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EDITORIAL: Making The Grade As A Student Athlete
Published: Saturday | March 26, 20110
Jamaica College has taken a principled stance by withdrawing medal-winning hopeful Rohan Walker from competing at next weekend's Boys and Girls' Championships set for the National Stadium.
Principal Ruel Reid explained that Walker's academic performance was not up to par. In a country that has become so accustomed to mediocrity and expediency, we anticipate that Mr Reid may be harshly judged and get some heat for taking a decision that could determine whether or not the Hope Road team is triumphant in the end.
We feel Mr Reid should be congratulated for changing the tenor of conversation about athletes' academic performance and the education of our athletes. Jamaican high schools have an enviable record of performance in these championships, and extraordinary feats have contributed to boosting school pride over the years. But Mr Reid does not believe that winning is everything. "... We do not believe in winning at all cost," he reportedly told a reporter.
We do not aim to diminish the value of talented individuals whose performances can inspire, motivate and add something special to the overall milieu of the school community. But the student cannot interpret that to mean if he can come up with a scintillating performance by breaking records and winning medals that he can forget about his grades.
School administrators, parents, fans and alumni must understand that a school's pride cannot be determined solely on athletic performance and physical prowess. Keeping students focused on success in the classroom in preparation for life after school should be the ultimate goal of the school administration.
Few athletes pursue sport-related careers after graduation, so their high-school education should be able to thrust them into tertiary education or a good job.
Restrictions needed
Let's be clear about this. Walker is a student athlete, and not an athlete student, and although this may be criticised as an oxymoron, it is imperative that he fulfils the student part of the equation. One wonders whether Walker's story is indicative of a wider problem among athletes in our schools. The lesson for all athletes is that while they are encouraged to compete well on the field of play, they are also expected to do well in the classroom.
We appreciate that athletes do have demanding schedules, but if they are falling behind in their classwork, then there should be restrictions on their practice times. Playing sport should be seen as extra-curricular activity. Some student athletes may be academically fragile and with stringent practice schedules may find the going rough.
So how can schools achieve a competitive edge in sport while maintaining academic integrity? It will surely require more monitoring, more resources and more commitment. We anticipate that schools would implement support programmes such as tutorials, sometimes utilising the skills of peer groups to strengthen the quality of their educational experience as a way of ensuring that student athletes achieve academic success.
Young Walker should take the time while he is off the field to reflect on how he can achieve the balance between his athletic commitments and academic obligations in the future. The school community must rally around him and see how they can assist him in better time management so that he can give himself greater study opportunities.
Published: Saturday | March 26, 20110
Jamaica College has taken a principled stance by withdrawing medal-winning hopeful Rohan Walker from competing at next weekend's Boys and Girls' Championships set for the National Stadium.
Principal Ruel Reid explained that Walker's academic performance was not up to par. In a country that has become so accustomed to mediocrity and expediency, we anticipate that Mr Reid may be harshly judged and get some heat for taking a decision that could determine whether or not the Hope Road team is triumphant in the end.
We feel Mr Reid should be congratulated for changing the tenor of conversation about athletes' academic performance and the education of our athletes. Jamaican high schools have an enviable record of performance in these championships, and extraordinary feats have contributed to boosting school pride over the years. But Mr Reid does not believe that winning is everything. "... We do not believe in winning at all cost," he reportedly told a reporter.
We do not aim to diminish the value of talented individuals whose performances can inspire, motivate and add something special to the overall milieu of the school community. But the student cannot interpret that to mean if he can come up with a scintillating performance by breaking records and winning medals that he can forget about his grades.
School administrators, parents, fans and alumni must understand that a school's pride cannot be determined solely on athletic performance and physical prowess. Keeping students focused on success in the classroom in preparation for life after school should be the ultimate goal of the school administration.
Few athletes pursue sport-related careers after graduation, so their high-school education should be able to thrust them into tertiary education or a good job.
Restrictions needed
Let's be clear about this. Walker is a student athlete, and not an athlete student, and although this may be criticised as an oxymoron, it is imperative that he fulfils the student part of the equation. One wonders whether Walker's story is indicative of a wider problem among athletes in our schools. The lesson for all athletes is that while they are encouraged to compete well on the field of play, they are also expected to do well in the classroom.
We appreciate that athletes do have demanding schedules, but if they are falling behind in their classwork, then there should be restrictions on their practice times. Playing sport should be seen as extra-curricular activity. Some student athletes may be academically fragile and with stringent practice schedules may find the going rough.
So how can schools achieve a competitive edge in sport while maintaining academic integrity? It will surely require more monitoring, more resources and more commitment. We anticipate that schools would implement support programmes such as tutorials, sometimes utilising the skills of peer groups to strengthen the quality of their educational experience as a way of ensuring that student athletes achieve academic success.
Young Walker should take the time while he is off the field to reflect on how he can achieve the balance between his athletic commitments and academic obligations in the future. The school community must rally around him and see how they can assist him in better time management so that he can give himself greater study opportunities.
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