Earlier today, we posted a short piece on the near myth that has run rampant in Dallas ISD schools: The myth of going pro. This is not to say that none of our students have ever gone to the NBA/NFL, it does happen, but the probability of that happening for the shear volume of students that think it will is extremely low. It's not just because the scouts aren't coming, sometimes they are, but what the scouts see are kids that act on the field like they do in the classroom. When things get tough, they quit. Read More after the jump.
Teachers and academics have more to do with on the field performance than our kids are willing to admit. Ask any coach and they will the same thing. Determination has left our kids and the heart has left both the student and the athlete. If our DISD students aren't prepared for the classroom, how can we expect them to be prepared for the field or the court? Many of these student-athletes can't even read. If they can't read a book, how can the read a defense? How can they read a playbook? The overlap makes the classroom even more important outside of deciding eligibility.
Why would a college or professional scout want to take a kid with issues with authority, who also lacks interpersonal skills and determination? They wouldn't. We send kids to colleges that drop out in a semester or two because they can't adjust to a real academic environment. Things get hard and they quit. We aren't producing college ready kids, we're producing failure ready kids.
How can we help? We as teachers have to keep pushing our students in the classroom. We as teachers have to keep going to the games and, just by being there, showing them that the classroom and athletics are connected.
STUDENT is the important part of that hyphenate. If we don't nourish the student, the athlete will suffer. Those of you who are new to teaching, take my advice and talk with the coaches. Not only does this connect you with one of the key motivators for some of your students, but coaches are fun. You'll be happier knowing them.
Why would a college or professional scout want to take a kid with issues with authority, who also lacks interpersonal skills and determination? They wouldn't. We send kids to colleges that drop out in a semester or two because they can't adjust to a real academic environment. Things get hard and they quit. We aren't producing college ready kids, we're producing failure ready kids.
How can we help? We as teachers have to keep pushing our students in the classroom. We as teachers have to keep going to the games and, just by being there, showing them that the classroom and athletics are connected.
STUDENT is the important part of that hyphenate. If we don't nourish the student, the athlete will suffer. Those of you who are new to teaching, take my advice and talk with the coaches. Not only does this connect you with one of the key motivators for some of your students, but coaches are fun. You'll be happier knowing them.
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