Introduction
There exists a debate about achieving a balance between students’ involvement in academic learning and sports. It is without a doubt that academic studies are the primary reason that parents send their children to school. One can understand that numerous people see sports as a destruction to classroom learning. In the ‘Room for Debate’ section of The New York Times, it is a usual thing to see numerous writers air their views on this issue. In an article titled, ‘School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports’ in the New York Times on March 2, 2015, Amanda Ripley states that sports’ place should be outside school because it destructs students from academic studies. In another article on October 22nd, 2014, Donte Stallworth argues that sports should be a major part of school activities because it has benefits that classroom learning cannot give children. Some like Donte, do not only support the inclusion of games in schools but also consider sports a vital part of the school curriculum. Some feel that currently, students are over-indulging in sports at the expense of academic studies.
Dissenting View
Strangely some people like Amanda view students’ participation in school sports as a total waste of time (Amanda). To Donte’, Sports have numerous obvious benefits to an individual (Ripley). These benefits are social, physical, health-related, and psychological (Ripley). However, there exists the possibility that students can have an overindulgence in sports that may prove to be a costly distraction. A good explanation for this is that the number of people who turn sports into a career is less than 10% of the total population. It seems that the attainment of a balance between engagement in sports and classroom learning would be optimum as a complete withdrawal of sports from schools is unfathomable (Ripley).
Statement of Validity and Understanding
It is worth noting that even the people like Ripley that would want to see sports dropped from the school curriculum are aware of and agree with the suggested benefits of sports to a person (Stallworth). Their only issue is that sports do not belong in school. Conversely, people that support the inclusion of sports in school may encourage students to over-indulge in sports at the expense of academic studies. Both sides of this debate cannot deny the importance of both sports and academic education.
My Position
On my part, I agree that sports should be included in the school curriculum. As the saying goes, “all work and no play made Jack a dull boy.” What I don’t agree with is the over-indulgence in sports, which Ripley seems to support. I believe that students who partake in school sports should be guided to achieve a balance between the two. What about the highly talented students in school? Those showing above-average skill and ability must be nurtured. However, their academic life should not be neglected as not all people are the same. In addition, life is full of uncertainties and a sports career can be quickly ended by a tragic on-field or off-field accident.
Conclusion
Both Ripley and Donté share a common concern for the well-being of students and this shared concern should form the basis of their compromise. Donté should accept that the indulgence of students in sports should be reduced. Ripley should accept that sports have many benefits and that they need to be included in the curriculum in a controlled manner. I believe that a balance between sports and academics can be achieved by having strict schedules for both. Both Ripley and Donté want children to have a successful future. A successful future will be ideal if it has the benefits of both academic studies and games. It would not be the best scenario if students get good jobs as a result of their exemplary grades while missing other important components. Such components include social skills, physical ability, good health, and psychological balance among others. Schools should adopt schedules with well-researched structures. Since people are born with varying abilities, highly talented students in sports should get the type of attention they deserve.
Works Cited
Stallworth, Donté. “School Sports Provide Lessons in How to Live.”The New York Times. The New York Times Co., 2014. Web.
Ripley, Amanda. “School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports.”The New York Times. 2015. Web.