I promise that I am not motivated to write this purely because my beloved San Francisco 49ers are poised to win the NFC Championship this weekend. (This is a reference to American Football, my Canadian friends.) I’ve been thinking about the amount of time our teacher-coaches put into the administration of our athletics programming and the amount of time our student-athletes put into practices and making up for lost class time (because our local league competes during the school day). With time being a zero-sum game, it is reasonable to ask (about this and everything else), is it worth it? And my answer to that question, is another question – doesn’t each child deserve an opportunity to be excellent across their day/week/year?
When we talk about “a floor, but not a ceiling” as one of our North Stars, we typically are talking about academic floors and ceilings, but our students have passions and talents in art, music, and athletics as well. Not only does it provide an opportunity for those to students to shine (which for some may be their only time to do so), but when it comes to sports, having both a robust PE program and competitive teams allows students to reach for non-academic stars (as well).
Let me quote (liberally) from “Co-Curricular Physical Activity and Sport Programs for Middle School Students: A Position Statement by the National Association for Sporty and Physical Education’s (NASPE) Middle and Secondary School Physical Education Council (MASSPEC).” [That is a mouthful! You can read the entire position statement here.]:
“All students should be encouraged to participate in such after-school programs regardless of their ability and prior experience with organized sports. The primary purposes of these programs are to provide opportunities for students to:
- improve self-esteem and feelings of competence through positive interactions with their peers and adults
- acquire new skills and refine those previously learned
- learn to function effectively as members of a team or group
- improve personal health and fitness levels
- to have fun and enjoy physical activity”
Those all sound like things we would like to see for our upper elementary and middle school students, yes? “We learn better together” and “We are each responsible one to the other” are enhanced by opportunities to be part of a team. “Ruach” is certainly amplified through fun and enjoyment.
But beyond the benefits to the participants, there are significant benefits to our school and our community worth mentioning.
Jewish day schools – especially the small or midsized ones – have a lot to get done. We have to offer 100% of the secular academic programs of local independent and/or suburban public schools. We have to offer the highest-quality Jewish studies program available. We have to offer all the resources of well-rounded schools – Art, Music, Library, Technology, P.E., etc. AND we also have to offer athletics, the yearbook, robotics, etc., and all the other extracurriculars.
Fair?
Doesn’t matter. It isn’t a choice. We have to find the “torah” of basketball as we do the “torah” of math (not to mention the “torah” of the actual Torah).
Athletics are vitally important to our ability to maintain and grow a healthy middle school. They demonstrate to ourselves and our parents that we are capable of providing the kinds of experiences one ought to find at the middle school level. And that includes the opportunity to play, cheer and support athletics.
And it turns out the OJCS Rams aren’t just in it for the participation trophies! Whether it is badminton, soccer, basketball or volleyball (most years) – our students not only have an opportunity to learn and to grow and to compete, but oftentimes to win. Just take a gander at all the championship banners hanging up in the Gym!
Go, Rams, Go!
