School-Version 2.0 - Athletics

We’ve been talking lately about the changes taking place in education. We have talked a great deal about what goes on inside the classroom. Today I want to discuss the great work that goes on outside of the classroom through our athletics programs.

As most of you know, the South Columbus High School football team was recently crowned the North Carolina Eastern 2A Champions. It was a personal thrill to watch the team play in the finals at Carter-Finley stadium in Raleigh, and while they didn’t win, I think I speak for everyone in Columbus County when I say how very proud we are of Coach Price and his staff, as well as the administration, faculty and staff, and of course the players. Recently, baseball teams and basketball teams from West Columbus have played in state championships and have represented our county extremely well.

I personally feel that athletics play a vital role in our schools. Each year hundreds of students make vital connections between what takes place on the field or court, what takes place in the classroom, and what takes place in life. Involving a student in athletics is perhaps the most effective strategy we have to keep students in schools and to minimize discipline problems. Our coaches also provide our students with very important role models and allow students that struggle in the classroom an opportunity to experience success. We all know that when a child experiences success in SOMETHING, he/she is much more likely to me successful in EVERYTHING. The coaches in our county work tirelessly and selflessly, not just to win, but to help young men and women reach their full potential. I frequently hear from parents or fellow teachers about coaches going that extra mile. One parent told me about a coach that personally paid for basketball equipment for players whose parents couldn’t afford it. Every coach in our system makes great personal sacrifices for little or no pay, because they believe in the power of what they are doing. Our athletic teams, even those that don’t have many wins on the field or court, help to create many winners in life.

We are currently striving to expand our athletic programs. Soccer and volleyball have been added to middle school athletics. We continue to expand and enhance our high school athletic programs. We also realize the role that physical activity should play in the every day lives of our students. The Healthy Active Children Policy adopted by the State Board of Education requires all students in grades K-8 to engage in 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day. Our curriculum coordinators have implemented across all areas “energizers”- short integrated activities that help add physical movement to academic classes. We also require that all classes have some built in physical activity, especially on the high school level.

Fifty years ago, athletics and physical activity were often treated as extras, separating student’s minds and bodies. We realize today, in order to educate the WHOLE child we must educate the minds AND the bodies of our students in an integrated and meaningful way.