Let the rotten tomato throwing begin

Ok, I'm a member of the first cohort of Policy Fellows at the Public Education Foundation in Chattanooga. We have been studying how academic policy is created and enacted in America and especially in Tennessee.  We read Amanda Ripley's book The Smartest Kids in the World (and how they got that way.) We have seen several speakers (including Ripley herself) and I was even able to attend a meeting of very heavy hitters in TN education on the topic of teacher prep programs.

We were asked to create a short blog on a topic that has been resonating with us since we started four months ago. I'm going to share on a topic that has been on my mind since I became a teacher. This is a copy of a post I made for my group (with minor edits so it fits in context here).

This post will not make anyone happy. I don't feel that there is any possibility that any movement will ever be made in this area but I'm venting to get this out of  my system before I settle on a single area of focus for which to advocate.

Ripley's book rekindled my thoughts on this subject but I know that in America, to even talk about it, is near heresy. It is such a non-starter, I doubt that even any of my esteemed colleagues here will agree with me but here goes.

Schools should be in the business of educating students not building athletes. Schools should not be in the athletic business. 

There, I said it and I know what you're thinking. "BURN HIM AT THE STAKE!!!" Well, maybe not that bad (I hope :-)) but you certainly are thinking about how athletics build fantastic traits like perseverance, sportsmanship, teamwork, and engages students in the school (and, theoretically, therefore, in their education) that might never have engaged without sports. Some even see it as their (or their child's) best chance for college attendance (sadly.) 

Never mind that massive amounts of a school's budget, administrative time and teacher selection must yield to sports programs or that jobs for educators (defined as -noun

1. a person who provides instruction or education; a teacher)

 are often posted with the ability to coach a sport as a requirement for hire.

In Hamilton County, a head football coach makes 20% (and can make up to 30% with another coaching supplement-not picking on FB here its just the biggest bump) more than an equally qualified teacher and yet there is not a single percentage bump for amazing teachers who annually exceed expectations in the classroom-where the job of educating students takes place.

Athletics gobble up finite resources, constantly distract administrators, teacher/coaches and student/athletes, and many times are the most important part of a hiring decision for educators. 

The Finnish model (top in the world) doesn't include athletics. It's focus is academics. Every child is said to believe that academic success is the key to their future because that is the signal that the society constantly sends. The signals American society sends the kids are immutable and the signal is "Sports are more important than education."

Imagine an America where we channel the enthusiasm and resources for sports into academic achievement, leaving athletics to the private sector.

I know that we will never change our social obsession with sports, there is just too much money in it. Yet, if we don't even acknowledge the elephant in the school, we will never find a way around it in order to educate our students.

P.S.- I'm not an athlete or a coach hater. I run, bike, swim, enjoy "outdoorsy" sports, play Ultimate, golf, practice yoga and lift. My kids represent their schools in sports. I think that to be healthy one should be active. I really believe that we just have so much more to give and competition for competition's sake distracts us from the important things our society can and should do. 

Let the rotten tomato throwing begin.