann Rosewater states that
“participants in organized sports are more likely to attend college and to land
better jobs with more responsibility and higher pay”.
Many of today’s leaders are former scholar- athletes. A study commissioned by the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association found in that Canadian province in 2006, “an average of 78.3% of Alberta’s top corporate CEOs and Members of the Legislative Assembly had participated in interschool sports. Nearly 80% indicated that being involved in school sports significantly, extensively, or moderately complemented their career development” (qtd. in “The Case for High”4).
In our own country, many of our presidents have participated in sports. Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, and Dwight Eisenhower all played college football at their respective universities. Barack Obama played basketball at Occidental College, Bill Clinton played rugby at Oxford University, and George W. Bush played baseball in high school. Apparently, there is at least a loose correlation between competing on the field and winning an influential job in the future.
While there are many costs associated with extra-curricular sports, which include the cost of equipment, facilities, uniforms, travel expenses, coaches, and
officials, the costs are minimal in comparison to the total school budget. In the article, “The Case for High School Activities,” the National Federation of State
High School Associations states “at a cost of only one to three percent (or less
in many cases) of an overall school’s budget, high school activity programs are
one of the best bargains around”(1). Since schools are faced with the reality of less money to work within the budget, they need to make cuts from their expenditures. Extra-curricular activities are often the first items to be cut. The cuts are being done in several ways: schools are eliminating existing sports programs, decreasing the number of games played, and reducing the distance traveled to participate in these games. Some schools are initiating a pay-to-play fee in which parents pay for their children to participate in an activity, but such measures limit participation to more affluent families.
Risk taking in a positive way is necessary when shooting for a
three-point basket, going for a two-point conversion, or deciding to run for
president. Better grades, higher brain function and less criminal activity
benefit the athlete and society as a whole. Individuals with valuable problem
solving skills, as well as social skills, also improve the individual as well as
the community. It is, therefore, imperative that, when faced with budget cuts, schools should not eliminate or even reduce extra-curricular sporting activities.
It is essential that our youth are provided with opportunities to participate in these sporting events. The values are too powerful to ignore, because sports and student success are the perfect team.
Works Cited
The National Federation of State High School Associations. “The Case for High School Activities”, 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 10
Nov. 2012.
Roan, Shari. “Fitness: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain; A Psychiatrist Says Exercise Can Improve Cognitive
Performance.” Los Angeles Times. 17 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
Rosewater, Ann. “Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcome.” Education
Digest 75.1 (2009): 50-57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
Taliaferro, Lindsay A, Barbara A. Rienzo, and Kristine A. Donovan. “Relationships Between Youth Sport Participation
And Selected Health Risk Behaviors From 1999 To 2007.” Journal of School Health80.8 (2010):
399-410. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
that are frequently or typically cut should not be, for reasons that are often
overlooked. This includes extra-curricular sporting activities which should not be cut or reduced from a school’s budget because the benefits are too valuable to eliminate. These benefits include: an increase in sound educational behaviors, stimulation to the brain, lower participation in negative risky behaviors, improved problem solving skills, enhanced social skills, and a future with a successful
career.
There is a strong positive correlation between student engagement in
sporting activities and sound educational behaviors, the main reason why the
programs should not be cut. The grade point average of students who are involved in sports is higher than those not participating. Athletes have a
better attendance rate to class than their non-athletic counterparts. Dropout rates are fewer among athletes, leading to a higher graduation rate among athletes than non-athletes. In a study done in North Carolina High Schools by Gary Overton, it was found that the mean GPA for athletes was 2.98, while it was 2.17 for non-athletes. This same study showed the average number of absences by athletes was 6.3 days compared to 11.9 days for non-athletes. Perhaps the most staggering statistic cited in the article is that the dropout rate for athletes was 0.6% as compared to 10.32% for non-athletes. Finally, graduation rates for athletes were 99.4% compared to 93.5% for non-athletes. (“The Case for High”
7).
Correlation is, as we know, not causation, but there remain many reasons
to support extra-curricular sports programs. Sports demand physical exercise by the student, and physical exercise provides many benefits to the brain.
In the article “Fitness: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain, A
Psychiatrist Says Exercise Can Improve Cognitive Performance,” author Shari Roan quotes John Ratey, a psychiatrist who teaches at Havard University.
An expert at ADHD who has studied exercise extensively, Ratey reports
that “exercise [is] the single most important tool people have to optimize brain
function”(qtd. in Roan). Ratey’s theory is straightforward: “Humans evolved as physical creatures. When they are lulled into sedentary lives, their bodies and their brains - - get flabby from lack of physical exertion”(qtd. in Roan).
He goes on to say that exercise is “one of the best treatments we
have”(qtd. in Roan). Ratey’s own book is entitled Spark, because
“exercise is adding spark to the brain. It gives energy to the brain”(qtd. in
Roan). In it, he describes the benefits of exercise for the brain, including
that it helps to maintain cognitive memory and prevent memory decline, while
increasing powerful neurotransmitters. Extra-curricular sports programs offer this opportunity to get the exercise that stimulates the brain.
Athletes often need to take positive risks associated with their sport.
Not surprisingly, there is a correlation between participation in sports and lower participation in negative risky behavior. According to Ratey, “exercise can fend off addiction-related cravings” (qtd. in Roan). Therefore, students in sports have fewer tendencies to use illicit drugs. Studies have also found that
there are lower odds of suicidal behavior among school athletes (Taliaferro,
Rienzo, and Donovan). Another risky behavior common among high school students is promiscuous sex. Studies have found that females and white males in sports are less likely to engage in sex and have multiple partners (Taliaferro, Rienzo, and Donovan). Participants in extra-curricular sports are less likely to smoke cigarettes and use marijuana (Taliaferro, Rienzo, and Donovan), and they are significantly less likely to use cocaine (“The Case for High” 6).
If they are not involved in sports they are 49% more likely to use drugs.
Teens are 37% more likely to be teen parents if they are not actively involved
in sports (“The Case for High” 3). Conversely, some healthy behavior is more prevalent. Those who participate in sports are more likely to remain physically active as adults (Taliaferro, Rienzo and Donovan), and studies indicate that athletes eat more fruits and vegetables on a regular basis (Taliaferro, Rienzo, and Donovan).
Students participating in sports have many opportunities to improve their problem-solving skills. Sports provide numerous situations that require strategies for coping with daily problems. For example, a quarterback learns to recognize a blitzing defense in order to throw the correct pass, just as a student learns to recognize the best escape route in case of an emergency situation. Similarly, a swimmer learns to pace himself in the 500 yard freestyle event in the same way a student learns to pace himself when writing an argumentative, five- page paper:
Through participation in activity programs, students learn self-discipline,
build self-confidence and develop skills to handle competitive
situations. These are qualities the public expects schools to produce in
students so that they become responsible adults and productive
citizens. (“The Case for High” 4)
Social skills, which are not specifically in a school curriculum, are important aspect of personal development and growth. School athletes have the perfect scenario to form new friendships and interact with peers under constant adult supervision. Student athletes also develop habits that lead to being a more productive, socially aware, member of society:
In a 2006 study published by the Center for Information and Research on Civic
Learning and Engagement, it was found that 18-25 year olds who participate
in sports while in high school were more likely than non-participants to be
engaged in volunteering, …registering to vote,…feeling comfortable speaking
in a public setting, and watching news … more closely than non-participants.
(qtd. in “The Case for High” 4)
Student athletes have more opportunity for a more prosperous future. In
the article,“Learning to Play and Playing to Learn” Ann Rosewater states that
“participants in organized sports are more likely to attend college and to land
better jobs with more responsibility and higher pay”.
Many of today’s leaders are former scholar- athletes. A study commissioned by the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association found in that Canadian province in 2006, “an average of 78.3% of Alberta’s top corporate CEOs and Members of the Legislative Assembly had participated in interschool sports. Nearly 80% indicated that being involved in school sports significantly, extensively, or moderately complemented their career development” (qtd. in “The Case for High”4).
In our own country, many of our presidents have participated in sports. Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, and Dwight Eisenhower all played college football at their respective universities. Barack Obama played basketball at Occidental College, Bill Clinton played rugby at Oxford University, and George W. Bush played baseball in high school. Apparently, there is at least a loose correlation between competing on the field and winning an influential job in the future.
While there are many costs associated with extra-curricular sports, which include the cost of equipment, facilities, uniforms, travel expenses, coaches, and
officials, the costs are minimal in comparison to the total school budget. In the article, “The Case for High School Activities,” the National Federation of State
High School Associations states “at a cost of only one to three percent (or less
in many cases) of an overall school’s budget, high school activity programs are
one of the best bargains around”(1). Since schools are faced with the reality of less money to work within the budget, they need to make cuts from their expenditures. Extra-curricular activities are often the first items to be cut. The cuts are being done in several ways: schools are eliminating existing sports programs, decreasing the number of games played, and reducing the distance traveled to participate in these games. Some schools are initiating a pay-to-play fee in which parents pay for their children to participate in an activity, but such measures limit participation to more affluent families.
Risk taking in a positive way is necessary when shooting for a
three-point basket, going for a two-point conversion, or deciding to run for
president. Better grades, higher brain function and less criminal activity
benefit the athlete and society as a whole. Individuals with valuable problem
solving skills, as well as social skills, also improve the individual as well as
the community. It is, therefore, imperative that, when faced with budget cuts, schools should not eliminate or even reduce extra-curricular sporting activities.
It is essential that our youth are provided with opportunities to participate in these sporting events. The values are too powerful to ignore, because sports and student success are the perfect team.
Works Cited
The National Federation of State High School Associations. “The Case for High School Activities”, 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 10
Nov. 2012.
Roan, Shari. “Fitness: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain; A Psychiatrist Says Exercise Can Improve Cognitive
Performance.” Los Angeles Times. 17 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
Rosewater, Ann. “Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Organized Sports and Educational Outcome.” Education
Digest 75.1 (2009): 50-57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
Taliaferro, Lindsay A, Barbara A. Rienzo, and Kristine A. Donovan. “Relationships Between Youth Sport Participation
And Selected Health Risk Behaviors From 1999 To 2007.” Journal of School Health80.8 (2010):
399-410. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10 Nov. 2012.
Kids more active in school
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/9/3/14939570/4178395.jpg?0)
This picture shows kids participating more in the classroom.
This is one positive outcome of being in an extra-curricular sport.
(Image is from the website cbsnews.com.)
This is one positive outcome of being in an extra-curricular sport.
(Image is from the website cbsnews.com.)