Writing Standard 6-12

1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
a. Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counter-claims, reasons, and evidence.



Irene Rios
4-16-15
Period 5
English AP

Sports Banishment


Sports have become the backbone in American Culture, but should it be? Children from the ages of five to nineteen participate and compete in numerous after school activities. In 2013 7.7 million children played on a high-school sports team, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (Friedman). Sports have dramatically grown in the direction of competition. However, about a hundred years ago, sports did not take on a competitive role.

Sports began to take an important lead at the start of the 19th century with the influence of WWⅠ, The Great Depression, WWⅡ, and the self-esteem movement. In 1852, Massachusetts made schooling compulsory creating a clear focus of leisure time. The interest of sports first arose among the lower class children who found themselves with nothing to do while living in overcrowded cities. Sports expanded from playing for fun to playing for competition. In 1903 New York City’s Public School Athletic League for Boys was established, and formal contests between children, organized by adults, emerged as a way to keep the boys coming back to activities, clubs, and school (Friedman).

Unfortunately, during the Great Depression, many sport leagues suffered financially and had to close down, which later with the influence of the self-esteem movement led to the growth of organizations such as YMCA, Pop Warner Football, and Little League Baseball. Sports not only expanded in public schools, but also grew in clubs and leagues outside of school. At the same time U.S. Youth Soccer, the national organization that oversees travel soccer, registers more than three million children between the ages of five and 19 who play at a competitive level (Friedman). Considering the formation of such organizations, it is but necessary to have sports in school. Sports should be banned from school because its a distraction, it reduces grades, and its a big cost.

Sports are ingrained in American schools unlike any other schools worldwide. By contrast, in South Korea, whose 15-year-olds rank fourth in the world on a test of critical thinking in math, the U.S ranks 31st on the same international math test (Ripley). The main focus in American schools seems to be on sports. Sports are decreasing the sense of accomplishments and pride in academics. Instead of reading academic achievements in local newspapers, we are more likely to see the scores of a football or basketball game. Students are less and less interested in subjects like Math, Science, and Literature. Students are not as excited to get an A in their classes as they are when a sports team wins the game, nor as competitive in the classroom like they are out on the field.

Sports are a distraction, it has shifted the academic focus away from students. Sports are said to be extracurricular, meaning outside the regular course of study, yet they are still taking time away from studies. Students who participate in sports not only get their time taken away to do their homework, but their school time as well. On game days, athletes get pulled out of class early, which is affecting not only student grades but attendance as well. Sports normally have games twice a week thats two days that students are not in their seventh period class. Although some students can still manage to keep a decent grade in that class, it is not the same as being in the class and being able to ask questions. Sports are precluding students from the opportunity to engage in their studies. It is at best when students are in the classroom because they do not miss out on a lot of what the teacher has to say about the subject. It also becomes problematic when athletes get taken out of class, because that means that whatever assignment they did not finish becomes homework. What happens when its an exam? Teachers have no other alternative than to give those student- athlete an extra day to turn in assignments. It then becomes unfair to those students who are not involved in sports.

Sports are slowly but truly hindering the development of other areas of study such as music, art, design etc., but mostly its affecting academic focus. American students spend more time practicing and playing sports than studying and doing their homework. A poll of public school teachers finds that on average, high school students are assigned 3.5 hours of homework per weeknight, or more than 17 hours a week (Klein). It is quite astonishing when you see students play every sport, take AP classes, and still manage to keep a 4.0. It just makes you wonder how is it possible that they manage to do it. If some students can manage to obtain a 4.0 while participating in sports then imagine what they can achieve without playing sports and vice versa. Those students who are barely maintaining over a 2.0 can exceed a higher GPA because they will be forced to focus on just their academics. Although this is quite impressive, it is not hard to conclude that these students may not be putting their full focus on assignments or perhaps aren’t learning but rather memorizing then forgetting.

Participating in a sport can be a helpful way of reducing stress levels and increasing feelings of physical and mental well-being( Miller). It is said that sports relieve stress because it provides a break from having to do school work, but in reality, sports only accumulate stress and pressure. Participating in sports takes a lot of your time especially when you have practice and homework everyday. Not having enough time can be overwhelming to keep good grades, especially when you are taking AP classes or when you are involved with other organizations. On a regular basis, you find yourself limited with time. With going to school all day, attending practice for two or three hours then going back home, showering, and eating, leaves little to no time to work on any homework assignments. At the end of the day it only leaves students exhausted with little energy to really focus on academics.

How is it that students manage to keep good grades up to a 4.0 and still play sports? Because students find themselves with no time they make time to work on school assignments by staying up late at night. Researchers report that the average adolescent needs eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep each night (Brody). It becomes stressful when its 3 a.m and you still need to study for a test that you are going to take within a few hours. Even then, the chances of a student passing the test is very minimal because when the hour comes to take the test students will not be entirely awake therefore not focused nor ready. The students are left with the only alternative of studying only enough to pass the exam as opposed to studying thoroughly to pursue an A or inclusive a perfect score. Students all across the nation are not putting enough effort and focus in academics, which is how we are distinguished among other nations. The difference is that 93 percent of South Korean students graduate from high school, compared with just 77 percent of American students—only about 2 percent of whom receive athletic scholarships to college (Ripley).

Sports are a huge expense in public schools. Public schools obtain their funding from local and state for only educational expenses. Education leaders say they want to focus resources on the core subjects of math, reading, history, and science, but per-pupil spending tends to be much higher for electives, extracurricular activities, and sports (Greene). Sports are now considered to be a financial factor meaning big business. But the irony lies there, schools spend more money on sports than on actual academics. Extracurricular activities and sports receive higher per­ pupil funding because fewer students participate and teachers receive extra pay for assuming these “additional” assignments (Greene). Football at Premont cost about $1,300 a player. Math, by contrast, cost just $618 a student. For the price of one football season, the district could have hired a full-time elementary-school music teacher for an entire year (Ripley). While it seems that sports are self-funded on account of the many fundraisers that they have each season, they use that fund for purposes of the team players which consist of uniforms and gear. Therefore, other expenses are covered by the district. These include coaches salary for both Varsity and JV teams, fees for officials, transportation, field maintenance, tournament fees, and awards.

In conclusion, many people participate in sports as amateurs for personal enjoyment, the love of competition, or as a healthful form of exercise (Rottkov). Although sports can be a positive influence they are unnecessary to have at school simply because it shifts a students focus away from their academics. It creates the image of play before work. In other words, students will not consider school as an environment to learn but rather to have fun. It also destroys the concept that education can be interesting. It sets education to appear boring and dull which will not drive students to pursue it. Furthermore, education already provides the perks of leadership, teamwork, time management, fitness, communication, and entertainment. Students learn leadership skills and teamwork skills when working in group projects. They learn social and communication skills when they work to get along with other students who are not as cooperative. Students learn to manage their time wisely over the course of their education by learning when to do their homework so that they can have leisure time. Students are active and fit through their physical education classes. The difference between sports and p.e is that physical education classes offer students the knowledge about their own body, they get both work from the book and physical exercise. Students learn that entertainment can be found in other areas of study like art, drama, etc. Education is essential because you will have that knowledge over the course of a human life unlike sports that over time you will not be able to play anymore.


Works Cited


Brody, Jane E. "Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers." Well Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers Comments. N.p., 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.


Friedman, Hilary Levey. "When Did Competitive Sports Take Over American Childhood?" The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 20 Sept. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.


Greene, Jay P. "How Schools Spend Their Money." RSS. N.p., 14 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.


Klein, Karin. "About 3.5 Hours of Homework a Day for High Schoolers? That's Too Much." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 01 Mar. 2014. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.


Miller, Ashley. "How Does Participating in a Sport Relieve Stress?" Healthy Living. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.


Ripley, Amanda. "The Case Against High-School Sports." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 18 Sept. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.


Rottkov, Richard. The World Book Encyclopedia. 1990 ed. Vol. 18. Chicago, IL: World Book, 1990. Print. So-Sz.