Forget math and reading; athletics are what really matter. Would any educator actually say that? Would any parent? Apparently, yes, some would. Staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert discusses the situation in the New Yorker in September 2013.
Read it here: Kolbert, "Have Sports Teams Brought Down America's Schools?"
- In talking about U.S. high schools, Kolbert makes an extended comparison between sports and math. It might appear that she is presenting a zero-sum argument—that sports programs flourish precisely because they rely on time, energy, and resources that could otherwise be devoted to math. Is that indeed what she is saying? Summarize her argument succinctly and accurately.
- Kolbert presents statistics as well as other kinds of evidence to support her argument. What other evidence does she present? How well does she balance the types of evidence that she uses? Explain your reasoning. Which piece of evidence is most persuasive to you? Why?
- Kolbert states that her argument centers on “the culture and its priorities,” and she infers that in the U.S., high school without sports is unimaginable. Can you imagine what high school would be like without sports as “the core culture”? How would social life be different? How would everyday routines be different? What kinds of activities might become a central focus? Give your imagination (or your memory) a workout.
- Kolbert presents a case from journalist Amanda Ripley’s book about Poland, which succeeded at improving students’ test scores dramatically in less than a decade despite having far fewer resources than the U.S. to invest in education. The Polish schools have no sports teams, and “there was no confusion about what school was for.” Do you think U.S. schools should de-emphasize sports in order to bolster academics? Use Kolbert as your They Say and present evidence from your own experience. If you were schooled outside the U.S., your experience may provide an important comparison.
They Say I Blog 
Elizabeth Kolbert writes an interesting article about America’s schools and how the sports teams are interfering with academics. I came from a big city high school where sports, especially football, were the main focus. I have great memories of pep rallies, late night games, and school spirit as far as the eye can see. The standard way of thinking about the topic of sports in high schools is that it is necessary for the growth of the student and gives that student a well-rounded experience.
After reading Kolbert’s article, I agree with Kolbert up to a point. I do feel that sports are good for children and help them to build confidence. But, as Kolbert states in her article, a child can have that experience outside of school. It is true that the state of American schools is mediocre compared to other countries. A solution to this problem may be to create an academic atmosphere during school and leave the extra curricular activities for outside the school.
I have a daughter who is currently enrolled in a charter school in Philadelphia. This charter school’s main focus is Math and Science. There are different social clubs and sports teams associated with the school but it is obvious that the spotlight is on academics. The school ranks very high every year in standardize testing and has a 97 % graduation rate. This charter school centers their attention on preparing the children for college and for their adult life by practicing critical thinking and a heavy hand in technology. They strive to be the best and they show their school spirit and school pride for academics. They have pep rallies before big exams. This is just another way to educate our children and in my opinion, it works very well.
As Kolbert points out, “American high schools lavish more time and money on sports than math”. I agree fully and add that it is time to change the way our American school system works. Ultimately, what is at stake here is the future well being of our children.
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High school is one of the keys to the future. The education we receive in high school is fundamental to our college education and our future careers. Sports teaches an individual to be selfless. They teach individuals to work as a team. These team work skills come in handy later in life.
In elementary school, due to poor behavior children lose their recess or free time. Recess is the one place where children release their frustration and irritation. What many people fail to realize is that high school offers students the same thing. Being part of high school sports develops motor skills, maintains a healthy exercise program, and provides for a release when school work becomes too much to handle. Most high school sport programs require that a student have at least a C average in order to participate. School sports helps children socialize with other children, helps them bond with their parents, and it increases their self-esteem.
It boosts school morale when students meet to cheer for their team. While sports sometimes is a distraction from school, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Most teenagers need an outlet to connect with other their own age. This helps students have pride in something and this will help them in the long run. This increased interest in school generally results in increased enjoyment in academics, resulting in better overall test scores and grades.
As an adult, I look back at my high school years, and I have to say that the most memorable times were the times spent around sport activities. I look back at these memories and they still bring a sense of pride back. I remember everything fondly and I would want my children to experience the same thing. Academics are fundamental but in order to succeed at something we have to love it.
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After reading Elizabeth Kobert’s vision on high school sports and academics. She argues that high school sports have a major interference with academics. I sense she’s saying academics are under supported and sports are overly encouraged. Kobert employs many significant examples in her argument.
In Kolberts argument the case she used froma Amanda Ripleys book “The Smartest Kids in the World” proved a incredibly applicable point. This case examines how Poland students test scores have risen from below average in less than a decade. Furthermore those same students now out smart American students. One pivotal fact here is that school sports are nonexistent in countries like this. I believe what Kolbert is trying to explain is that the whole meaning of school has somewhat been misconstrued in America. School is here principally for academics and sports are presumed to be extracurricular.
I without a doubt agree with Kolbert’s vision. Sports are a hot commodity in schools these days and education is not supported as much as sports. Case in point, a student who graduates high school with honors gest a pat on the back and best wishes. Yet, a student athlete who graduates and gets drafted to the NBA could possibly get the school gym named after him.
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I believe sports have taken over schools.
Unless you are playing football,nothing
Else matters. Drama,band,art, even scholastic clubs.
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I believe on her behave is what she was trying to point out is that sports has a huge impact on a teens life. Teenagers are scattered brained and the only thing that is keeping them in school is the sports, but should that even matter? I strongly believe for sports. I believe that a teenager should have something to look forward to and I strongly believe it is keeping them out of trouble.
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I agree with Kobert’s statement that in the high schools sports seem to have a higher priority than education. Instead of high school emphasizing so much on sports teams they should turn the attention on students becoming better learners. The reason why United States schools have such bad test results is because students are not taught how to prioritize things. Like Kobert writes, “I wondered what would have happened if their math teacher had tried to call them in two weeks before school started to hold two-hour drill sessions. My sons would have been livid, as would every other kid in their class. Perhaps even more significant, I suspect that parents would have complained.” High schools students only look forward to going to school because of the pep rallies, sport games, and prom. I do not think that there are students who look forward to going to rallies that talk about test skills or taking actual exams. Once school is over summer arrives and while students in the United States are busy hanging out, foreign students are still studying.
Even though I agree that sports could be good outlets for students, I think they should be more of a reward. High school is important because is where you build your learning foundation to go to college. Instead of sports teams accepting students with C letter grades, they should only accept those who have A’s. Those students who have A’s on their class are hard workers, determined and goal oriented, which are the students that should be allow to be on teams. By doing that only those students who are able to balance, schoolwork and sports will be the ones who will get to be part of the teams. Perhaps then, students in America will learn that in order to get the things they want they will need to do better in school. If students’ main motivations are pep rallies and sports, America students will never improve on their test scores.
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I agree with Kobert that some schools may seem to lean towards sports rather than education. In my school, students must have a passing grade to keep on participating in their sports. The school does a grade check every three weeks so that does keep students studying and motivated to keep their grades up. This system seems to work well, so if every school was required to have this policy, I think it would be a great way of balancing both sports and education.
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High school athletics are beneficial in a way that they provide equal opportunities for students to stay involved in their communities and maintain healthy bodies. I agree with Kolbert in the fact that some schools should reconsider their priorities, but there are other solutions to the problem other than getting rid of high school sports all together. I concur with the idea that sports in schools are valuable to students and should stick around, but that there are ways to shift more focus to academics while still having athletic teams. Sports have the ability to boost confidence, communication, and teamwork skills and these are not traits that can be learned simply by improving test scores. It is brought to attention that test scores in Poland are higher than those of America and I cannot argue with the fact that it would be favorable to raise the scores in the United States. I do, however, think that test scores don’t represent how successful a student will be. Therefore, the communication and teamwork skills built through high school athletics can take a student much further in life than any multiple choice test could and they should continue to be practiced across America.
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This piece appealed to me because I’m still in high school. It made me open my eyes to my own school and what they set as their priorities are. Thinking about it, my school focuses on their football program a lot, more than any other sport at the school. I think if the schools separate sports and education, students could excel more, and this country could improve in education.
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I think sports, while they are extremely important in a high schoolers life, should not be the main focus of the school itself. Teachers have tendencies at times to let the reins loose for the football players or cut some slack on the major players of the soccer team. I believe participating in a sport shows you not only have talent but dedication to do both the school curriculum and the sports training and they should be treated equally and based on that.
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High school is not just about learning and getting an education. While those two points should be the main focus of the students’ four years, they shouldn’t be the only. Author Elizabeth Kolbert tells the reader of a boy who went to a school in Poland and excelled in test scores. Claiming the success was due in part to the fact that the Polish school had no sports teams. High school is more than just learning. High school prepares students for the future and real world survival. Being educated is important, but being a well-rounded individual is too. Sports and other clubs help a student become educated in life lessons. Teamwork, integrity, patience, social skills, and countless valuable character traits are learned while playing sports. It’s the students’ choice to play sports, but they should always have the option in high school. There is something about everyone coming out to the home football game that unifies the kids, and this unity is what high school is all about. Education is vital but sports are easily just as valuable!
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As Elizabeth Kolbert has stated,”American kids’ performance on the field shows just how well they can do when expectations are high and they put their minds to it. It’s too bad that their test scores show the same thing” Although i see her point that the education in a lot of American schools isn’t prioritized as the high school sports, but i don’t think one can compare sports and education.
Education is one thing and sports isn’t the main cause for the rates of the students grades. Yes, the clubs sports can take up a lot of time from the student yet it is possible for students to settle down and study and do homework for classes.Of course parents don’t want to see their child failing but they could also be put into use as helping their children improve and be a motivator. Education should be important in a students life even if it isn’t the fun option.
What I do agree with is that sports seems to be more focused on. Yes, it helps the students socializing skills, improve their health, and is good for their well being. However, it should fall under education not rise above it. Yet, some high school make sure that students stay focused. For example, they would state that in order to stay on the team and play you must maintain a certain G.P.A which i find reasonable.
To conclude, high school sports can’t really be compared to education however, a students education should be the main priority.
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Sports are extremely important to teenagers in high school. It is not only a way for students to get exercise, it is also a way for them to connect in school, as friends, or for team work. My high school as well as most have a grade limit for athletes. It becomes a reason to do well in school. I don’t agree with Kolbert that schools are leaning toward sports than school work. Schools just create a value for athletes to do well in their studies so they can do well in sports.
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Sports are important, I understand that. However, Elizabeth Kolbert has a valid argument. Americans tend to put more emphasis on sports rather than academics. Yet it is not the child at fault. In the article Kolbert explains a tour that someone she knew went on and the parents were more concerned about if the football program was lacking rather then the math courses. High school sports are some-what related to grades. If the students focus is on their athletics and not on their academics there is gonna be some significant correlation between the two. The students education should be their main priority. Kolberts views on this are very similar to mine. She eloquently wrote this too without bashing sports fans. I feel like people get offended when someone says education isn’t a main focus and sports is. Not many people realize it. However, if people took a step back from their views they would see that Americans are not that highly rated academically in the world.
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I believe if schools were to de-emphasize sports in order to boost students academic scores. The schools wouldn’t gain anything from doing this, because American students love sports and will do anything to be able to stay on a team. Even try harder in school. If you take something away from students they have nothing to lose, so you would they put more effort into their schoolings? Schools should require a certain grade point average for ever student that is involved in a sport. And if they don’t make the grades they are benched from the game until they get those grades up. Students will try more in school if they know they will not be able to play in a sport they are deeply passionate about.
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In my opinion Kolbert is implying that all the resources that are being used to train high school athletes could be used to fund more educational causes such as math. She also brings up the point that the parents of possible students could care less how bad there math ratings are, just as long as they have a good sports team backing them up. Granted schooling without some form of athletic may seem boring with low school morale, but that not what school is meant for school is for learning the basic necessities of life. Without a sports team school would be a simple, Go Learn, and Leave scenario. Kolbert says that US schools are putting too much emphasis on sports and not enough on academics, and I agree for the high school kids of today care little for their academics feeling they won’t need most education when they’re. “Playing in the majors”.
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I agree with Kolbert, American high schools today spend too much time and money on sports. Sports should be an extracurricular hobby outside of school. According to the article, American children are getting outscored by Polish children, and Poland spends less than half on each student. This alone should say something about our current situation. I do think sports and extracurricular activities should play a part in a student’s life, but we shouldn’t be putting all of our resources into solely sports.
The administration for the schools aren’t the only issue in this; parents are also culprits in this issue. Parents don’t seem too concerned about the academics; when Amanda Ripley took a tour to Washington D.C. to a private school, the tour leader told the parents that the math programs were weak and none of the parents showed any concern. As soon as the tour leader mentioned that the football program was weak, many parents showed concern.
Sports shouldn’t take over what is truly important for students. Education is the reason why they come to school in the first place, but now it seems that sports are slowly taking over. Sports can be beneficial by enhancing teamwork, confidence, and self-esteem, but it won’t help you with math or science. Students should focus on their education and if they seek out other hobbies or sports, it should be out of school.
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Kolbert basically states that schools without sports would be/ are more successful. Without sports more emphasis is placed on academics and the welfare of the student. “Even wealthy American parents didn’t care about math as much as football,” Poland’s math and science scores have improved so greatly because there is is of a distraction from academics and more support for the student.
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Brandon you make a great point in saying that sports are good for “enhancing teamwork, confidence, and self-esteem, but it won’t help you with math or science” I couldn’t agree with you more. Kids and parents seem to have a tunnel vision when it comes to school focused primarily on sports, while pushing what matters most, education, off to the side. These days kids see all the media and hype that athletes are receiving in sports, also along with a very big paycheck for those who become professionals and that seems much more enticing than making good grades in math and science. There are no tv shows about the best math students in the nation or some of the smartest people in the world. Most student and parents do not realize how important education is until it is to late. I think the only way to change that is for the schools along with the NCAA to step in and require much higher academic standards for athletes, and the only way for this to work is if the parents, school, and administration/teachers are on board. We should use sports to our advantage to encourage kids to do well in school so they can play and maybe come out of high school or college and get a job in something other than sports.
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I agree that athletics can have an effect on grades. I also believe that athletics is the priority over academics at many schools and something really should be done about it. Parents, teachers, and administers should re-emphasize the importance of academics and if students aren’t performing well in the class room they should not be able to perform on the field. Students should also encourage other students to keep their eye on the prize and that education is the key. A lot of the problem may be solved if people started praising those doing well in school the way that student-athletes are praised.
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Many people would readily agree that sports are important to the Americans culture. Where a lot of the disagreement comes is how important it is in reference to academics. Schools tend to put more emphasis on sports rather than academics. I agree with Anya that that athletics can have an effect on grades. When too much focus is put on athletics grades normally suffer. Being that athletics is a recreational activity it should not take priority over academics. As Anya stated above it is not only the responsibility of the athlete but also up to the parent, teachers, and administer to ensure that academics isn’t over shadowed by athletics. They act as the enforcer. If a student grade are not what they should be it is up to them to pull the student athlete aside, offer assistance, or even put the student athlete’s on probation until there is some improvement in their academics. If nothing is done to combat this issue we as a nation will continue to perform substantially worse then other countries academically.
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A student’s high school years serve to foster social and intellectual skills in order to prepare them for a successful professional life. Elizabeth Kolbert,in her “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools?”, expresses her concern with American high schools’ obsession with sports. She claims that American students are falling below the scholastic standard on an international scale due to a preoccupation with football, basketball, or any other sport. However, Kolbert bases her argument off of test scores–or a student’s ability to select between four answer choices on a piece of paper. She fails to acknowledge the skills developed by high school sports that include critical thinking, cooperation, and integrity. If high school is preparation for the professional world, should students be taught to select between A, B, C, and D, or should they be taught how to work with other people in an honorable manner? High school sports offer critical skills. The football field is a competitive, intense environment, similar to how the professional world can be. While the maths and sciences hold great importance in developing scholars, it is the combination of social and intellectual ability that lifts students to a successful future.
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Elizabeth Kolbert makes an one sided argument on how sports brings down education. A student goes to school to learn and to be ready for their life ahead and sports can give that. Kolbert uses one country, Poland, as an example to support her statement. But how about the others? One of the top ranked countries, Japan, has students juggling both sports and academics at the same time. America is a great example of a country surrounded by sports. High schools are very competitive when it comes to sports, making it the biggest focus when it comes to talking about other schools. High schools sports are a way for students to enjoy and also get together to cheer on for their school. People use sports as a reason to argue why America does not rank high in statistics, but they can be proven wrong. First, sports makes teens think. Using strategies and ideas, gets them to use their brain. In soccer, players have to always think about where to pass or shoot in order to win. Also, team sports allows people to learn teamwork skills. This also helps people with their social skills.Plus, sports makes a player’s mentality tougher. Sports teach young people a valuable lesson, which can help them later in the future. Although America education is lower than some, sports shouldn’t be the blame for that.
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Elizabeth Kolbert’s concern with school and sports bring up a good point of which is more important, however that depends on the student as well. I feel that schools in America have a stereotype of the football team being a main part of the school, attending games, going to parties and somehow doing well in school. Schools aren’t always like that. The school I attend is split up with the magnet program and the other program for kids zoned for the school. Our magnet program focuses on academics and vigorous studying, which in some cases are good, to help us stay focused in school. But our sports teams aren’t very good but students still choose to join and play. Even with academics as a priority, most students have a life in which they play sports and other extra activities. Sports are a way to get away from school, being in a program where academics excel above sports, I’m not looking for a career in sports, and I just do it because I want to. Students usually do sports for their pleasure, and it’s their decision to use their time wisely. Sports are extra no matter what your academics are, you have to put in the extra time to practice and play. If playing sports is making you fall behind in school that’s a choice you have to make. I believe that is a hard choice but a choice making you choose which is more important for yourself. If a student is good at time management then great, but a lot aren’t and that’s something that needs to be worked on as well to get good grades.
Her argument states that American students are falling below in academics comparing to other places such as Poland. I think a problem for that is teachers in America aren’t able to teach to their full capacity. Better teachers that actually want to teach and help the students understand should be teaching. Teachers are put on so many time constraints and core standards in America, not allowing them to teach everything needed in a small amount of time, therefore rushing them and making it a less enjoyable job. Aside from teachers, America has different standards and requirements unlike other countries, which could be a reason for the difference. But I find that schools are forcing tons of standardized tests every year, which the states pour money into and not actually benefiting us. I think the reason other places are ahead of America is the American system for school isn’t working well on the students in a way to learn in school and do other things outside of school. Education and sports shouldn’t hold each other back.
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In her article, “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools?,” Elizabeth Kolbert conveys her concerns with the fixation of American high schools on athletics. She states that American high schools spend excessive time and money on sporting activity and not enough on the maths and sciences. Kolbert believes that the American obsession with sports is a result of a culture with mixed up priorities, however, I disagree. Organized sports provide necessary life skills that cannot be taught in the classroom such as cooperation, teamwork, and competition. Although the United States may be slipping behind countries like Poland and Japan in standardized testing, the lack of emphasis on sports at a young age is a disadvantage in the long-term as children grow up to become adults. The high school playing field is an excellent training ground for professional life, and I agree with Ben as he states above how the intense, competitive nature of sports is great preparation for the workforce. Furthermore, I disagree with Kolbert’s view because she does not credit the physical benefits that sports provide young people. Sporting activity is vital to the health and well-being of teens and this is every bit as important as intellectual capability in schools. Athletics promote exercise which is key to the development of all children. So although Elizabeth Kolbert attributes sports to the overall decline of American test scores, this does not mean America is falling behind the rest of the world.
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I thought it was very interesting to find out that in the 2009 PISA tests, American students ranked thirty first in math and seventeenth in reading, but I was not surprised. I also was not surprised to find out that American schools spend more time and money on sports teams than on math and other educational programs. Americans pay a lot of attention to sports teams, especially in schools. I believe that is why we have the idea of the “dumb jock,” because although it is not true in all cases, a lot of student athletes put their sport before their education. So, it is not surprising that in other countries where schools do not have sports teams, their students score higher, because when they are at school they are more focused on their studies than on sports. In America, this can sometimes be backwards.
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After reading “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools? “ , the author Elizabeth Kolbert and I share the same personal opinion about how sports teams are dragging down the American academic culture. Kolbert inclusion of Tom’s story demonstrates the negative effects that sports can have on your education. While the parents at the private school in Washington, D.C in her article are in disgust about the lack of an adequate football team; unlike those parents I would be focusing on the benefits of a great educational environment .These personal opinions’ are rooted in my past educational experiences with an undefeated but nonexistent football team at one of the top high schools in the nation. Despite many saying I was missing the atmosphere that surrounds sports,=. They were wrong I never felt like I was missing something.
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When Elizabeth Kolbert writes “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools?” she delves into the idea that Americans teenagers involved in their local high school
sports tend to care less about academics and more about athletics. As a current high school student I agree with this article to an extent. I believe that it truly depends on the character of the individual. I’ve seen students that do not care about homework and care more about their after school practices, but then there is also those students that find time to fit in homework between practices and travel time. Although the united states may lack certain educations standards compared to other countries, is does excel other areas. Athletics allow students to “blow off steam” and help cope with issues in their daily lives, as well as aid in personal health. Overall I think there can be a healthy balance between athletics and academics with the right student.
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I agree with anya that athletics can have an effect on grades because I experienced it. I thought high school was a joke so I didnt take it seriously except on the field. My performance on the field was soaring compared to academics because I wasn’t interested in it as much as I was with sports. I feel that if the states took out athletics from a school it would and wouldn’t have an effect. It wouldn’t have an effect because students that are just on the team for that varsity letter and dont really care about playing then their academic performances will be high because they perform 10x better in the classroom than on the field so they stick to education. Now it would have an effect because all the athletes that are actually really good and are passoniate about the game will have nothing to be passionate about so they might drop out of school or get involved into crimes all because they cant play sports liked they dreamed of doing the rest of their lives.
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Eliizabeth Kolbert makes some very good points in her article “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools?”. In her article she states that sports are having a bad effect on are education because sports are being prioritized over are education, and that America high schools are falling behind in academics comparing to other places such as Poland because of this. Although I agree with her that sports are causing a negative effect on are education I still think that they also teach us very important skills that you cant learn in a class room.
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In this article, Elizabeth Kolbert is describing the correlation and relationship between academics and atheletics. She poses the question: Have sports teams brought down American academics? This is interesting question for many reasons. I believe that although it could be seen that acadmics has taken a backseat to atheletics, atheltics still plays an important role in the development of students. With my experience in athletics, I have learned valueable skills I would not have learned anywhere else. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that hardwork does not always lead to sucess if you don’t learn from your mistakes. I remember being at districts for swimming. I had worked so hard all season to get my 50 free under 30 seconds. I knew what I wanted to do and I had a plan. My coach’s last words of advice were different from what I had planned to do. I decided to go with my plan; the same plan I had used all season and gotten consistent 31s. After swimming as hard as I could with high hopes, I hit the wall and immeditely looked up to check my time. It was a 30.4. I was crushed. I felt that all the work I had done during the season had gone to waste. I began to play back what my coach had told me all year and it all clicked. My coach’s advice would have allowed me to break a 30. After that day, I learned that taking advice from others, even if you think it won’t help, is always good to at least try. You never know what you might find. Learning this lesson was something that would have not come around in a classroom. Academics and athletics have two completely different places in my heart; atheltics being more heavily weighted. Knowing that I could have broken a 30
keeps me striving toward that ultimate goal and I can say that I would have never learned this life lesson with only academics. Academics and atheltics both play an important role in a students development. Academics teaches students what they need for their future work lives, however, athletics prepares students for life and all that it entails.
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Elizabeth Kolbert compared high school student’s test scores to their achievement in sports in her article “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools?”. Her article has shown that there may be a correlation between schools who put time and effort into sports having lower scores in subjects such as mathematics. However, is this really a completely negative thing? Sports involve physical exersize, which is proven to improve performance in almost anything anything. Sports get kids healthy and provide an outlet for them to relieve the stresses of every day life, (one of those stressors could even be math.) The case study on Poland included in this article does in fact show that schools without sports teams have higher test scores, however, Kolbert did not compare the stress levels of children in the United States versus Poland.
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In the article, “Have Sports Teams Brought Down America’s Schools?”, Elizabeth Kolbert argues that sports are bringing down academics. I agree with this statement. America’s culture in high schools, which is focused around sports, has negatively effecting academics. This can be seen when other countries are performing better academically while spending less money. These countries are not focused on sports as much. Sports teams are brining down academics because sports are prioritized, and kid enjoy sports more than academics.
Sports have taken priority over academics in todays society. The culture of sports is held to be more important than academics. Kolbert explains that “American high schools lavish more time and money on sports than on math”. This shows the priority of the school. Sports games are a major part of school spirit. Practice is placed before studying, causing kids to perform lower. Also, people enjoy sports. As Kolbert gives the scenario of her sons that are attending soccer practice two weeks before school. “If their math teacher had tried to call them in two weeks before school started”, the kids would be very opposed. People also enjoy their pride in sports over their pride in academics, thus putting sports before academics and lowering scores.
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I agree with Kolbert and others in the sense that sports, especially football, have taken over the high school realm. In my opinion, sports are vital to a child’s development. They provide an organized way of exercising as well as promote teamwork and leadership. I played basketball for all four years of high school and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I created incredible friendships and valuable relationships with my coaches who functioned as my mentors throughout high school. On the other hand, I often did struggle academically. Similar to many other students, the pressures of playing a high school sport can definitely interfere with academics. When sports begin to overpower academics, that is when the line needs to be drawn. I think it is vital to have a balance between sports and academics, but academics should always come first. We are in school to get an education and that should be each student and faculty member’s priority. The high school sports arena should have to take a backseat to academics. Despite this, I do not think high school sports should be taken away as in the case in Poland. As mentioned before, they foster growth and determination in a way that school can’t.
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I do not agree with Kolbert’s statement that sports in the United States are detrimental to high school students’ educations. I believe that there are many more factors to playing a sport that help a student’s education than that would harm it. Sports can enhance a teenager’s education by teaching them determination, time management, teamwork, and providing them with a healthy distraction from work that could easily become overbearing and stressful. I don’t think it would be fair to blame America’s lower test scores on sports alone; the whole education system in the US differs from other nations. The difference in school schedules and teaching styles should be held accountable for the lack of academic prestige in most schools, not the students’ appreciation for extracurrriculars and sports.
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In this article, Elizabeth Kolbert talks about whether high school sports teams have hurt American students academically or not. She talks about how Poland’s education system has drastically improved with the help of not having school sports teams. Shavonne Boyle agrees with Kolbert when she says, “I think sports, while they are extremely important in a high schoolers life, should not be the main focus of the school itself.” Although I agree with Boyle up to a point, I cannot fully accept her overall conclusion that eliminating school sports is the answer. Even though it may increase our education, I believe sports are instrumental in giving people qualities they may not have had if not for sports. I think sports teach students many important life lessons and how to work well with others. It also helps students learn how to manage their time efficiently. If students do not get the chance to play sports for their school, I think it could hurt them in the long run when it’s time to go to college. Although it is very important to focus on academics, a high GPA in high school could mean nothing if a student can’t work well with others or know their strengths and weaknesses in and out of the classroom. I think I am a successful student because of the sports I played, mainly in high school. They taught me a lot of tough lessons, but also taught me a lot about myself and how I could be successful in the classroom.
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“Forget math and reading; athletics are what really matter” –
don’t know who even could advice that. Likely old ignorant soviet physical teacher.
However I need to get more in details of her article.
The educational system should create conditions where students could improove themselves from both sides.
At the present time one sits all nights learning maths, another order his papers at services like http://termpapereasy.com/ and goes to, say, football activities. I don’t deny ideas of both approaches. We just need to find a balance.
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I agree with the author’s point of view that sport teams are getting in the way of the focus of education. Once I set foot in college; sports however, did not have any benefit for me. My test scores were significantly too low for the college of my choice but, they could have possibly been met if my time was focused more on education rather than sports. Therefore, I think that sports are eating away at the academic levels of American students, compared to other nations. After the presidential elections occurred, the topic of education came up in the conversation between a family friend and I. She told me that while growing up in Romania, education was tuition free and still is today. She wished to see this kind of change happen to America because of the costly tuition for her three children, one whom is on his way to being a college student. She also mentioned that being admitted in to the high schools and colleges is not as easy as the American students have it made. There are certain exams for free admission into high schools and colleges. With other nations focusing solely on their opportunity for educating every one of their citizens, I think that America is lagging behind.
I also disagree, because not all high school Americans plan to get a college education. As a former athlete, I believe that participating in sports while going to school had its benefits. I made great friends, whom I shared memories with, and learned leadership skills throughout my time as captain of my sports teams. Being involved in sports also was benefit to my health, allowing me to get in a couple hours of exercise after school each day. Taking away sport teams in the high schools throughout the U.S. would create more problems. Obesity is a major health problem, especially in the United States. If American high schools decided not to spend money on these programs, I think it would add to the increasing rate of obese citizens. Parents, as well as the students, would demand for sports to be included at high schools, which is why this would not happen. Without sports in high school, there would be no NBA, MLB, NFL, Olympics or other sport organizations. There are students who want to catch a career as a being a professional baseball player, while others dreams of becoming the next Steve Jobbs. A college education is not meant for everyone, nor is it demanded to be. If we want our next generation to succeed as much as to their ability, there needs to be a balance between the funding of extra curriculum clubs and sport teams.
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I agree with Elizabeth Kolbert about high school and Academics. In the United States we tend to have a higher standard for sports then we do with education. Sports we only have one shot at playing the game and if we get hurt then our sports career is over. With education we can use it to benefit because it will help us in the future and also we can look back at it as a milestone in our life.
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I agree with Elizabeth Kolbert about high school sports and academics. In the United States we tend to have a higher standard for sports then we do for education. In sports we only have one shot at playing the sport and if we get hurt then our whole sports career is over.Education we can use it to benefit us in our future and also we can look back at it as a milestone in our life.
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I agree with what Kolbert is saying in her article. The emphasis that a startling majority of American schools put on sports over academics is alarming and helps explain why in “[…] the last round of PISA tests, administered in 2009, U.S. students ranked thirty-first in math and seventeenth in reading, among seventy-four countries.” However, it is not entirely the fault of the American school system, parents are just as much to blame. Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, writes about an experience she had in her book The Smartest Kids in the World, which perfectly illustrates this idea. Kolbert includes Ripley’s story in her own article and writes that “(Ripley) describes a tour she took of a private school in Washington, D.C. […] The tour leader—a mother with three children in the school—was asked about the school’s flaws. When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, the parents suddenly became concerned. “Really?” one of them asked worriedly. “What do you mean?”‘ This story helps illustrate how parents, who value sports over academics, are one of the reasons American culture revolves so heavily around them, and why students are more motivated to perform well in sports rather than on tests. I appreciate how at the end of her article Kolbert provides hope to her readers and the future of American test scores by acknowledging that “[…] sports reveal what is possible”, and if American kids’ could perform just as well on tests as they do on the field, “when expectations are high and they put their minds to it”, then their test scores would drastically improve.
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After-school sports are very important for high school students because it generates way more than just physical activity. Sports are important for teens because it increases their self esteem and teaches them lifelong skills such as leadership and patience. All of these qualities build us up to make us who we become as we head towards adulthood. Elizabeth Kolbert argues that “sports programs flourish precisely because they rely on time, energy, and resources that could otherwise be devoted to math” which is partly true, but why drain the energy of a child solely for the purpose of an education? I feel that although getting a great education is extremely important, sports can build character and give students a sense of confidence in a way that they can never achieve through school.
The stress and anxiety rate amongst highschool students in the United States is at an all-time high because of all of the school work assigned to them. Forcing students to study things that they are not interested in does not bring out the passion that is felt when participating in sports. Sports also help give students a sense of accomplishment and teamwork in a way that math can not. Kolbert also claims that her argument is based upon “the culture and its priorities” and believes that a high school without sports in the United States is unimaginable. There are many high schools across the nation that pretty much eat, sleep, and breath after-school sports. Many students transfer to different schools for a greater opportunity to be scouted by college coaches. Without after-school sports it would be a lot more difficult for athletes to receive great scholarships from universities.
Aside from school, social life amongst teenagers would be entirely different. These activities keep students out of trouble and expand their minds on something totally different than a text-book. After-school sports is a way for students to make new friends and create lifelong memories before entering “the real world.”
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