Do you think Americans put too much emphasis on sports within the education system?

Question

From elementary school all the way up through university. Do you believe that Americans are putting too much emphasis on sports and athlete performance and just aren't focusing enough on academics? It's no secret that the American education system is severely lacking.

I ask this question because I just think it's wrong that universities recruit athletes to play on their sports teams with little to no regard to their academic achievements in high schools.

I read somewhere that colleges and universities often don't report their athletes' GPAs. Basically they leave them out of the student population when it comes to ratings. And that they are also more lenient with athletes when it comes to their academics because God forbid they might lose their best player!

Now I know that American has some of the best higher education you can find in the world, but what about high schools? High schools, middle schools, and primary schools in America have extremely low academic achievement levels. I think fixing this is WAY more important than sports.

I just think it's ridiculous that most high schools begin the school day at like 7:30 in the morning. My sister's school recently changed to 7.20. Why? So they can have more time for sports practice after school. Teenagers NEED sleep. They shouldn't have to wake up at 5am to get to school on time. It's detrimental to overall physical health and academic performance.

So yeah what are your thoughts on this issue

goldgunsgirls · Accepted Answer

I see where you're getting at. I really do. But it would only be a huge problem if it was every student who was into sports. It's not though. The vast majority of middle / high schoolers aren't in competitive sports or looking to get recruited for college. It's their choice they want to do that, and to be honest, it's better than having them do the competitive sports to play professionally and not go into college - at least they get an education this way.

The only slightly valid point I can see of yours (the others aren't valid simply because it's only a few people it affects - the few students who play competitive sports) is that college athletes have an unfair advantage in university applications. But still, they put a lot of time and money into their respective sports, and in a sense they deserve to reap this "benefit" of not having to keep their grades as high. And two more points: 1) The non-athletic students do have way more time to keep their grades up, and 2) a lot of athletes do keep their grades up. So if you're concern is for the athletes who aren't getting as good of an education, I think they can manage :P

As for the waking up part... I think everyone is able to deal with that. School would last just as long each day, anyway, so if school started at 7:20 and ended at 2:00, there's not much difference between that and 9:00 to 4:15. It's just a matter of going to bed earlier and waking up earlier vs going to bed later and waking up later... same amount of sleep either way.

I am one of the student athletes who want to get recruited for college. So maybe I have some bias when I say there's not much of a problem, but I think it's not as much of a bias as it is that I just simply know more about what it's like to be an athlete, so I know it's not much of a problem for us athletes, and at the same time (obviously) I'm a student, so I know that the waking up part is easy to deal with if you go to bed early (and if you go to bed late, as I do, it's your fault). And I do keep my grades very high. So there's no problem there.

I think the problem within the American education system has nothing to do with sports. But to be honest I don't see many problems in the American education system... what problems do you see might I ask?

moaterboat · Accepted Answer

I believe that there should be a clear dividing line between academics and athletics. While athletics are certainly beneficial to youth, I think trying to mix the two is like trying to mix oil and water. Sports should be handled at the community level in my opinion. Not only will this allow schools to focus on what they are supposed to do. But it has other benefits as well. It would allow kids to meet other kids that may not go to their school, and I believe it would increase the community involvement and support because the teams would represent entire communities rather than just a school.

pixistix · Accepted Answer

Oh my gosh. You are like my idol right now. I just had this argument with someone yesterday, and yes, they put way too much emphasis on sports. I'm only in high school, I know that doesn't emit much reassurance, but I can say that our sports receive twice the amount of money our academics and fine arts department do. For instance, we just got put a batting cage in the gym that lowers itself down from the ceiling, while kids in AP English are on paper shortages and are told to bring their own staples and paper and stuff. Like, really?

Not only that, but it puts a lot of pressure on our athletes. I can not agree with you enough, I can't even stress to my peers enough how much the American education system is lacking. I am living it, and it's disrupting and detrimental to me. God, you sound like me. I love you right now. I haven't been able to voice this to anyone. And I'm extremely dogmatic. Anyway, I noticed that teachers and faculty don't have much say in what their students do, it's a lot of pressure on the teachers to get their students to pass their classes, and when they don't they look bad. My theory is that they just want the kid to graduate and get out so they don't have to repeat the grade. In college they will most likely have to take basic remedial college algebra and English classes again, but then they will be the colleges problem. 34% end up dropping out freshmen year anyway(: that's how academically prepared they are when they leave high school.

Sorry for my long answer... I get so opinionated. But thank you for asking that question UGH I got so much off my chest

RoxyKAy · Accepted Answer

I've been going to American public school all my life and I've never seen any evidence of this. My high school was very strict about not letting people play sports unless they had good grades. The sports depart didn't receive any special treatment and my school promoted kids to get involved in artistic extra curricular activities as much as the athletic ones. If anything, the kids who participated in after school programs at my high school were always a lot happier and had much better grades than the students who just went home. So no, I don't think sports is what's wrong with American public education.

As for colleges recruiting athletes, I don't see a big difference between that and offering smarter students better scholarships. Even if they don't have good grades, those athlete have to work very hard and be very good at what they do to get recruited. Depending on what sport they're doing, their experience in college sports can help them get a job professionally after they graduate, and isn't that the whole point of college?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I don't know about national averages, but the publics schools I attended growing up were great.

I'm now at a private liberal arts college and in some ways, I believe my high school was harder than my college classes.

As for starting school early, it works that way because all the buses are transportation for high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. They start at different times so that the buses can complete their routes in enough time for one school before starting their route for another school. You get up early for work when you're an adult so I don't see why its so bad in high school. Just go to bed earlier. and it takes you over 2 hours to wake up, get ready, and travel to school?

windy-rose · Accepted Answer

Oh yeah. Don't get me wrong, physical activity and education should certainly be there, but it shouldn't become a focal point. The focus needs to be on the whole education and other extras have just as much if not more long term value than sports does. Things like music, art, and theatre for the young really bolster creativity and using the whole brain, they'll stick with you the rest of your life to boot. It makes me sad to see these programs lose funding while sport rolls in the dough.

The focus needs to be a rounded and full education, not a sports record. They are extras for a reason.

Back in HS, we didn't start till 8:30, so the early thing wasn't an issue.

CheeseLoveWhiz · Answer

I just graduated high school this past year and people got kicked off teams for bad grades. I think maybe my school was different because we were one the top U.S. high schools in academics. I don't know how it is nationally but, the way my school did it was if you played a varsity athletic sport, you didn't have P.E. and it was counted as an elective class during the last block of the day . In result practice was cut shorter and ended by 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Also, they make the teams do fundraisers so they can have money to support themselves.

I think the schools your talking about need to enforce some rules and it is really the administration's fault as to what goes on. It all goes back to who is running the programs .

Pcsgirl · Answer

It's not just America that does this it is also happening in Britain.
my high school/comprehensive school are putting sports before academics and i think its wrong but on the other hand gives the less academic kids chance to show what they are good at while the academically clever ones show they are good in their subjects is how it's explained to us irritatingly

martyfellow · Answer

You betcha.  It encourages a lot of guys to ignore academics since they all think they're going to be Magic Johnson.  The only way most of them will be like Magic Johsnon will be in heir HIV results, in reality, but try telling them that in their teenage years...

Prof_Don · Answer

To further fuel your fire on this issue...i heard that Notre Dame is considering lowering its academic standards to be able to recruit better football players!

Supposedly they found out about a negative correlation between grades in school and athletic ability. :-X

SixStringSeal · Answer

This seems to be a constant issue at my university where some people believe athletics is receiving more funding then they deserve.

The logic is having good sports teams will draw more students into wanting to attend your college.

Lj236 · Answer

yeah I agree with you.  It seems like a lot of coaches also think the sport is a lot more important than school.  The only thing that can stop you from playing is if you get terrible grades but even then if its their good player they  will let them still play

Anonymous · Answer

Yes they do a school in Texas paid 750,000  for a scoreboard and that was a high school. My high school gave the football team a steak dinner they went 0-9 Our music program got 3rd in state in our division and we got bagels and a quick congratulations speech. We also had a ceremony to honor all the athletes oo each sports season.

front2back · Answer

As a high schooler in sports, I get what your saying.

Waking up 6:00 am for 7:15 class sucks. But then again, getting out of practice at 6:00 is much better than 7:00 or 8:00.

And for the record I'm quite smart, I'm class rank 50 out of 504.

Xx_DRE_xX · Answer

Because maybe those schools are simply after glory. Atleast on a college level it tends to be that way.

lala-193 · Answer

hell yeah

jokersgirl · Answer

absolutely

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