Don’t Underestimate What Coaches and Sponsors Can Do
Athletic coaches and activity sponsors remain in an excellent position to
compensate, in many ways, for the negative societal influences faced by
today’s schools. Activity/athletic programs, conducted within property
boundaries, go a long way toward of fsetting the lack of structure and discipline
in many home and on the streets of many New Mexico villages, towns and cities.
It is tempting to start believing what we often
read and hear in the media about the decline in U.S. education. We are constantly
exposed to critical comment and negative comment and negative opinions generated
by researchers and editorialists. Educa tors must remain open to criticism
and objectively sort through the data in an attempt to correct those elements
we can control. An occasional commentator does put things in appropriate
perspective; they note that schools are reflective of society, and cannot
“cure” the outside factors to which young people are exposed in
their off-campus hours. Unfortunately, the common theme gaining the public’s
attention is that their schools “aren’t getting the job done.”
It is not productive for educators (or anyone
for that matter) to waste time trying to assign blame. We can work to overcome
the lack of certain traditional positive influences in many family and community
situations. We must acknowledge the inabilities of some parents to effectively
manage their children within the climate of today’s major societal
problems. But, our efforts must be centered on achieving the most we can
with kids, during the limited time they are under our care.
When coaches and sponsors expand student time
under their influence, through involving more of them in clubs, organizations
and sports, our opportunity to make positive changes in behavior is considerably
increased. We must strive to make our programs ac ces
sible to the widest possible spectrum of students,
encouraging even the most unconventional kids to connect with the interscholastic
program. Attracting/recruiting the non-traditional youngster to join an
activity or sport is challenging for the coach /sponsor; once achieved,
however, involvement of those students can have great pay-offs for the school,
the young people, the program and society. They may be “high risk”
kids, and the “success” ratio may be relatively low, but the potential
justifies t he effort.
Most young people continue to want structure
and to appreciate adults who establish high expectations for their behavior
and performance. Junior and senior high students in significant percentages,
continue to respond in positive ways to coaches/spo nsors who set goals
and maintain discipline.
Schools are “losing” more young people
today to the negative “attractions” in our 1990s society. One
of the brightest spots remains broad student participation in the great
variety of school-sponsored sports and non-athletic programs available in
our s econdary schools. As has always been the case, some youth are not
willing (or able) to make the sacrifices necessary for participation in
interscholastic education. That does not detract from the accomplishments
we have daily with students who are connected to activity programs. We successfully
counter negative influences on a regular basis. Coaches and sponsors are
in unique roles to help keep kids “on track.”
Don’t ever underestimate your ability to
make a major difference in the lives of young people!
By Dave Fontaine, assistant principal at Tibbetts Junior High School in Farmington, NM. Reprinted from Que Pasa, the New Mexico Activities Association’s monthly publication.