It's time for a revolution in this country. For far too long we have labored under the crushing weight of state-endorsed sports-obsession. For too long we have suffered from the oppression of the elitest athletic groups in our schools. Our schools are supposed to be places of learning. They are supposed to be sanctuaries of education. But they have been dominated by the political sports faction until the ideals of education have been all but extinguished. Yes, there are instructors who emphasize learning over athletics but they are in a constant struggle with the athletic director and his cadre of brown-shirts for funds and support. What is the first thing that catches your attention as you approach a high school? A life-sized picture of the school's sports team mascot! What's the first thing you see when you enter a high school's front door? Trophies! Cabinet after cabinet of sports trophies! Why? What message does that send?
The goal of high school is to produce quality sports teams and teach us that athletes are more important than students and education. This fact is evident by the way student-athletes are given preferential treatment; they are issued and required to wear special coats so that everyone can identify them and recognize their authority. The priviledged student-athlete gets to do pretty much as they want. If a student athlete shows up late for school it's no big deal. They have reserved parking spots. Regular students have to find their own parking. To keep the masses indoctrinated, the school sponsors monthly "Assemblies" where the student athletes are introduced one by one --by the principal --as they enter the auditorium as if they were royalty. They have reserved seating in the front row. The masses are forced to listen as the female auxillary, a group of surreal female clowns, sing the praises of the privileged class. Because of the obvious privileged status bestowed on these "athletes" by the administration, everyone wants to be a member of the privileged class but they can't. The jocks and the female auxillary are the most popular members of the student body and most likely to be elected as class president. The yearbook, a tome produced by students 10 times smarter than jocks, devotes over a quarter of its contents to the athletes and their accomplishments. There are pictures hung in all the halls of this year's star athletes. There are glass cases with shelves and shelves of their trophies and accolades. The school mascot's sole purpose is to cheer on the athletes. The school has an official song they sing about the athletic students and their daring exploits. The school website's primary focus is sports teams and scores. School is all about the jocks and the cheerleaders. And the rest of us can go to hell.
High schools have three major components. Sports teams, a marching band, and cheerleaders. The purpose of the sports teams is obvious: to demonstrate the superiority of the ruling class. The band serves two purposes. Most importantly it heralds the arrival of the privileged class as they arrive at games. Secondly, it gives purpose to those students who weren't allowed to join the elite class. It allows them to be near the top and delude themselves into believing that they "belong". The cheerleaders perform a similar utility. They are the propaganda wing of the sports party. They sing the praises of the jocks at school "assemblies" and at games. These three units comprise the essense of what high school is. Together they form an interlocking arrangement of status and privilege designed to exclude the educated.
Another indication of how necessary sports are to high school is their use as a connection between the school and former students. After students graduate and move on to real life, they join booster clubs and athletic associations, political organizations focused on the continuance of the status quo. Through these legitimate organizations, members contribute money to expand the schools' sports programs. You don't see any Audio/Visual clubs after graduation, do you? And what about the importance of televised high school football games? And the next day's commentary in the town newspaper? If sports weren't the most important part of high school, they wouldn't receive this kind of news coverage! You don't see the Chess Club or the Drama Club on TV, do you? Yes, sports are integral and the reason schools exist in the first place. And being a member of the football team (or a cheerleading female clown) is clearly far more important than being educated or getting good grades!
I don't understand this culture of ignorance. Less than 10% of the school body ever belongs to the privileged class. Yet we all go along and accept what's shoveled out at assemblies. We all just accept that we're second class citizens and that's just the way it is. We're so accustomed to our position and stature that we don't even question this insanity! WHY do we have to attend assemblies to praise the jocks?! WHY are sports so important?! WHY is fully as much real estate devoted to the playing fields as to the school? WHY is more money spent on athletic gear, field maintenance and lighting, and athletic programs than on books or lab equipment and computers?! WHY is the school's sign board only used to announce school games?! WHY is sports more important than learning when most of us aren't included?! It's time to end this insanity and take back our schools NOW!
