Too much emphasis on sports hinders Connecticut students
By tlcfairfieldUncategorizedIt seems that every Connecticut parent, particularly those in Fairfield County, has immersed their children into athletic travel teams, trainers, and practice.
We understand the pressures of ensuring that one’s children are top competitors in their sport. But, the monomania on developing greatness in particular sports is creating a culture of overly striving athletes who ignore their academics. Philosophically, we have some reservations about advocating this balance. The Learning Consultants is based on the premise of educating our children through the mastery process. There is something about mastering anything – even if it has no particular practical application – that deserves commendation. If students can take that same vigor they have towards mastering the game of baseball and apply it towards other areas, then they are learning an extraordinarily valuable process.
Unfortunately, his parents failed to realize some critical issues related to their child’s early basketball prowess: first, he was very tall for middle school, in part because he had his growth spurt earlier than most. Second, his skill level was so comparatively high because other 12-14 year olds had yet to dedicate themselves to the sport the way he had.
As he went through high school and other kids caught up to him in height and skill, he went from being a prodigy to being a good high school basketball player. But, being a good high school player does not earn scholarships. Perhaps the money spent on the private basketball coach should have been spent on a private tutor to help his low grades and test scores.