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Importance of extracurricular activities and academic performance
Importance of extracurricular activities and academic performance
Effects of extracurricular activities on the academic performance of students
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Just about every high school in the United States provides students with the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, volunteering, music, academic or interest clubs, and student government . The question arising is whether low income students are less likely to participate in these extracurricular activities. Understanding the causes and reasons behind the significantly lower amount of extracurricular activity participation among low socioeconomic students incites a systematic approach to a solution. If impoverished students are unequally participating in extracurricular activities compared to high-income students, than they are also deprived of the procured benefits such as leadership experiences and social …show more content…
1-2). Recognizing these hindrances can establish income inequality awareness and can also allow us to understand the pressure many young adults who live in financially disadvantaged households are undergoing. According to a statistical report published by the National Center For Education Statistics, which is a governmental source that collects, analyzes, and reports information on the educational conditions in America, the average participation in activities of low socioeconomic seniors in a public school is 73.85% while the average participation of high socioeconomic seniors is 87.2% (National Center For Education Statistics, 1995, p. 2). The participation of high socioeconomic status students in extracurricular activities is significantly higher than the participation of low socioeconomic status students. The statistical report also established a distinction between the effects of the availability of extracurricular activities showing that minority status, size, or location of school don’t limit it, but instead, the income level of individual students is the main driving factor to the meagerness of participation. Therefore, many low-income level students are also deprived of being able to participate in extracurricular activities due to the shortage of aiding …show more content…
Contrastly, low socioeconomic parents are sedentary and don't have the time to support, provide transportation, and understand their children like high income parents do. This is partially due because they work several jobs restricting them from transportation as well as not having the time to fully go out and support their children (Armstrong, 2014). Thus, due to the interpersonal constraints of low socioeconomic parents exhibiting disinterest in extracurricular activity participation, many students accept the barriers they’ve encountered and become less interested in trying to
I began by tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) and eventually became a teacher at the boys and girls club. The focus of my continued volunteer work was to enrich the children’s after school experience whether they needed help with homework or busy work. During my volunteer work the issue that stuck out in my mid continuously was social class or classism. The BGC emphasizes many different issues and points such as “creating aspirations for the future,” “Helping youth become responsible, caring citizens and acquire skills for participating in the democratic process is the main thrust of these programs and also to develop leadership skills and provide opportunities for planning, decision-making.” BGC encourages kids to engage in healthy and positive behavior as well as to help the youth build and discover creativity in the arts “Club programs help develop fitness, a positive use of leisure time, reduction of stress, appreciation for the environment and social and interpersonal skills.” (bgca.org)
Explanation Participation trophies are awards handed out for simply participating in an athletic event or program. These trophies are very common in youth athletics across the country and their effects on children have been debated for years. In many areas around the country, teams hand out thousands of trophies to children, and many of the children will receive more than one particiation trophy (Merryman). Arguments have been formed from both sides of these trophies and researchers have found beneficial and harmful effects on young athletes when given participation trophies.
Low income students are generally found in low income communities which have fewer resources to devote to their schools. With inadequate funds and resources, these kids are not getting the equal opportunity in education as kids in high income communities. Kids...
At the turn of the 20th century, the majority of college students were white male adolescents, primarily the sons of doctors, lawyers, ministers, prosperous merchants, and well-to-do farmers (Jenkins, Miyazaki, and Janosi). First generation college students are a new demographic when it comes to the college population. First generation students are the first in their family to attend college and plan to be the first in their family that graduate. According to data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, First Generation Students make up 43% of the student population (Nunez, Cuccaro-Alamin, and Carroll.). This is a completely new demographic compared to the prior population of student bodies. Today’s society stresses the importance of college degrees and has been a drastic increase in first generation students. Despite the fact that many students have already passed the initial barrier of applying and being admitted to college, there are many challenges these students face that non-first generation students do not experience. However, the majority of these students face risk factors in their college experience that non-first generation college students do not experience. One of the main differences I have notice is the lack of participation of first generation college students in campus activities, clubs, or organization. Campus engagement is known to enhance a student’s academic and personal development. Student’s involved in extracurricular activities learn to work, communicate, and problem solve with others. They have more developed ideas, beliefs, and opinions. They also have more self-esteem and speaking skills which will definitely help them once they graduate and enter the job market. With all of the benef...
...ith low socioeconomic status. The continuing failure of the New Mexico Legislature to act on this much larger category of students will continue to slow the state’s economic growth, and will limit the student’s abilities to compete in the global market place. The focus on race as a factor of economic success has probably become the most popular factor to address because of the racial tensions still in place today. If using the researched gaps between socioeconomic status levels as a new focus form improvement, the state legislature would be better serving the needs of far more students. As the research has shown, socioeconomic status is far more influential. Taking steps towards addressing the needs of students of low socioeconomic status would not only be an investment of the state of New Mexico’s future, but it would also be of great benefit to American society.
America is a very self-fulfilling economy and class matters after all in this so called “American Dream.” When did teenagers become any different. Last time I checked we were all equal. John M. Bridgeland in First, Help Today’s Struggling Youth. states that yet every year in America more than one million youth drop out of high school, crippling their chance at the American Dream.” John also states; “Nearly one in six, between the ages of sixteen to twenty four years old, is disconnected from the two structures that offer hope for their future.” These are school and work. This is where we need to promote growth and provide teens with any tools necessary to achieve. We need to be open to any ideas that this generation foresees in the future. John is a strong believer in the Youth Build program. In the third paragraph of First, Help Today’s Struggling Youth., he says that with a track record of success, Youth Build offers a holistic program of education, job training, personal counseling, community service, leadership development, placement in college or jobs, and follow-up support afte...
For decades, the United States educational system has provided opportunity for millions of Americans to attend school. However, the gap between the lower income and middle-class students continue to narrow in terms of who will drop out and who would succeed. The articles I chose speak both of issues regarding education and inequality and the growing gap of educational success between the haves and the have nots. In addition, how race and lower class play a large factor on those who succeed and those who do not.The articles also bring to life possible factors such as funding towards a child’s education, in particular the early years, parent involvement and race.
Education is a key aspect in everyone’s life that helps them prepare for future job opportunities and a higher standard of living. Unfortunately, education is harder to access for some individuals, and easier for others. For instance, many low-income families have trouble taking their child to school as a result of a lack of transportation. They also might not be able to make it to school or do homework after school because of family issues, such as having to take care of a family member or having to work after school hours. While these inconveniences are commonly found throughout the middle and lower class, this issue does not seem to occur in the higher-income families. High-income families can obtain advanced education opportunities, including attending elite private schools, while generally, low-income families cannot. In addition, impoverished individuals that decide to get a higher education after college can sometimes be drowning in debt once they get out of college. Conversely, the wealthy only have a small amount to pay off, if any at
Social class is a determinant used to define where a family stands in terms of salary and socioeconomic status. However, it is used to determine what will be offered to the family, for example, the type of school that each child will attend. But what it does not determine is the success of that student’s education attainment. Money can buy a college education yet, it will not buy literacy.
This article confirms the idea that life events tend to cause students in poverty to drop out before high school graduation. It identifies a few of these events as pregnancy, lack of mentorship, and little access to productive after school extracurricular activities. The American Psychological Association suggests that children are most susceptible to the risks involved with poverty at an early age, so they believe that the solution is to invest in impoverished students early on. This will encourage a passion learning and appreciation for achievements that can carry the student through high school graduation. Their suggestion is to create
While most evidence in the literature proves that extra curricular activities improve academic performances, Solanco School District has no program supporting or promoting the link between the two. This study will examine the effects of participation in extra curricular activities on student academic performance at Solanco High School. Findings from this study could be examined by Solanco High School and similar school districts to support and promote programs of extra curricular activities at...
Some federal financial-aid programs, such as work study, have to benefit wealthier student to disproportionately. Students from higher-income families are far more likely to use the kind of so-called “college enhancement strategies” elite institutions’ admissions offices take into account, including community service and extracurricular activities
After reading Hallway Hangers, a sense of the complex relationship between poverty and education is gained: it a dualistic one. In some views, education is a means out of poverty, yet those who grow up poor often have different opportunities, hopes, and experiences in their school years. During my time thus far at Colgate, I have participated and watched many sporting events on campus, and found that local families attend and cheer with as much enthusiasm as the students. Similarly, on National Athletes appreciation Day last year the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) ran a program at both the elementary and high schools in Hamilton, providing question and answer periods for the students and giving them skills clinics. The tremendous respect that I felt that the students gave me was overwhelming, not because I was just an athlete, but because I attended Colgate University. While observing the sporting events and the community outreach programs I realized then that Colgate is a virtual mecca for this area. So a double standard is evident: the presence of a relatively prestigious college is no doubt an inspiration to local students; but the reality of the matter is - how many of these youths could, and would, achieve a college diploma?
These negative effects include cuts in funding for art programs and sports that have little popularity. The reason this is important is due to a students ' ability to create a social structure outside the classroom. Going through high school, counselors always say to participate in school, both in the classroom and out as it will help with the students ' grade. But due to these program cuts, students ' have fewer choices in after-school programs which correlate back to their grade. The reason for this is closely related to why many people exercise to relieve stress. An archive from John Holloway states that when a student does participate more outside of school, their grade point average goes up. Holloway gathered research from other sources stating, "adolescents who participated in structured activities supervised by positive adult role models were more likely to make personal investments in their schooling that might, in turn, motivate them to excel academically" (Holloway par. 9). It gives the students a reason to get up and go
During the 2014-2015 school year, I observed first-hand different performing groups representing two campuses. Both campuses were located in the same district and had similar demographics with the exception of Title I status. Ironically, the groups were taught by spouses. The husband taught at a campus located in a better neighborhood where programs with a high level of student engagement. The wife’s campus was Title I, with a lower level of student involvement in activities. Both groups performed the same literature, had similar practice schedules and were taught in the same manner. The students from the lower income neighborhood did not see much value in extra practice and preparation for the competition. The results of the District Competition for these two groups, taught by spouses, showed that that group from the higher income neighborhood, scored significantly higher than the campus with the higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunch. Unfortunately the teacher of the Title I campus’s group left the campus at the year’s end because the students simply didn’t have a desire to produce higher