After reading the thread, I have more than a Wild Assertion; I have an argument....some of which is presented by me and some which a nice in-depth article helps support my case.
Everyone is so behind High School Sports because they haven't experienced a world without it, and do not have exposure to the rest of the world where such a structure is not prevalent.
You should be agreeing with me; in this argument, I'm the true conservative here. I am saving the school districts billions of dollars nationwide and education dollars are going toward one thing, to educate people.
Your example of team sports promoting teamwork, discipline and 'keeping up one's grades to be eligible' is admirable, but doesn't carry water.
Any parent worth their salt can instill the grade policy for any activity.
I too learned hard work, team work, leadership and life skills as a teenager. I strove and achieved the highest honor of this organization and a couple of other honors found me (probably because they felt sorry for me...) for various reasons...
Not one penny of your taxes or anyone else's supported the organization. For the small things, mom or dad would kick in a ten or a twenty...and for the big things we raised the funds. Not a penny of your taxes or any one else's went for fuel or even for a place to meet.
No one's tax dollars covered our meals...and most of the time we cooked those on our own.
What's the ironic twist to all of this? The skills I learned then, I am still using. Are the linebackers still blocking, the quarterbacks still passing, the receivers receiving and the cheerleaders still cheering? Does any of that even make a hill of beans difference?
Yet, I could not be accepted in my own school district's 'honor society' because my activity was not 'school sanctioned'. Because I did not rely on tax funded activities, I was not considered an 'active' student.
That's all well and good -- I didn't need it and none of it all matters.
That brings me to two more points ---
1. High School sports is elitist, with the Tax Dollars funding those who excel in an area.
Classic example -- Senior of high school.. I took weight training for PE. I knew I was not going to excel in a sport, and even if I could, I was also free not to want to get into sports.
Yet, I recall going up to the balcony of the Warrior Gym and working out on these ancient machines with no real mentoring. These coaches mark an X if people dressed and that was it..go do your thing... There was no instruction, and not even a way to track one's lifting (as I recall...been a while..)
So what I am saying, is that to me it appeared that the concern for physical health was almost non-existent. However, one day to get from one place to another, we did happen into the athlete's weight room that happened to be quite an upgrade from the PE class.
This is an old and dated experience, and if people were born on the day I walked across the Warrior stage in cap and gown....they'd be well into the 20's.
But I know the system hasn't changed for GCHS or for the rest of the high school world. The infrastructure is built for their athletic program and for those who accel..... it is not built for the physical fitness of the students.
Just because a kid chooses not to be a part of an organized sport does not mean they still do not want to participate in sporting activity or have opportunities to grow physically, or just walk or run.
Yes, the PE classes did provide some of that, but secondarily so.
I can only hope that it has changed for the better, but methinks it's some of the Same old.
So School District 666 disbands their athletic program and Los Diablos are no longer taking the tax-funded field.
The Students at Donald J. Trump High school are at first incensed, because Grandpa used to play football on the field... His Son teaches at the school and coaches his son....as you guessed it, starting quarterback.... a regular chip off the ole block you might say.
But this new principal comes to town...with these new fangled ideas...
First of all school can immediately start later...after all, they only got there at 7:45 so that those Diablos - the pride of Trump High - could practice and have more daylight. (yes - ripping this example from the Atlantic Article I'm about to link using my own unique creativity..)
The Football field loses a little of its lustre, but during lunch break, kids and teachers and staff are allowed to go for a walk around the field. There are all sorts of recreational opportunities, some athletic - but maybe also kite competitions for the nearby Benedict Arnold Grade School....and even some life skills courses where people learn some basic outdoor (and indoor) skills.
For the Trump Diablos and the Cruz Jr High Diablitos who really wanted to accel in sports...it may be a painful year or two before neighboring districts catch on....
Then pretty soon...as outcomes improve dramatically, others will follow suit...and sports will be relegated to a club structure.
I am pretty sure the Sports industry on its own will ensure that Sebastian and Kaitlyn and their friends will have opportunities to pursue athletics.
All the current jocks, jock dad's and old jocks are going to revert to their high school ways.... because I revealed that I was a non-jock, that this all is based on Jock envy.
Believe as you will...
The natural habitat of a high school creates a culture where people are going to thrive and others are going to feel out of place.
It would be okay, because after all I am the conservative on this issue...and it's survival of the fittest?
I argue that such an emphasis on athletics creates a 'caste' system or 'hierarchy' that simply wouldn't be there. The school would still reward those who excel, and would even punish those who choose to do nothing. This school would punish those who have gifts but choose not to apply them, but not punish them because their giftedness doesn't reside around an ovular leather ball.
So the current school creates a culture that favors those who are athletically gifted....and if they are, they will receive the benefit of tax support that not even the intellectually gifted or mechanically gifted will ever be able to enjoy.
Again, nothing about athletics...save running and golf and swimming (maybe) are going to carry over into adulthood. It's just the topic of stories at local watering holes for old jocks to tell jock dads, who live vicariously through young jocks.
Now, my argument would be cleaner if I did not use 'jocks' as a label and if I did not say that Donald Trump HS was the Secondary School of District 666 and the Diablos were their mascot. (With Orange as their main color) However, with my ideas, Donald Trump High, the flagship school of District 666 would truly be great after it suspends its athletic program.
I would say this....that each child should enjoy the benefit of the $7,000 of your taxes and mine that are dedicated toward their education. Special needs kids will necessarily need more dedicated toward them.
Some districts still house their kids in deplorable buildings without climate control. Yes, I dealt with it as a kid and you did...but still, shouldn't we make the environment for LEARNING be the best it can be?
I could go on and on...
The article from the Atlantic The Case Against High School Sports -- will further bolster my argument and furthermore point out the relationship with athletics that schools in other countries have....and how basically they surpass us in education.
So you liberals, who want to tax and spend and waste money on stadiums, coaching salaries, transportation, and lousy fast food meals.... Click on this link... and prepare to help me Make America Great Again as you storm the next school board meeting and demand the closure of your local school's athletic program.
Maybe the Park District could take up that cause..
You're Welcome. And Je He, Ja Hi, Ja Ho, Ho, Ho... it is time for high School sports to Go, Go, Go!
(Please read the entire article...then we can talk...)
Ra! Ra! Ree... Kick em in the Knee! Ra! Ra! Rass! Kick em in................the other knee.
on May 3, 2019, 5:07 pm, in reply to "