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Don’t let student-athlete requirements be lowered

October 6, 2009

By Sarah Wilcock

By Sarah Wilcock
Often, the story is the same — a student too tired to concentrate because he had a game that ran late last night, a student who didn’t finish her homework because she had an extended practice and a student who does not care about his grades, just his sport.
Usually, student athletes are required to maintain a C average and told to put school first. Recently, Seattle Public Schools have been working to change that message.
Seattle Public Schools are proposing to drop the requirements for participating in sports from a C average, a 2.0, to a D average, a 1.0. By doing this, a clear message is sent to students — school isn’t as important as sports.
While sports play an essential role in high school by providing a method of exercise, giving students a passion, teaching teamwork and creating school spirit, it is undeniable that the academic side of school should take priority.
Only about 2 percent of high school athletes are awarded athletic scholarships to compete in college, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In football, only 1.8 percent of NCAA students become professional athletes.
According to the NCAA Web site, “Of the student-athletes participating in sports that have professional leagues, hardly any go on to be professional athletes. In reality, student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college.”
Knowledge of a sport can’t make up for knowledge in English, math or history and a student cannot have truly learned these subjects with a D average.
At Liberty High School and other Issaquah schools, student athletes are still held to the C average; this standard helps them gain the knowledge and skills they need while still allowing them to enjoy sports. Throughout the school, there are many scholar athletes and students who continuously push themselves to a higher standard.
In one class of Calculus BC, the highest level of math offered in high school, there are four varsity football players. The class has many other scholar athletes as well, and who knows if these students would achieve as much with lower standards.
Regardless of their career paths, students still need to be well-rounded and able to positively contribute to society. A D average is too low for students to have truly learned what they need for life, and this level should not be considered acceptable.
Hall Monitor Sarah Wilcock Liberty High School

Hall Monitor Sarah Wilcock Liberty High School

Often, the story is the same — a student too tired to concentrate because he had a game that ran late last night, a student who didn’t finish her homework because she had an extended practice and a student who does not care about his grades, just his sport.

Usually, student athletes are required to maintain a C average and told to put school first. Recently, Seattle Public Schools have been working to change that message.Seattle Public Schools are proposing to drop the requirements for participating in sports from a C average, a 2.0, to a D average, a 1.0. By doing this, a clear message is sent to students — school isn’t as important as sports.

While sports play an essential role in high school by providing a method of exercise, giving students a passion, teaching teamwork and creating school spirit, it is undeniable that the academic side of school should take priority.

Only about 2 percent of high school athletes are awarded athletic scholarships to compete in college, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In football, only 1.8 percent of NCAA students become professional athletes.

According to the NCAA Web site, “Of the student-athletes participating in sports that have professional leagues, hardly any go on to be professional athletes. In reality, student-athletes depend on academics to prepare them for life after college.”

Knowledge of a sport can’t make up for knowledge in English, math or history and a student cannot have truly learned these subjects with a D average.

At Liberty High School and other Issaquah schools, student athletes are still held to the C average; this standard helps them gain the knowledge and skills they need while still allowing them to enjoy sports. Throughout the school, there are many scholar athletes and students who continuously push themselves to a higher standard.

In one class of Calculus BC, the highest level of math offered in high school, there are four varsity football players. The class has many other scholar athletes as well, and who knows if these students would achieve as much with lower standards.

Regardless of their career paths, students still need to be well-rounded and able to positively contribute to society. A D average is too low for students to have truly learned what they need for life, and this level should not be considered acceptable.

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Written by Sarah Wilcock · Filed Under Schools, Schools Features 

Copyright 2011 by Issaquah Press Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission. E-mail editor@isspress.com

Comments

2 Responses to “Don’t let student-athlete requirements be lowered”

  1. KrisClare on October 7th, 2009 1:16 pm

    We love you Sarah! You now have your own groupies!

  2. linda zantman on November 30th, 2009 1:30 pm

    school sports are a privledge (or however you spell it),a reward,not a requierd class

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