I'm very new to this list, but I'm finding it very interesting. I thought
this particular post demanded a response, so here is my first post:
At 01:34 PM 5/14/2002 -0700, Pamela Taylor wrote:
>List Members:
>
>I am not attempting to slam anyone, and have nothing
>against Carol Johnson either when I say this: We are
>getting real tired of VISIONS. They sound so
>wonderful but what we really want is some CONCRETE
>CHANGE.
I agree that vision needs to be translated into action. This is a very
hard task, but it needs to be done. Often, in the schools, it is most
effective to incite action at a grassroots level and force change from
below, rather then attempt to force change from above. For example, the
recent "South High Sucks" campaign, while somewhat juvenile, has been
somewhat successful in demanding action through publicity. The Southwest
campaign against enforcement of an undocumented dress code two years ago
was better run and completely successful in it's goal of forcing the
administration to abide by proper procedure. Just a thought.
>I know change needs to be visualized before realized,
>but come on! All of this means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
>unless funding for education is made a priority over
>sports. There needs to education reform for students,
>parents AND teachers.
>[. . .]
>The education thread will only stop when the sharp
>needle pops the sports bubble, and some major egos.
My problem is this idea that sports are a complete waste. As I see it now,
education is certainly a priority over sports, so this shouldn't be a
problem. What you seem to be suggesting however, is that sports should be
completely discontinued in favor of "education." I've seen at least a
couple large studies that show that physical activity actually increases a
person's ability to learn (my apologies for not being able to cite the
studies). My experience as a student in the Minneapolis public schools was
that most students who were active at all got all or most of their physical
activity from participation in school sponsored sports. Additionally,
sports teams provide community and guidance for youths beyond that which is
provided in school, very often helping them to be much better community
members, while simultaneously making them more able to learn.
That's just observation from first hand experience. Also from first hand
experience, I know that there are obvious problems with the sports programs
in the schools. Participation in sports at Southwest, where I was in high
school, consisted predominantly of the well-to-do students, both grade-wise
and economically. This was partly because of greater commitments at home
for students with both parents working, as one example, and partly because
sports are seen as the thing that people who have time and money do, no one
else.
Both of these issues need to be addressed and can be. I would point anyone
wondering how this can be done to the cross-country programs at Southwest
and Edison. These programs are actively trying to overcome these hurdles
and, especially in Edison's case, have to have been successful. In their
success, these programs have provided community, guidance, and inspiration
to many students who would otherwise have none, and it has showed in their
performance in school. So, while there may be some problems with
individual programs, sports programs in general are an integral part of the
school environment and provide a service which is often lacking during the
school-day proper (I would include other after-school activities in this
statement also, but the initial complaint was against sports).
>Pamela D. Taylor
>(Who is the grandmother of a very very smart 4 year
>old granddaughter living in MPLS, and who will not
>allow her to be dummied down by attending the current
>MPS, so is hoping they can shape up somewhat in a
>year, weighing in from Tampa)
All I can say to this is that the Minneapolis public schools have turned
out some very impressive graduates. Unfortunately, again, they are usually
the more privileged youth whose parents impart on them a love of learning
and can take the time to supervise them, etc. This is a problem that needs
to be addressed. But this is the same type of student that will be able to
avoid the public school system by paying for private education or being
home-schooled. So, the argument is moot.
I have seen, and I am an example, that the public schools, and
especially specialized magnet programs within the public schools, are able
to give educations as good as those available in private
schools. Additionally, and very importantly, the public schools give the
experience of interacting with types of people one would never encounter in
a private school. This experience is invaluable.
Ethan Jewett
the Wedge
Currently a first year at the University of Chicago, which is just now
realizing the damage that its legacy of disdain for athletics has done to
its academic program and is working to correct the problem. Oh, and my
public school education and I are doing fine, as have many public school
graduates before me.
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