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Sports and schools in Jamaica
Published: Sunday | August 22, 2010
A few weeks ago, on Wednesday, June 30, to be exact, I read an interesting article in this newspaper. I considered it interesting because it dealt with something close and dear to me.
The article had to do with sports and schools in Jamaica.
As one who has spent almost his entire life in sports, in almost every aspect of sports, it is important to me, as it is to most Jamaicans.
Sports is important to me because of the enjoyment and the pleasure it provides; because of the goals and the challenges it sets those who compete; because of the fulfilment and the satisfaction it provides; probably even more important than that, because of what, by the performance of those who compete, it contributes to the greatness of this country and to the psyche of the people; and probably, most important of all, because of the opportunities it provides to so many.
Historically, sports and schools, at every level, go to together in Jamaica. Over the years, however, and especially so in recent times, sports and some schools are so together that it is difficult sometimes to tell which is more important - whether a school is a school or a sports club.
While it is true that times have changed and sports has developed to the point where it has gone from mostly recreational to mostly professional; that sports has gone from being the pastime of the idle rich to being careers of sportsmen and sportswomen who earn a lot of money from their skill; university scholarships to the gifted; and that sport has been a blessing for many Jamaicans, schools are schools, and especially so in Jamaica, should remain schools.
In many schools in Jamaica today, the emphasis is on producing sports stars, as nothing is as important as winning. And while that is not a crime, despite the desire to produce a rounded student, although many have won scholarships to American universities or colleges, that is not the main purpose of schools.
The purpose of the schools and teachers in Jamaica is to educate children so that when they become men and women they can read and write, add, subtract, and multiply, have an independent life, help others, and make Jamaica a better place for all to live.
Misplaced priorities
The reality of the situation, at least it seems that way, is that too many schools appear more concerned about the sports stars they produce and about the cups and trophies won than the number of students who pass examinations.
Nothing is wrong with sports in schools, and especially in this day and age of professional sports. Nothing is wrong with wanting to win, and nothing is wrong with taking students who promise a lot in sports into school.
Remembering, however, that even a record-breaking performer is not guaranteed success after leaving school. Most times, only the best are rewarded financially. What is wrong, morally, and in my opinion, is when a school takes in a young, promising sports person for three or four years, and after being a champion performer, that person leaves the school hardly able to read and write much more add, subtract, or multiply.
There are many such persons who leave school with nothing to show, especially young boys, and whoever doubts this can ask the coaches and the managers of the many youth football and cricket teams that represent this country.
Some of them do not even know the name of the principal of the school, and cannot fill out an immigration form. Often when their school days are over, they join the line of the unemployed.
The article of Wednesday, June 30, was interesting to me because while reading it, my hope was that it would touch the conscience of the principals of those schools who put sports before academics
They turn a blind eye while sports is placed above academics in their schools and also simply do not care about those in sports, especially boys, and those they bring into the school to play sports.
The article was a report on a conference dealing with at-risk boys in the education sector. It was held at the Mona Visitors' Lodge, and was hosted by the World Bank, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the University of the West Indies (UWI). The speakers included Dr Winsome Gordon, president of the Jamaica Teaching Council, and Dr Herbert Gayle, lecturer, Department of Sociology, UWI.
According to both speakers, as important as sports has been to Jamaica, the influence of sports has affected the education of boys in this country.
According to Dr Gordon, while there are 190 days reserved for classes in schools each year, because of sports and other things only 130 days are used for the purpose of teaching, and according to Dr Gayle, natural athleticism of young boys is being exploited by some primary and high schools at the expense of the students' academic development.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports8.html
Published: Sunday | August 22, 2010
A few weeks ago, on Wednesday, June 30, to be exact, I read an interesting article in this newspaper. I considered it interesting because it dealt with something close and dear to me.
The article had to do with sports and schools in Jamaica.
As one who has spent almost his entire life in sports, in almost every aspect of sports, it is important to me, as it is to most Jamaicans.
Sports is important to me because of the enjoyment and the pleasure it provides; because of the goals and the challenges it sets those who compete; because of the fulfilment and the satisfaction it provides; probably even more important than that, because of what, by the performance of those who compete, it contributes to the greatness of this country and to the psyche of the people; and probably, most important of all, because of the opportunities it provides to so many.
Historically, sports and schools, at every level, go to together in Jamaica. Over the years, however, and especially so in recent times, sports and some schools are so together that it is difficult sometimes to tell which is more important - whether a school is a school or a sports club.
While it is true that times have changed and sports has developed to the point where it has gone from mostly recreational to mostly professional; that sports has gone from being the pastime of the idle rich to being careers of sportsmen and sportswomen who earn a lot of money from their skill; university scholarships to the gifted; and that sport has been a blessing for many Jamaicans, schools are schools, and especially so in Jamaica, should remain schools.
In many schools in Jamaica today, the emphasis is on producing sports stars, as nothing is as important as winning. And while that is not a crime, despite the desire to produce a rounded student, although many have won scholarships to American universities or colleges, that is not the main purpose of schools.
The purpose of the schools and teachers in Jamaica is to educate children so that when they become men and women they can read and write, add, subtract, and multiply, have an independent life, help others, and make Jamaica a better place for all to live.
Misplaced priorities
The reality of the situation, at least it seems that way, is that too many schools appear more concerned about the sports stars they produce and about the cups and trophies won than the number of students who pass examinations.
Nothing is wrong with sports in schools, and especially in this day and age of professional sports. Nothing is wrong with wanting to win, and nothing is wrong with taking students who promise a lot in sports into school.
Remembering, however, that even a record-breaking performer is not guaranteed success after leaving school. Most times, only the best are rewarded financially. What is wrong, morally, and in my opinion, is when a school takes in a young, promising sports person for three or four years, and after being a champion performer, that person leaves the school hardly able to read and write much more add, subtract, or multiply.
There are many such persons who leave school with nothing to show, especially young boys, and whoever doubts this can ask the coaches and the managers of the many youth football and cricket teams that represent this country.
Some of them do not even know the name of the principal of the school, and cannot fill out an immigration form. Often when their school days are over, they join the line of the unemployed.
The article of Wednesday, June 30, was interesting to me because while reading it, my hope was that it would touch the conscience of the principals of those schools who put sports before academics
They turn a blind eye while sports is placed above academics in their schools and also simply do not care about those in sports, especially boys, and those they bring into the school to play sports.
The article was a report on a conference dealing with at-risk boys in the education sector. It was held at the Mona Visitors' Lodge, and was hosted by the World Bank, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the University of the West Indies (UWI). The speakers included Dr Winsome Gordon, president of the Jamaica Teaching Council, and Dr Herbert Gayle, lecturer, Department of Sociology, UWI.
According to both speakers, as important as sports has been to Jamaica, the influence of sports has affected the education of boys in this country.
According to Dr Gordon, while there are 190 days reserved for classes in schools each year, because of sports and other things only 130 days are used for the purpose of teaching, and according to Dr Gayle, natural athleticism of young boys is being exploited by some primary and high schools at the expense of the students' academic development.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports8.html
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