Sports+School= Stupid.

September 25, 2008 at 2:55 AM

Is all that high school revolves around, Football?

Every day during the morning announcements, the only thing the administration focuses on is sports. It's disgusting.

This summer, 6 football players that go to my school were involved with burglary and vandalism charges. The administration said they would never set foot in the Syracuse High Football Stadium again, but guess who scored the winning point at tonight's football game.

It just bugs me, everything that athletes are about. An artist can work their entire life to get to a professional athlete's level of fame, profit etc,and still not make it. But that athlete can get there in an hour of running into people on a field... I dont get the world we live in.

One of the smartest people in our school went to national science and won, and got no recognition, but this morning the principal thought it was so important to tell us that the girls soccer team lost 8-1, and how amazing our school is because of sports. A womans car flipped onto the sidewalk outside the school on monday, but it's more important to tell us that we can beat the crap out of a car with clearfield(our rival school)colors painted on it....

It's just all stupid to me.

I enjoy sports, although not at the high school level. College football is very entertaining, especially when you go to a large university in the South (UGA). I like baseball, too, but the Braves are doing terribly this season.

Do not get caught up in these trivial matters. Just keep your head down, work hard, practice, practice, practice, and don't forget to enjoy yourself.

Also, regarding this statement: "An artist can work their entire life to get to a professional athlete's level of fame, profit etc,and still not make it."

I would suggest a documentary called "The Winners."

Real good point from Charlie. This is trival stuff that doesn't mean anything really, so don't get emotionally bogged down in it.
I knew a guy who tried out for just about every pro football team, whatever they call it, but never got to play more that a few minutes professionally, so that's not a given either :)
Our society does take sports more seriously than art. Everyone (except me) knows the names of the current sports stars, but vary few non-musicians recognize names like Hilary Hahn, Joshua Bell, and Jascha Heifetz. Symphony orchestras are going to close down because of lack of money, but have you ever heard anything like that about a football team? It's too bad that the administrators of your school are extremists. Just keep reminding yourself that everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, but yours comes closer to the truth. Something else that will help you a lot is hanging out with other violinists on v.com.
I dunno about american football, but Australian rules and National Rugby league players are anything but athletes. They are football players. But at the top level nationally they can get drunk weekly, party hard, use various substances for recreational pleasure. And still manage to playat a level acceptable for national or state representation. Cadel Evans, Ian Thorpe, Robbie McEwen , Patrick Rafter - they didn't / don't do, they are athletes and they can't perform at the elite level if they let up.
I too lament the over exposure of football above all other recreational activity. I don't sweat it, but it'd be nice to know what's happening outside of blokes kicking pigskin.
Honestly it sounds like you might just be bored with your high school. I don't know what grade you're in, but those years go by faster than you think. And that's one of the things that's great about college: you can decide where to go and what's important to you. Some colleges are more into sports than others.

Another thing you might consider is taking courses at a local community college. You might be able to get academic credit and even graduate faster.

Pauline, You got it exactly... I dont know how else to explain it.

Karen, Yes, I am bored... And it's too bad because I'm only a sophomore and I'll be there a while. If I get all my classes right and set up, I'll only have to come to school for 3 classes.

Sorry, 3 classes during my senior year.
Could you talk to your school administrators? That is the way at my daughter's school, too. I was about to take it for granted until I realized how demoralizing it is for artistic kids and their parents including myself. I decided to capitalize on my daughter's small achievement over the summer. I contacted school officials encouraging them to publicize non-athletic achievements as well if they were to truly diversify the school population. They were happy to comply. Her picture playing violin will be published in the school's glossy magazine. Playing a stringed instrument gives kids advantage in college admissions. It is also something kids can use throughout their life unlike, say, soccer. Can you imagine 30-something women get together to play a soccer game? In my opinion, school officials will pay attention to if approached right.
Excellent idea about talking to your administrators. Talk first to your parents. Does your school have a music department/band? Or maybe just other like-minded atistic types? You might see if you could form a delegation of more than just yourself; there is power in numbers & organization. Finally, remember that even if it comes down to just yourself don't let others ruin your goals or even yout attitude. In the end, you must live with yourself.

By the way, please let us know how this plays out.

P.S. Laurie, what happened to our edit button? Am I to live the rest of my life a victim of my bad typing?
School has been going on for exactly a month... Our teacher didnt assign us to chairs or sections... Seniorety(sp?) rules in orchestra... But, we were doing sectionals today(breaking down into 1st,2nd violins, viola, cello etc, not the whole orchestra) and I am not the concert master, but was sitting next to her today in the practice room and was nailing every part of the songs we're playing... Palladio, Serenade for strings by Tchiakovsky, and Brandenburg #6. So I'm starting to stand out in orchestra. We're playing a piece by a modern composer, and The whole thing pretty much is a violin solo, and for a few measures, it's two violins. Guess who the section leader picked as her duet partner? ME!!

And I dont really hate athletes, Many of my friends are football, baseball, basketball players, and 3 or 4 cheerleaders (they're not the stupid kind:)) and the other girls I know are in basketball or softball. I just sorta hate what sports revolve around.

I'm just having a really good day!! I got 89/95 on the spanish midterm, 53/53 on biology midterm and I've started my term project for world civ, and everything is going good. I've got a 4.0!

Oh, and...

Our music department has an amazing feature I didnt even know about til today. It's called a virtual practice room, and there's a computer on the wall and you select the type of sound you wish. You can choose from dozens(concert halls, churches, auditorium etc) and I chose the concert hall setting and It felt like I was playing in Libbey Gardner Hall at the University of Utah. I played there last year and It was the most terrifying but gratifying feeling.

I really should be more grateful for this school than I am. I've never gone to a school more than two years old. My elementary school was brand new, my junior high 2 years old, and my high school 1 year old.

It's an amazing school with great technology.

You are so right! I have nothing against athletes but we really live in a world where intellectual and cultural things are not recognise. It's kind of not "in style" or not the "hot" thing! Of course, there are some exceptions and some schools do huge efforts but these schools are often located in big cities and are costly! I understand you so well because I feel exactly like you! I am passionnated about violin and don't know anybody of my age who even plays an instrument. I always feel like an alien at school but I don't really care about it because even if school is a terrible period for some people, it will be over one day! But you are absouluntly right and I think the nice playing you can have after having practicing a lot is really the only reward that counts because it is the "truest" one, the most satysfying. Much better that having cherrleaders or the school screaming your name everywhere! Don't forget that violinists can play all their life and usually athletes "perform" and have fame only in their young days! Think of all the grat masters who still played like if they were 20 at 80! Isn't that extraordinary?
All the best!
Anne-Marie
I have that exact same icon for my livejournal account. Thought that was a cool coincidence.
David, I will look into that. The intention is to give everyone the "edit" button for a period of time before the comment is set. Let me see what the glitch is!
Unfortunately you also see this type of thing in the corporate world. What makes money gets the attention of the "execs". Sports programs in schools bring in the money to the school system, so that is what gets the attention - like it or not.

However, money (and money making activites) isn't the only thing that makes life enjoyable. Take this as a lesson in life to enjoy what you do even if it doesn't get the attention from others. It is the things that bring you and others happiness that will stay with you over a lifetime.

Professional sports at the highest level is more a part of the entertainment industry than it is about athletics. That's why they call Major League Baseball, "The Show". Nobody complains about the salary Jack Nicholson makes. So a more relevant analogy is that people know the names of pro athletes about as well as they know the names of pop stars and A-list celebrities. Name recognition for violin soloists would be about at the level as that for US pro soccer players (Who was the MVP last year again?).

I agree about high school athletics though. Here in Norway athletics have nothing to do with school. Each community has its own local, independent sports club. I think it is a much healthier way to organize the two activities.

My first thought was "have you spoken with the school administrators about this?" I think that's the way to go.
When you do speak with him/her, I very strongly suggest you also carry on an intelligent conversation about the school's sports team's successes or failures to show that you're not only interested in the arts. Trust me, I know how to reach administrators like this successfully. You might even start the conversation praising your school's athletes and their athletic programs.
When corporations make decisions about where to base their corporate headquarters one of the things they look at in a community are the cultural aspects that affect the quality of life. So the arts are definitely important to more than just us here at vcom.
P.S., When you go to speak with the principal, carry a football also.
Just kidding. Maybe.
Ray, You should organize a seminar addressing this. I agree with you. Important not to be us vs. them. Schools will appreciate to showcase multi-talents their school can offer, athletic, artistic, and academic achievements. It also helps other reluctant musicians to come out. At this age, acceptance by peers is important in my opinion.
All I can say is wow....

I cant believe how far these school rivalries go!! But it is kinda fun:)

At first it was just simple stuff like our school painting their entire football field, and them putting posters up in our school with stuff on them etc... But our school bought a huge bus, and painted it with the clearfield colors and people can beat the crap out of it today...

And I mean, I dont really want to "start a movement" about sports taking a front seat and how it's not fair, I was just complaining and voicing my opinion...

Both arts and sports are important to a wholesome and complete education.

Past experiences from seasoned teachers have told us that attacking sports won't help musical agendas. It just makes you look really combative and negative.

There are lots of things that are unfair in this world, but diplomacy would be my suggestion before you declare war on sports.

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