Were athletes in your high school given preferential treatment by school officials?

Question

At the high school I went to, the football, basketball and baseball players were treated with preferential treatment by school administrators.

As with most high schools, rules dictated that a student had to maintain a "C" average to participate in school sports.

In ninth grade, I was assigned to a history class which was taught by one of the football coaches. Oddly enough, the bulk of the football team was in the same class, where the "teacher" spent a disproportionate amount of time talking about sports rather than history. By all appearances, this class was specifically created to pass student athletes who couldn't be bothered to do the same work as other students.

As a result, many of these athletes ended up graduating without the educational standards demanded of other students.

Did the student athletes in YOUR high school get special treatment? If they broke the rules, did they get a pass?

And what, if anything, does this say about our society in general?

To King Midas - Well, I'm not sure what's "fair," but I never attended any school sporting events, never had "team spirit" and was simply inclined towards other activities like martial arts, skydiving and rock climbing.

And just to be clear, I'm not bashing anyone - I'm merely pointing out that our society gives football, basketball and baseball players preferential treatment that they simply don't deserve. To be sure, members of the track team and field hockey team never needed special classes to ensure they kept their grades up.

And when I see professional athletes convicted of violent crimes - not drug possession, but violent crimes - and getting a different form of justice than a less privilaged individual might get, well, it strikes me as an injustice.

Judging by the comments I've received so far, it doesn't sound like I'm alone in this observation.

Answer 1

Why, because they're 'better' than everybody else!
Didn't you know?
.

Answer 2

Yes, very much so. But it depends on the athletic program they belong to. For instance, my women's soccer team athletes are treated like any other students but the football players and basketball players are treated like royalty. Their projects and tests are looked over with no scrutiny and every time I've heard of a football player or cheerleader getting in trouble, they are pardoned. Athletes (again only the football, cheer-leading, and basketball players) are also pardoned if they test positive for any drugs. During a drug test one day, I was sitting next to a cheerleader who told me she had just done pot that morning. When all the test results came back, nothing happened to her! Where as even the suspicion of drugs in any other student will get them expelled. Not only that but they get the bulk of our schools funds.
I think this says about our society that we prefer the people who have a "special" talent that is not academic or anything else. It is sad and shows that we are more interested in entertainment than anything else.

Answer 3

Of course. I know in my school thats the way it was. Being from west Texas football is really important. If a teacher didn't pass a player, and especially a star player, and the football team lost a game all the blame was passed onto that teacher because the teacher withheld that player. Thats just the way things are. Good luck trying to change that. The only thing it says about our society is that we really LOVE football.

Answer 4

oh yes big time like just last year i was a junior and my math teacher was a scoccer coach im smart but ok in math. He would give us exrta credit if we participaited in class decions. He would only call on his team players. Even though I wasnt hundered percent sure that I had the right answer, I always had my hand raised but never got and equal opportunity. It got so bad that I wouldnt get picked to answer a question intill we had a sub which was in a blue moon. So yea

Answer 5

sure. not lots as detrimental vs prosperous as a stable college could be in a detrimental district as a not so stable college could be in a prosperous district. faculties would desire to even although, be conscious that some faculties are by application in basic terms. A scholar who excels in a magnet college accepting in basic terms pupils who handed tests to pass into the school, with a undeniable GPA would desire to be greater very warm than an identical scholar in that section at yet another college. of direction not all areas have faculties like this, and for this reason not all pupils have this hazard. this could not be the main suited ingredient, yet a ingredient in college attractiveness.

Answer 6

yes they were. I never played any sports, i was more in to Trig and chem. Looking back now I am glad i made that choice. the majority of the students that played sports and got treated differently are for all acouts worthless because they had not been held responsible for there actions.So in short they my get better treatment but as a normal student with out the perks you will end up better off !

Answer 7

Hell yes, and I was one of them. Except I graduated and earned a college scholarship.

Is it fair that these same athletes bring in lots of money to these schools and get paid nothing for it.

Is it fair that people like you attend sporting events to show your team spirit at the expense of these athletes, and have the audicity to bash them behind their backs because you yourself are not athletically inclined to thrive at any sport.