Students not passing all classes should be ineligible to play high school sports

I will begin this round by defining one additional term: “No Pass No Play policy” - A rule which states that students not passing all classes will be ineligible to play high school sports for a defined amount of time All public high schools should adopt No Pass No Play rules. The primary goal of a public school is to foster a successful learning community. High schools that enforce No Pass No Play policies are fulfilling this mission by ensuring that their students obtain the skills necessary for success. These institutions realize that athletic programs should not dominate a student’s high school experience but rather supplement it. In recent years, the United States has slipped behind foreign nations in educational ranks. Twenty years ago, the U.S. ranked first both among adults ages 25-34 who have a high school diploma and those who have a college degree. Currently the U.S. ranks ninth among adults who have a high school diploma and seventh among adults who have a college degree. Texas and Los Angeles school districts are among the many who realize that the United States needs to focus on improving the grades of our students. They have both enacted rules such as No Pass No Play. Previously, these districts had held less demanding eligibility rules. When the No Pass No Play policies were initially implemented, a large number of students were unable to participate in high school sports. However, after two years of enforcing this rule, the number of ineligible students had decreased to the number of students ineligible before the policy was enacted (1). Additional studies indicate that stricter eligibility rules have led to increased graduation rates. According to Dr. Fernandez at the University of Boston, “A one-subject increase in the minimum subjects standard (for example, students have to pass 4 as opposed to 3 classes in order to participate in sports) is associated with a two-percentage-point increase in the probability of graduation. In order to get a better idea of the magnitude of this effect, let us suppose that approximately 20% of students are interested in athletics, and that half of those are challenged by the requirement. Then, the implied effect for the affected students is a 10% increase in the likelihood of graduation” (2). Dr. Melissa Sabatino also documented the benefits of stricter eligibility rules. She concluded that, "A review of the effects of [the No Pass No Play policy] in the Austin Independent School District indicated that, on balance, the provision appears to have a positive effect. More students have remained eligible for extracurriculars than in the years before the provision was enacted, with the highest increases among student athletes" (4). She also noted that enrollment in advanced courses has increased following the enactment of stricter eligibility rules. The evidence I have presented above clearly demonstrates that No Pass No Play rules are a successful tool for raising student athletes’ grades. Many opposing parents and coaches complain that these controversial policies limit a student’s high school experiences and take away a major part of student athletes’ lives. However, the primary and most important duty of a school is to focus on academic success, which is a key part of all adults’ lives. Only .0002% of high school students playing a major sport will become professional athletes (4). According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who do become professional athletes will often “have short careers with little job security” (4). Therefore, all students need to develop their academic skills and prepare for careers in nonathletic fields. Opponents of No Pass No Play policies also argue that participating in athletics actually helps students improve their grades. However, this is not necessarily the case. Which sport a student selects may affect whether there is a negative or positive effect on scholastic performance. For example, most negative links between academics and sports are found in basketball and football. The National Collegiate Athletic Association notes that incoming freshman in basketball have lower high school academic profiles than any other Division I sport, with football athletes maintaining the second lowest academic profile. These sports are most demanding and receive the most attention from the public; thus, the students are obliged to work harder. This takes time away from academics. Conclusion: Some students cannot be motivated in a typical classroom setting. For these students, the requirement to meet minimum academic guidelines in order to participate in sports provides the needed motivation to improve scholastic performance. In a time when the US is losing ground in education, schools are only hurting themselves by letting their athletes get by with low grades. Every state should implement a No Pass No Play rule. Ideally, school districts should be able to determine the details of how they would enforce the rule and the period of time that a student would be ineligible. References: (1) http://www.thesportjournal.org...(2) http://www.economics.smu.edu.sg... (3) http://www.eric.ed.gov... (4) http://www.bls.gov...