Keep sports in High SchoolHigh school is a time to make friends, get good grades, participate in activities and prepare for the future. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, some schools have opted out of high school sports, believing that money would be better spent on academics. I understand that academics come first, but sacrificing high school sports lessens every child’s high school experience, their ability to perform at optimum academic levels and develop into a well-rounded adult.
The Importance of High School Sports Can Be Found in Elementary School
During a child’s elementary school years, children typically lose their recess privileges as a consequence to poor behavior. This consequence can have the opposite of the desired effect. Recess is the place where kids let out their aggression and release frustration and anger, allowing the children to better cope with the aspects of school they do not enjoy.
High School Sports Promote Bonding and Encouragement
What many administrators, teachers and parents fail to realize is that high school sports offer teenagers the same outlet. Participating in high school sports is important for motor skill development, maintaining a healthy exercise program and provides for a release of anger when the academic stressors become overwhelming. When youth participate in high school sports they release endorphins which helps decrease depression and increases energy. Most high schools, if not all, require at least a C average to participate in these sports, which provides the child with accountability. High school sports increase bonding between children and their parents when parents help with skills and come to games to cheer their child on.
High School Sports Boost Overall Morale And Support
High school sports offer a release that is needed for every student. High School Sports enables the entire school to come together, whether playing, or observing, to cheer for their school. If your child is having difficulty making friends encourage them to join a high school activity or to go to a game and cheer for their school. It boosts school morale when students meet to cheer for their team. While offering an enjoyable distraction from the stressors of school, teenager’s negative perception of school as a place akin to a prison is replaced with increased school pride. This increased interest in school generally results in increased enjoyment in academics, resulting in better overall test scores and grades.
Adults Look Back on High School Sports Fondly
When adults look back on their time in school many do not remember their teachers, classes or grades but they do remember the high school sports they participated in or observed. They often look back on these memories fondly and look forward to their children having similar experiences. Encourage your teenager’s high school to keep high school sports around so every teenager can have a better overall high school experience.
Lisa Dunning is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Specializing in Parent/Child Relationship issues and author of “Good Parents Bad Parenting: How To Parent Together When Your Parenting Styles Are Worlds Apart”.
Lisa Dunning is a columnist for Las Vegas Family Magazine & Los Angeles Family Magazine and provides expert relationship and parenting advice for television and radio programs throughout the country.
To learn more about Lisa Dunning, her parenting book and other services, visit her website at http://www.LisaDunningMFT.com
Why Keeping Sports in School is Important
The other day I was talking to a single mom in Starbucks who had an Autistic Child in a special education class at the local school here. She wanted one-on-one help in the classroom for her child, no matter what the cost, citing that to her, that was indeed, the most appropriate for her child. You see, there was a law passed that each child is entitled to appropriate education.
We talked about the school budgets and she said she did not care, as she wanted what was “best for her child” because that would be the most appropriate in her mind. I indicated that the schools had to cut something if they are to give one-on-one education to every special needs student. She said; “So what, cut out the sports programs!” Wow, I thought, that would be terrible. Let me tell you my thoughts on Youth Sports in High School.
You see, I am very pro-youth sports, because it builds strength of character, hard work ethic, commitment, team work and yes, it keeps kids out of gangs and away from drugs. It’s all good. We then talked about how the sports kids had recently helped out in an Autism Fundraiser in another state. I explained that I cannot think of a more profound statement that a young athletic star can make, than helping those who are unable to play at that level thru no fault of their own. That is true character; that impresses me.
Baseball, soccer, apple pie, it’s an American thing here, a tradition and it bonds kids and builds friendships and fuels dreams, as it builds their self-esteems. We need more of it, we have a personality building crisis in the US and there are too many ethically challenged kids, who think they are entitled without putting in. This is their chance to make a difference, and understand how lucky they are.
We must reward the top contributors and the top players, as it takes that competitive spirit and drives money to the right places. We should not take away their sports to help a crazy mom, who is demanding that her child get special treatment, at the expense of all the others. To me, winning in life, sports, family and job is very important, but it is worthless without integrity, character and understanding. You can quote me on that.
This is why we need sports in High School and must not sacrifice them to budget concerns or trade one group of students for the other. I hope you understand my position here.
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