Sports
Should We Ban School Sports?
One Bay State science writer floats an idea that could get her run out of town: kill off school sports so kids can focus in academics.
Written by Chris Helms
Massachusetts-based science writer Elizabeth Kolbert has a provocative proposal: kill school sports.
She argues dropping sports would help U.S. students focus — and improve their test scores. She cites a new book, "The Smartest Kids in the World." It tells success stories of places like Poland. Test scores in the eastern European country have risen from below the developed world's average to significantly above it. Polish schools, like many in Europe, simply don't have sports.
One argument for school sports is that since physical education has been cut in many states, organized sports are critical to students' health. But that argument doesn't apply in Massachusetts, where we're one of two states that still requires daily P.E. in grades K through 12.
Take a look at the argument against school sports in Kolbert's post on The New Yorker. Is she on to something? Or maybe just on something?
