Who is getting a better education...the academic or the athlete? Why are athletics perceived as extracurricular while academics are coveted as they key to citizenship and prosperity? Over the last 25 years in the realm of business, finance, health, parenting, and spirituality I have observed a large number of highly credible success stories, biographies, seminars, lectures, sermons, and trainings all focused on the fundamentals of successful living. The content within these works are filled with principles and skills that are far more likely to be developed while participating in sports than they are while participating in the classroom. Discipline, teamwork, confidence, persistence, preparation, sacrifice, focus, creativity, communication, relationships, love, effort, and the list goes on. Where are these abilities more likely to be developed and tested? If the purpose of an education is to educe (unleash) ones potential then why would a parent enforce the following rule...you cant play (insert sport) if your grades are unsatisfactory. In other words, you cannot learn about teamwork, physical preparation and sacrifice, self-confidence, and determination until you get caught up on algebra and trig. My point is this...perhaps athletics and academics dont have to be polarizing worlds. The mission is to unleash human potential. If athletics is a place where men and women can improve themselves in ways that are essential for success, then why should academics own the title of Priority #1?
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 03:17:56 +0000