Between Two Worlds
TATYANA ESQUILIN | OCT. 10, 2018 | SPORTS
Photo taken by Prachi Misra
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — People have differing views on the consequences of having sports in schools. A number of people feel the devoted athletes who practice each day until they come home drenched in sweat and too exhausted for homework are unable to succeed in their academic courses. However, others suggest students can benefit from both sports and academics if they learn to find a balance between the two.
The existence of physical education and sports in school provides a constructive way to keep students healthy. Taking them away could escalate the rate of obesity in children which is already hazardously high in America. In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1-in-5 children of school age are overweight and according to the Department of Health and Human Services, some states don’t even require a physical education class after the eighth grade. Some people believe good physical health positively correlates with social health and academic performance. Sports teams often require good communication, leadership and teamwork; proficiencies that can be utilized in a classroom.
“[Sports] help develop leadership skills, there are times when you feel uncomfortable which I think also makes you a better person,” said Coach Chris Crider, the Stanton athletic director and junior varsity flag football coach. “You get those butterflies in your stomach before a game, I think that’s almost like when you’re about to present in front of your class.”
Athletes feel participating in a sport can also motivate them to become better students, as sports teams can contribute resources that help them maintain their grades. They are surrounded by colleagues who can help them effectively manage their school work.
“It helps you a lot because you learn to find people that are good at different things to help you out with your work,” said junior Jordan Bowen, member of the varsity football team. “For instance, if I’m bad at math and good at history and one of my teammates is good at math and bad at history then we can help each other out.”
Students attending Stanton College Preparatory School believe sports give them the break they need from academics to spend time with friends and do something they enjoy. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, a 2006 study performed by the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology reported that lower levels of depression are shown in children who engage in some sort of physical activity.
“[Sports] help develop leadership skills, there are times when you feel uncomfortable which I think also makes you a better person.”
“For me playing football is a big stress reliever,” said junior Favian Hamilton, member of the varsity football team. “It keeps me fit, active, and happy overall. I get to play a sport that I love with the team I now call family.”
Sports do have the potential to put some stress on a student if they are unable to maintain several activities at once. However, according to some athletes the skill of time management develops as a student gets used to the amount of time that participating in a sport requires.
“Sometimes it’s hard to find balance between school work and athletics but if you try really hard you’ll find it easier and get better at it,” said sophomore Yanna Lin, member of the 2016-2017 junior varsity basketball team. “They [sports] are really great at motivating kids who might not otherwise be motivated to do their school work.”
Being able to balance playing a sport with academics is a way to prepare for regulating classes and activities in college. Having diversity in one’s skills can also improve the chances of a student being accepted into the college they want, helping them to become successful in whatever career path they choose.
“It helps you prepare for the real world in a lot of different ways,” said Coach Crider. “Being a part of a team is like being a part of the work force and having different employees that you need to get along with so the team is like a microcosm of the real world.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to find balance between school work and athletics but if you try really hard you’ll find it easier and get better at it.”
However, there is an argument that sports should be eliminated from schools entirely. In a 2015 column in The New York Times titled “School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports,” writer Amanda Ripley provided examples of why there should be no sports in schools. She asserted that having sports in schools gives students the impression that if they are good at a sport then there is no need for them to excel in other areas. People with the same view as her believe that pep rallies, booster clubs and other activities associated with sports have too much of a role in shaping a student’s priorities.
Despite this argument, many still believe both sports and academics work towards the same goal of building the minds of students. They believe learning in a classroom and learning through sports work well as a system to prepare students for their futures in different ways. A classroom teacher can provide knowledge on core subjects such as English and mathematics but a sports coach could teach teamwork and communication skills. Sports have many benefits on a student’s academic career, leaving one to wonder if there is actually much of a difference between the two.
This story appeared in Volume 34, Issue 1 of the Devil's Advocate, published in October 2017. Read the full issue here.