History and evidence show school sports help students win. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bowen, Daniel H.; Hitt, Collin
• Is Part Of: Phi Delta Kappan. Volume 97:Number 8(2015:May)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Greek letter societies -- Periodicals; Onderwijs; Éducation -- Périodiques; Associations désignées par des lettres grecques -- Périodiques; Éducation; Enseignement; Pédagogie; Politique éducative; Recherche en éducation; Réforme du système éducatif; Services aux élèves; Système éducatif; États-Unis; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 371.0097305
• DOI: 10.1177/0031721716647011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-7217

Abstract

Student participation in school sports has surged over the past half century. The greatest contributor to this increase has been Title IX, which required schools to expand opportunities for girls. Despite the perceived benefits and high levels of support from students and parents, interscholastic athletics constantly come under attack. The fervor for school-sponsored sports can get out of hand, but anything can be overemphasized. In spite of the myths about school sports, student-athletes generally do better in school than other students, not worse. The academic eligibility requirements that schools place on athletes have decreased dropout rates among at-risk students. The larger body of evidence shows that school sports have genuinely benefitted students and their school communities.