🚀 go-pugleaf

In a thread that was discussing the value of sports and other extra-curricular
activities, Pete Lancashire wrote,

    "Athletics (that's what was mentioned here) can provide that along 
     with other experiences that can teach him as much as any classroom 
     ever could."

and Brian K. Yoder replied,

     "Such as? Brutality uber alles? The superior value of social 
      consensus over reason? Please explain these valuable lessons and 
      why they are so terribly important. I hear platitudes like that 
      all the time, but I seldom hear any kind of explanation attached."

As a matter of fact the value of "social consensus" and co-operation are
important lessons that can be learned from playing team sports. Students
can get a taste of what it is like to be part of a group and to work for
the common good rather than the individual. Even if their parents are 
rabid anti-socialists they should recognize that this is a valuable
learning experience. And since when have "social consensus" and "reason"
been in conflict? I think that your prejudices are showing! (-:

I also believe that it is important to keep fit (I am not) and to instill
a sense of caring for your body. There are many sports where the emphasis
is on fitness, gymnastics for example. I find that my children have
learned a lot about self discipline from their involvement in sports. They
have been taught how to deal with success (ie. winning) and failure
(ie. losing) far more efficiently than is possible by sitting in a classroom.

Brian, I'm sorry that you have only been exposed to coaches who do not care
about children. They are many other coaches who are much more conscientious.
Have you ever watched a child successfully complete a difficult gymnastic
routine or achieve a personal best in the high jump? Have you ever watched
a soccer team work smoothly together to move the ball to the opponent's end?
These achievements require the development of skills that are every bit as
important in life as the ability to parse sentences and solve differential
equations. They are also a clear demonstration of good coaching and good
learning. Maybe you should go to the next city wide track and field meet or 
swimming and diving competition to see what is really going on in the high
schools. I suspect that your point of view is based on a few male dominated
violent sports that may not be representative. 

In addition, let's not forget other extra-curricular activities such as 
working for the school newspaper, playing in the band, belonging to the 
science club, and acting in the school play. Do I need to explain the value 
of these activities or will such values also be dismissed as "platitudes"?

Larry Moran