DR. WALLACE: A high school student wrote to you that his social science class is a waste of time because it was being taught by the high school varsity head coach who was more preoccupied with his coaching than with the subject he was paid to teach in class.
At most school districts, especially here in the great state of Texas, high school principals, district superintendent and school board members collectively participate in the recruitment and selection of varsity football and basketball coaches. The reason is that the communities demand winning football and basketball teams. A coach who doesn't produce a winning team is fired. The coaches are well aware of this so winning is the only salvation for keeping their jobs. That's why many coaches spend valuable class time with athletic trivia rather than teaching social science, English, mathematics or any other subject outside of physical education. Most head coaches are hired to win, not to produce academic scholars. In many cases the coaches have little or no interest in anything academic. Sometimes a coach can be a wizard at x's and o's on the chalkboard but her or she can be a dunce in the classroom.
I doubt seriously that talking with the principal who hired the "teacher/coach" will result in any classroom changes regarding teaching skills. Neither will going to the superintendent who has coffee every morning with the "good old boys" who happen to be parents of the players. The only way to solve this problem in education is to require coaches to teach only physical education, or to elect members of the boards of education who have the guts to place education above playing games.
Other than exercise, please tell me one good reason athletics belong in high schools. —A Texas Teacher
TEACHER: The great majority of principals and school superintendents are dedicated professionals who are well aware of that athletics play an important role in education structure, but they realize that the prime goal of all schools is to provide a quality education with the best qualified teachers for every single student in their districts.
Many potential school dropouts continue their high school education and graduate because they participate in athletics.
All high school students have the opportunity to attend sporting events and cheer for their teams in stadiums and on playing fields where supervision and safety prevail. I think most parents would prefer their teens would attend the Friday night football game with friends rather than having them cruising the mall or roaming around town looking for excitement. Our thoughts on high school athletics differ. I entered the field of high school teaching because I wanted to both teach and coach. I was fortunate to be an English teacher and a head coach of a varsity basketball team. I took my responsibilities in the classroom and on the court equally seriously and put the students' developmental interests first in both cases. Academics and sports can both be successfully integrated at any school, but setting worthy standards and seeking to achieve them must come from the adults who serve as role models — be they teachers, administrators, counselors or coaches.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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