Ripley's The Case Against High School Sports

In the article, “The Case Against High-School Sports” Ripley discusses how some schools put a bigger emphasis on sports rather than academics. Ripley explains that since sports gets more attention, nobody pays attention to the academic side and their needs. According to the author, some schools are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure a sport runs, even if there is no money in the budget. She states that too much of a focus is being put on sports is affecting academic achievement negatively in American high schools. The author gives the reader three reasons why schools should focus more on academic achievement and less on sports. Other countries have demonstrated models we could successfully follow. In his first point, the

Author connects her meaning saying that the majority of the students does not want to join a sport. The taxpayers who help students as well as community assumes that their taxes go in the safest hands, but sometimes something different happens. The author is clearly saying that students aren't mature enough to care about something and something has to be done to make things back on tracks or else school have to make a decision about canceling sports. She uses an example of failing school, Slington is a school principal who examines and helped other schools in their bad times. He discontinued sports from his own school and saves thousands of dollars. He explains that how much money does a single sport takes, and by the figure of the number they could save a lot of money that they would never thought. Something that Slington does makes the whole new perspective out of it by giving some pros about it. In this argument the author is correct in her point because high school students are considered as kids, and kids do not have a set mind. Although their minds are sharp they may not able to handle different things at once. Academics are another problem too, this means that if academics goes high means less participation in sports and when sports goes skyrocketing then the academics put pressure on students. I’ve seen many friends who just spend more time

Over the course of time, schools have invested all their finances on sports like football. Primarily, the sport had initiated as a form of recreational fun, but therefore lead into a trend. This popular trend later spread into competitiveness and in some schools, even idolized. At Premont High School, a small school in Texas, it was threatening to be shut down for the neglection of academics and a misuse of finance. All money funded was focused on being used to support all sports and the money raised, was a large amount of money. The solution was to suspend all sports and with that, changes were made. Teachers were retrained, the curriculum was raised to the appropriate standard, and too much avail, academics improved significantly. According to the article, when sports have been dominating, only 50 percent of the students were passing their classes. After changes were made, 80 percent were now passing. The author argues that with the suspension of sports, academics would be at a higher level than they are. With this argument, I agree with Ripley’s motion to cancel all sports. To many students, such as myself, it may seem irrational and absurd at first, but realistically it is a reasonable solution. Tons of money is being spent primarily to a sport and most times, aren't even at a winning season. Sports should not the prime focus. Schools are not instituted to emphasis on sports