No Pass, No Play
While
this might not seem like an outwardly political post (it does let me
use that “failing paper” icon in context, however!) – this caught my eye as being something rather troublesome in terms of the relationship between athletics and academics in our public schools.
Dozens
of current athletes in Iowa's public high schools would be sidelined
under new academic eligibility rules, an informal Des Moines Register
survey shows.
In
some high schools, athletics officials estimate as many as 25 percent
of their fall athletes are failing one course. Under tougher
eligibility policies expected to go into effect next fall, athletes
failing one or more courses would be unable to participate in sporting
events.
….
“We are concerned that students will decrease the amount of courses
they are willing to carry and may stick to the minimum . . . losing out
on a stronger academic course load” if the new rules go into effect,
[Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School Principal Mary] Wilcynski said.
A
question for any commenters: is it unreasonable to require that
students pass classes in order to participate in extracurricular
activities?
I
understand the need for 'balance' in the lives of students and in their
curriculum – but a failing grade – to me – signifies that the notion of
'balance' is lost and needs to be restored.
Blog For Iowa 
I agree with the practice, but as a guideline for improvement rather than a rule for punishment.
As a former HS baseball coach, I once had a player lose eligibility because he failed his Spanish class. No make-up test was offered.
The reason he failed was commendable. His father became disabled, so he chose to miss Spanish (his first class of the day) in order to find part-time work and help support the family. The boy was first generation American – his family was from Mexico. He would have aced the final if given the opportunity.
He took the reigns of responsibility and made the right choice, but instead of a reward, received a punishment. As long as there are progams in place to allow an athlete to recognize the problem, improve with hard work, and attain a passing grade – I'm all for this guideline.
I'm also glad to read that other extra-cirricular activities such as music are considering adopting the same guidelines.
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…although if I had to guess, I would expect that the scenario in music would not be very similar to sports in that band members, for example, are less often given special priviliges in the same way that athletes sometimes are (to the detriment of the athlete's education).
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