Summary Of Have Sports Teams Brought Down American Schools By Elizabeth Korbert

“Have Sports Teams Brought Down American Schools?” “Have Sports Teams Brought Down American Schools?” was written by Elizabeth Kolbert. Kolbert brings attention to the amount of focus American schools put on sports verses academic success.

In the article, “Have Sports Teams Brought Down American Schools?” Kolbert starts her article with a reference to Amanda Ripley’s book, “The Smartest Kids in the World.” Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, wrote a book telling a story of how Tom, a high school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, that spends his senior year in Wroclaw, Poland, is effected by academic focus verses athletic focus. In her book, “The Smartest Kids in the World,” Ripley maintains that, “Sports were the core culture of Gettysburg High.” In Poland there were no organized sports and teachers were not coaches. Students went to school to learn.

As a high school student, having read this article, I can see the pros and cons to each view. I agree that American schools focus most of their time and energy on athletic success and all that entails. For example, in my hometown, we have breaks for Districts and Conferences for sport events instead of spring or winter breaks. However, I also feel that academic endeavors should be receiving equal amounts of attention and fanfare

Courtney Stawarz says, “Sports are important, I understand that. However, Elizabeth Kolbert has a valid argument.” She says, while Americans tend to put more emphasis on sports rather than learning, it is not the children that are at fault. She sees how sports are related to grades being you have to make sure you are eligible to play. Children have to watch their grades in order to be able to play sports in schools. Stawarz also states that she feels people get offended when others bash on sports or academics but Kolbert makes it so she’s not bashing on either side. She is basically stating the