Today I attended a football game that a number of my students were playing in. The game was away at another school, so the crowd for our team was minimal. I struck up a conversation with a parent about the fact that there were so few people supporting our team. Our team was losing quite dramatically, but really, there weren't any people in the stands to really get them excited about playing and wanting to win.
Last year I made a big effort to go to as many sporting events as I could and I found that it had very positive results. The students and I build a very positive relationship and I always had something to talk to them about that I knew they had a passion for. I also knew that I could incorporate their passions into the classroom by using different creative activities. I wonder, though, why more teachers don't attend these events? It takes only a short time out of your day to go and see the kids do what they love doing and it has incredible returns.
Additionally, our administrative team was not present either. The mother I was speaking with made a good point in saying that these boys were doing something positive with their time after school and yet they weren't really given proper support or recognition for it. I completely agreed. So many students could choose to hang out on the streets and get into trouble after school, but these boys were choosing to do something productive with their time. That is something truly tremendous. I am a firm believer that athletics is really the way to go for all students, especially ones in urban districts.
I understand that our district doesn't have a lot of money, and athletics is an expensive investment, but it is a valuable investment. I wish all of my students participated in some form of athletics after school. Sports teaches students sportsmanship, respect, commitment, team work, cooperation, following directions, and dedication among other things. These are things we only barely touch on in the classroom, but skills that can directly translate into the classroom atmosphere.
After watching these boys working so hard for their teammates, it made me reflect on my experiences in high school athletics and how important it is for growing up and the school experience. It is enhanced when you put into factor teachers, administrators and parents showing proper recognition and support for those endeavors. My mother never missed one of my water polo games or swim meets because she knew how important it was to me for her to be there encouraging me. I just wish all parents of those boys realized how much it would mean to their child for them to be there, watching them do something they are good at. Often our boys only get negative attention for doing the wrong thing, but rarely do we give proper positive recognition for when they do something right.
I beg all parents, teachers, and other school staff to take the extra time out of their day (and I know how long our days already are) to go watch our student athletes. It is so important and will pay off in the long run when our students are more invested in school because they know they are valued for the many things they do.
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It's great to go through your day in a school with a "catch someone doing something great" mentality... really changes your perspective.
ReplyDeleteI really like this post for many reasons. For one, beacuse I taught your kids last year, I know how crucial it is to build positive relationships with those kids outside of the classroom. When our students are constantly feeling "not good enough" or like failures in the academic setting, in order to get them on board with your class, you have to have to have to show them that you are interested in them as people, not just your first period class. Well done!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I saw how much students felt valued outside the classroom and the difference it made with classroom interactions after attending sporting and social events for my students and their families and even coaching some sports teams last year...Great post!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Lauren. When I was looking for a job last year, my principal really sold Northwestern High School to me because of his belief in extra-curricular activities. Many of our students grow up in tough neighborhoods where the only thing to do outside of school is either get in the house, or get involved in the streets. This year our faculty was pushed to coach or start a club, we have everything from football to knitting club. The goal is to keep our kids doing something productive and keeping them out of the streets. My international movie club has only 4 members that are always dedicated, but those 4 love watching movies with me. I just recently found out that one of these students is struggling in every class, and the movie club is his only motivation to come to school. Now that I know this, I can motivate him to improve in all his classes in order to continue being a member of the club.
ReplyDeleteHowever, like you stated, our children need the support from parents, faculty, and staff. The problem arises when parents don't even support their child in school. Unfortunately, some of our students have no support at all, this is why our job as their teachers becomes much more important. So like you said Lauren, all those of you who educate our youth in Baltimore, go out to those games, debates, races, and competitions and support the kids. It's a great feeling to see kids do what they love.
Hugo Cigarroa