Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

My son is in H.S. and plays JV Baseball. I went to a meeting last night where they would go over the rules, and one of them I did not agree with. If a student is failing 2 or more classes they will be taken off the team. I IMMEDIATELY raised my hand and said why is it 2 and not 1? Well..the ENTIRE cafeteria said "WOAH" and looked at me and my son turned RED. I personally don't see ANYTHING wrong with the question I asked and most of the moms agreed with me 100% but didn't have the courage to speak up. Why do I say this? Because most of the students have the mentality if they are just passing (65) they are "ok" and won't be taken off the team, so they don't try. I don't agree with that at all. I believe you shouldn't be allowed to fail any classes and if you happen to fail one or more there should be consequences .

Their feeling is that some kids are not on the same level as others, which is fine, but I really feel like the school makes excuses for the kids so that they can have their name recognized as one of the "better teams". I understand the competetiveness, but I am also PAYING for my child to learn, and not just "get by" and think it's ok to do so. In my eyes grades come before sports.

One of the other coaches agreed with me and said if a child is getting 65's he doesn't think they should be allowed to play because it's clearly a sign of them thinking it's ok to "just get by"

Thoughts?

Message edited 11/8/2007 12:46:43 PM.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I dont think students should be allowed to participate if they are failing in school..BUT with that said..it would have to be that they are failing b/c they arent trying and not giving the subjects their all. So perhaps their could be an amendment to the rule that if the children take part in academic intervention (tutoring) and they are still failing perhaps they could still participate..To me this type of things needs to be flexible..

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

They shouldn't be allowed to play if they're failing any classes.

My friend at work has a daughter that is the star of her basketball team. She brought home a failing report card in one class & she said she couldn't play. The high school was in the championships. She got a call from the coach & the principal trying to pressure her to let her daughter play. They provided her daughter with extra tutoring multiple times a week so she could attend practices. Then my friend would give her daughter practice tests to make sure the teachers weren't just passing her. I have so much respect for that type of parenting.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I agree with you if they're failing anything they need to spend the time after school working on that area. You have to earn certain privlidges in life and this is a really great way to teach that lesson. Grades should always come first.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I remeber in HS we had that rule, but if you were really good at sports and not so good at academics, they tended to overlook the rule.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

i always tend to play both sides, but i may be more on the side of the two class thing. why? ive never failed anything, but as an athlete thru high school and college, i can understand why they might say TWO, not one.... because of this- it is just one class, sometimes you just hit a rough part in the material- sometimes u just dont GET the math stuff, or the science stuff, or the physics stuff- it just happens, u know- and u have a bad report card period (and i remember there being like 6 report cards in school or something, and so that just meant you did bad for what, like 6 or 8 weeks or something? not like college where you did bad HALF the year).... and so yes, i understand their thought on failing two....maybe the next report card you fail the same class (if it is only one) and u might just need help in THAT class, you know? it doesnt mean u are "sliding" thru bc u play sports....an automatic class fail should equal automatic extra help, not automatic dismissal from the team. and so two classes, yes, you shouldnt be able to play, bc at this point, maybe you need to have more time to concentrate on your studies instead of practice and games...

this is why i can understand why they say fail TWO and out, not one....

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

If a child is failing a class, the only activity that should be going on is studying. Unless there is a learning disability, there is no excuse.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I feel that playing a sport is a privelage. In order to earn that privelage you should have to maintain good grades. I think that teachers and coaches should work together (which is not always the case) to make sure all their students are getting good grades and if they are having problems passing a class, they should get that student help and let the child continue to play the sport as long as he is going for after school help, doing homework and really trying to pass the class.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

i agree with you. education is the backbone of any person. w/o it then what's the point?? i say if a kid's grade is nearing 70-65 tehn that kid should be put on probation. not taken off the team but make him pick up after teh team, bench him, and have him attend tutoring sessions. obviously, any failing grade, he should be taken off adn go straight to his tutor.

i used to play for a v-ball team in my high school and we were familiar with the boy's v-ball team. aorund report card time one year, i heard stuff about this one particular boy. this kid was an excellent player. but for one of the classes he was taking he flunked. so the team's head coach somehow erased the kid's failing grade to a passing grade. gasp, right?!

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I love that you are so concerned about your son's grades, but from the point of view of the coach and the school they have to be fair. There are some kids who cannot perform as highly academically as others and the only way they will go to college at all is on a sports scholorship. Also sometimes failing one class is a fluke. Should they be taken off a sports team because they didnt get along with one teacher, not necessarily.
IMO if you feel that your son needs the altimatium of "pass everything or your off the team" Then may I suggest making your own contract with him and have him sign it just like the school made him sign their contract. You just have to stick to it.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I agree with you that if a child is failing ANY classes, they should not be playing sports. Actually, my parents would have pulled me out of softball so fast if I was failing.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

As harsh as some people may find this...I've already explained to my son if he fails or "gets by" he will not play and if the school doesn't like it, then they can take him off the team.

Message edited 11/8/2007 12:48:06 PM.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I also have a son in 10th grade, who plays football, basketball and LAX. He knows that failing a subject is a one way ticket off the team.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I think education comes first in school. Sports is a privilege. When my DC start going to school sports, even if the school doesn't have a rule about failing one class, and you're suspended from the team, we're going to have that rule at our house.




I understand that some kids have difficulties with certain subjects (I was never a fan of History....), but if you fail 1 course, you can't just say "That's OK, it's hard...." There needs to be some leeway given, but one failed class needs a minimum of tutoring, extra classes, extra tests, something to show that the child is trying, and is putting in the effort to pass.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

I agree with everyone for the most part. But there is part of me thinks that if the child failed one course in a marking period, they should be given the opportunity to bring their grades up mid-point into the next quarter. If they don't do that then yes they should definitely be taken off the team.

I do think the point about not everyone performing at the same level and that it may be the only opportunity to go to college is a cope out. This mentality does young people a great disservice. If you can't pass the basic courses in high school, you will be a greater disadvantage in college. I know sports bring in a lot of money for schools, but to me it defeats the point of the education if you let kids slide bc they can throw a ball.

Message edited 11/8/2007 1:46:08 PM.

Re: Do you think it's ok for your child or any child to be allowed to stay on a school team (sports) if they are failing 2 classes?

At our school you have to maintain a 2.0 which is in line with the NCAA rules for college play. This means they can get two F grade and STILL be ok if they get A grades everywhere else. I don't agree with this policy but unfortunately I don't run the NCAA either.

I do agree that this may be an area where a student excels and not be a strong academic student but I still think the requirements need to be raised.

Just my high school counselor opinion