The Pros and Cons of After School Clubs

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For hundreds of years it has been recognized that not all learning takes place in the classroom. Students mental and social development also occurs outside the classroom in athletics, music, and clubs. No matter what club the student is involved in, he/she fosters organizational, interpersonal, communication, planning, critical thinking, financing, and evaluation skills. A club gives students the opportunity to combine components of their mental and social development into personal action. These students have opportunities to test their skills and talents in different situations. Students will always work together to set goals, develop action plans for achieving those goals and implement those plans. Doing so, students could develop and maintain working relationships and friendships. The soul of a club is the students, but it also consists of many things that happen behind the scenes.

There are many benefits of student clubs directed towards students, instructors, etc. The benefits for students include developing leadership and self-esteem skills. Students also become acquainted with the community members, instructors, and students. The students also apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in their club. Some other advantages are learning to work as a team and with people from different ethnicities. The instructors benefit from clubs by observing their students applying the skills learned in the club in the classroom and then challenge the students’ new skills.

The advantages of clubs for the school include “opportunities for students to be recognized for achievement, involvement of community members in programs, and positive public relations with the community” (Brountas). Parents could also benefit by observing their children excelling more in school and coming home with excitement about the club. After school clubs also have different categories.

Typically there are “four basic types of student clubs: academic, special interest, special project or issue, sports”(North). Students who participate in academic clubs gain knowledge outside of the classroom that applies later on in the class. Students become involved based upon a common interest and hope to be with other students who share the same interests are in the special interest focus club. A third type of a student club is very similar to the special interest focus. “These clubs (special project or issue focus) provide students with expanded leadership experiences and involvement in the community. The final type of club is a sports club”(North).

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