Could you elaborate on that? IMO either a kid can read and comprehend/process what they are reading or they can't.
And while I think athletics/physical activity are part of being a well rounded student, the odds of someone getting an athletic scholarship and becoming a college or professional athlete are slim - whereas anyone who attains a certain GPA can get a scholarship in Florida.
And the "life lessons" taught by sports are the same lessons taught by other competitive extracurriculars.
I find it appalling that you are justifying this by saying kids go to school for the sports. Kids go to school because our society has decided they have to be educated for the good of our country. If it was all puppies and lollipops, we wouldn't have truant officers and attendance requirements.
scooty - I don't want to speak for mdd. my understanding of the poster's statement that some kids go to school just for the sports - is NOT what we want but it is what it is for some. at least it keeps some kids IN schools throughout HS which is a motivating factor for them. no one agrees that school is about sports or ever should be. but it is one aspect - in some but not all schools. if sports programs are offered they need to be quality and offer a lot of opportunity for growth and development and learning, responsibility, commitment, health and on and on. for some children, sports make a very big difference in their lives. not that the school is even responsible for offering sports but I think its good that some do offer quality sports programs.
never should education programs be minimized in any way because of school sports programs. but if a child stays in school because he likes to play football, then good for him. hopefully he will learn to read in the process. going to college on a scholarship (this is only one possible outcome from playing sports out of many good ones) is going to take some academic skill. and yes - plenty of kids go to college on scholarship due to their skill in sports (boys and girls - TONS of them play softball and do so many other sports in addition to football, basketball, etc)... I had not realized the level of scholarships offered to so many throughout the state of Florida alone for their skill and involvement in sports. my niece is a softball player who is just entering highschool but she already knows she will be on scholarship at a particular college. just about anyone with her level commitment is almost guaranteed. its really great stuff. (she doesn't go to school BECAUSE of sports though. all kids are different. I would hope for all kids to go to school because its what they want to do but I know children are as different as adults in their motivations, pursuits, etc).
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