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Thank you

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I don't think competitive sports have gotten out of hand, it's just some people who choose to do the wrong thing. High schools should not eliminate sports because it does offer a lot to the students who choose to do the right thing Although school is mostly about learning, sports provide a learning experience too. The benefits to sports are helping the kids release stress, and showing students how to work effectively with a group of people to achieve one goal. An alternative to eliminating sports, they could just moniter players more closely. Life lessons you learn are teamwork, and a drive to succeed. Make teams non- competitive does not nessisar prevent hazing because that is something that anyone chooses to do, not just sport players.

In response to jake nunes

Although violence has become an ongoing issue in sports. Terminating it wouldn't be fair to the people who try and do the right thing.

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Competitive teenage sports are what some kids live for. If money is a problem in the house they at least have a chance to make it to a paid league. Say in baseball, many people from our state have made it to the pros. If high schools eliminated school sports there would be a huge outrage in America just about sports itself. School to most kids can be kid of boring. With sports in the mix of things it makes going to school less boring knowing afterward you have a game or practice. (Hyman) "High school sports have a lot to offer. They’re a rite of passage in many ways, from playing for school pride to working hard to becoming the best you can be". Working hard at a sport and realizing after what you have done to yourself to push yourself to the best you can be is a great feeling.

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High school sports is something a lot of teens look forward to. If it is becoming a problem, terminating it shouldn't be the fairest and best way to solve the problem. Maybe if students are monitored more often or rules are changed to lessen the chance of things like hazing from occurring. From being on a sports team you learn your own role and responsibility there. You go onto your position and contribute to the team as a whole. When someone doesn't contribute it might cause problems and not being competitive allows students or players to focus on other things and they lose interest in playing. From playing on a sports team you learn "to have more self-confidence, self-respect and leadership"(Kniffen). Sports team teaches students plenty of things and molds what type of person they are around others and how they work with others. It is difficult to focus and try your very hardest day in and day out but that is what sports teams are for is to push you for the good not the bad.

In response to Alissa Anastasi, I agree with you about students being punished for breaking rules and performing such actions. Also punishments should be set to use in these situations so not as much controversy would occur about the subject.

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Recently, a lot of sports player, mainly football, have gotten in trouble. It has ranged from high school to the NFL. The people who commit these crimes or offences should be punished, but it is not always handled that way. Sometimes, like in this case, the whole team gets punished and in most cases, it isn't the whole team that did something wrong. Some people say that high school sports are a waste of time, but other people say that "High school sports have a lot to offer." The same people that say that they have a lot to offer re the ones that I agree with. School sports are a very good way to stay active, usually for free, and to gain popularity in some cases. This could be good for you in school because if you can work hard at football, teachers know that you can work hard in school. In most cases, you have to keep up good grades to stay on the team, and that is a great form of motivation. High school sports are a great way to enjoy your school days, but if a member of members of a team do something wrong, then only they should be punished.

In response to Mourad Taman

I agree with you in saying that sports are a great way to learn life lessons. Without school sports, high school would not be very enjoyable and students would not learn as much as they do about teamwork and other things like that.

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School sports teams are very important, especially in high schools. Competitive teenage athletics have gotten a little out of hand by canceling the whole football season. Every teacher you have ever met have said,"keep your hands to ourself," so canceling the season is not completely over blown. Adding to that, high schools should not eliminate their sports teams just because certain students don't know how to behave. Yes, school is about learning, not about sports. On the other hand, some students could receive a scolarship into a colloge for the sport they play. Scoloarships are also the benefits of having the ability to play sports in school. In Addision, sports should be monitored more closey to prevent more assaulting. For example, Buzz Bissinger says,"football is now being watched by high powered telescopes." This means the "sexual assaulting" will be highly controlled.  The lesson learned out of all this is keep your hands to yourself.  In conclusion, school sports teams are very important and sometimes not taken seriously.

In responce to Alissa Anastasi

I agree that the students that did this behavior should be punished.  However takeing away the sport for everyone is definetly not the answer

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Schools should have school sports. Sports help kids engage with other kids. Also sports help kids get through the rough times they might be having at home. Kids could let there anger out on spots as well. sports is a good idea to have in schools because its pushes kids to get better grades. For example if someone really liked  playing that sport and the only way they could stay on that team was if they got good grades, kids would actually try to get good grades so they can keep doing what they like. ,"Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime."(High School Athletes Gain Lifetime Benefits.) Playing in sports could change someone's attitude towards things. They could be more engaging, and nicer to people. Kids that play in sports would learn to care and respect, and work together with other people just like they do with there team mates.

in response to Leah Ragosta:

I agree with you when you say high school sports should not be taken out. they should just be improved and worked on. and that sports is a good was to engage with other kids

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School sports are supported all over the nation. They are given as a friendly competition for the students and staff. The fact that the students take this opportunity to sexually assault the youth of the sport should be unacceptable in every society. Now there are "disturbing charges over sexual assault at a high school football program in New Jersey"(Woodruff). The sports program canceling in New Jersey should be very disappointing to all effortful athletes and their parents, as should the assaulters and their parents should be extremely disappointed along with the school department. To be doing this in any area at any time should be intolerable. Students learn a great deal of sportsmanlike conduct in athletic activity. They teach the athletes to be friendly to one another in any situation. In a competitive team however, these qualities begin to fade into a lost world and things become a physical battle against one another. Therefore, competitive sports have gotten out of hand. For another reason as well. Due to public locker rooms for the men, athletes are exposed to other athletes. Some take this as an opportunity to disturb or embarrass another athlete. High schools however, should not have to take eliminate the sports program because there are many students who work hard and deserve to play the sport.

In response to Alissa Anastasi:

The schools should not have eliminate the sports program for the athletes who appreciate the sport and respect it and their teammates. For that reason especially, is why the elimination should've have been unacceptable to the community and the society.

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Sports and athletic activities in high schools are an important part of the students’
lives mainly the boys who wish to perform a sport professionally. The high
schools shouldn’t eliminate the sport teams all together just because of this
one incident. School is mainly about learning but to some it is important to
them just as much it is important to the students who prefer to other things.
Being on a sports team teaches who how to work together to achieve something
whether it be competitive or not. The sport teams should just be supervised
more often and well disciplined, “Research shows that people who play
high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a
lifetime.” (Kevin Kniffin). Kevin Kniffin says that sports make a great impact
on the students and they help with life later on. Therefore, taking away the
sports will not benefit the students in anyway.

In response to Rebecca Dugas,

I agree that the sport teams have gotten out of hand, although they shouldn't be punished for their actions by abolishing the sport totally like you said. Those students who did the wrong deserve to suffer the consequences.

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The teenagers at the New Jersey high school were out of control, but that doesn't imply that all athletes on school sports teams are going to act like them. School is about education and that is the most important part of school, but school sports are important too. They help to promote leadership, team building, and a healthy, active lifestyle among other things. Sports are motivation for kids to keep their grades up because if they don't, they can be suspended from their sports team. Playing a team sport in school provides many life long lessons such as staying on target and still having fun. What you learn while playing a sport can even translate into your everyday life. A certain skill set is learned when playing a sport and that skill set, whatever it is, can be useful in other aspects of life besides sports. In the article "Sports and Education Work Well Together" by J.P. Greene and Daniel H. Bowen states that "schools that offer more sports and field more successful teams produce higher test scores and graduation rates" (2014). Education and sports can coexist in school. They work together to make one another possible. Without sports, there wouldn't be anything carrying student athletes through the day.

In response to Troy Cedarfield-

I completely disagree with you. School sports should not be cancelled from schools. The New Jersey incident is only one incident. There is no proof that "kids don't get competitive in middle school" because they do- just like high schoolers and elementary schoolers. High school is not where competitiveness starts. Competitiveness starts before you are even born and carries you throughout your life whether it is competing for a job opening, a role in a play, or a part in a band. It is rare that kids get violent because of a home team loss at a sports game.

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It was a good idea to suspend the team for the rest of the season. They are a team and they go down together. If one player goes down they all go down. Schools should only take away sports teams if something of this situation occurs, not because of something like budget cuts because students need sports. It's good for a student to look forward to something after school. "The magic of high school sports isn't about how a kid can go pro someday, or even that their team wins, but that they step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves, a lesson they take with them wherever they go in life," says former NFL player Donté Stallworth. He has a very valid argument. There are many great things about high school sports. ON the other hand, it is a basic moral lesson to keep your hand to yourself and not touch someone inappropriately, and if this happens, measures like eliminating that sport is a good option.

In response to Gloria Paz

You are right that sports shouldn't be taken away, but should be if the team does something unacceptable. In this case, it would be a punishment and restart the following year.

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Competitive teenage players have become out of hand. These players shouldn't be messing with younger players no matter how young they are. However, high schools shouldn't get rid of sports teams because its also a good way to make new friends. Also, it's good exercise for young guys and girls. On the other hand, coaches should always monitor what's going on in the changing rooms and wherever else any of the older players can mess around with the younger players. Another reason why high schools shouldn't get rid of sports is so that the players can learn team work. Although, we should still preserve high school sports but monitor them closely.

In response to Alissa Anastasi high school sports have gotten out of control but we shouldn't eliminate them.

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Competitive teenage athletes are not getting out of hand, just because some immature guys from a New Jersey High School football team sexually harassed younger players does not mean the sport needs to be banned. This means that the players need to be banned and suspended, not the rest of the team who wants to play and get better. For some people sports are a way of life, some people are not born naturally smart but have great athletic abilities. This gives them a chance of succeeding in life and going pro. All people have the right to do what they want as long as they are not breaking the law so why cant they play football. Yes, school is most defiantly about learning but the kids should also be able to be on competitive sport teams and inter murals. Just because it is an inter mural does not mean that people will not get competitive and do something stupid like the kids on that New Jersey football team. Benefits of playing sports in high school is that you learn lessons like, resect, sportsmanship, and character. It is proven as Kevin Kniffin (2014) says "former student-athletes tend to donate time and money more frequently than people who weren’t part of teams". This goes to show that former student athletes learned lessons from their high-school career and want others to learn these behaviors like they did. Overall, there is no way of monitoring high-school sports better, students will do what they want even if they know it is not the right thing to do. That is just the way some people are and you cant change that. Even though it would be great if you could.

In Response to Gloria Paz-

I agree with you, just because one school messed up their athletic program does not mean that athletic programs around the world need to be taken away from kids that are determined to go pro. Also, I agree with you that sports teach lessons such as determination and this determination can help later in life like when you are applying for a job and you are really determined to get that job. Football teaches you to never give up and always stay positive because you never know what is going to happen in the game. Such as the game of life.

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First thing first sports are very important. Why? "High school sports have a lot to offer"(Mark Hyman) and because it's a social activity to interact with people. Also having an activity in high school will help you academically.How? Because saying you played lead quaterback on a school team and won championships will get you into a good college. This will look very good on a resume. Cutting out sports from the school would be ubsured. Also of yoi think in 11-12 grade their will be no hazing you are insane. They are all 17 year old kids and all they do for a living is harass people. Knowing this the coaches, teachers or any adult authority should strictly enforce non bullying polices. Therefore getting rid off sports completely is completely foolish. This teaches you sportsmanship and respect and sports are very impotant to teen and people of all ages.

In response to Nick Psikakos

I completely agree with you. Some sports have gotten out of hand but it can be fixed. And your first sentence is true. The topic is somewhat idiotic. Sports are sports no matter how you put it. Therefore if the get out of hand you have to start becoming more strict with your team-members.

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This example of the scandal that happened in New Jersey was taken seriously, and there is a good reason for that, but it is not necessary to completely take away high school sports. It would be more reasonable to set more strict rules and put more limits on the sports, but i think how the high school dealt with the situation was taken too far. Buzz Bissinger states "What is needed is a turning down of the volume — not such an easy task given how competitive sports are ingrained into our culture." What he is trying to say is that even though football is a big sport in high school, it shouldn't be going to these extents, and the players should start to settle down a bit more. The players and other teams should not be punished for this scandal, only the person held responsible, because going to that extent would be even more unfair. School should be the students main priority, especially in their high school years, and that is another reason why football players, along with other sports players, should settle down a bit, and not be quite as aggressive towards other players.

In response to Brendan Kelleher,

I do not agree with you when you say that the coaches should be held responsible for the actions of the players. I do agree that the coaches should be supervising the players, but the coaches are not always aware of what the players are doing, or what they are planning to do. Other incidents or planning of others could be taking place outside of the football field, which would still affect the player's football career, but would not be in the hands of the coach to deal with.

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The situation at the New Jersey high school is an unfortunate situation but high school sports, as a whole, have not gotten out of control. This is just one sports time out of the plethora of sports programs across the country. A lot of sports programs have been thriving and helping students by forcing them to behave, and keep up there grades. There would be no need to abolish high school sports. People in communities love there sports. It is what brings the community together. High school sports, also allow a place where kids that have a common interest can bond and become friends. Through sports, kids learn how to communicate with one another, learn responsibility, teamwork, persistence, etc. School work and learning will always come before sports. Although the sports may be time consuming and maybe distract the players from school. high school sport teams have a policy that if the athlete gets lower than a certain grade, then they are not allowed to participate on the team anymore. High school can be a tricky place to fit in sports help people fit in. The hazing and sexual harassment may lead to more moderation which is good. Sports may lead to cockiness from the players, which can result in unruly behavior such as sexual harassment. Moderation could help control some of these problems. There are several life lessons one can gain from participating in sport activities. High school sports can teach you several life lessons to help you succeed later on in life. Donte Stallworth, a former N.F.L player states “The magic of high school sports isn't about how a kid can go pro someday, or even that their team wins, but that they step out of their comfort zones and

challenge themselves, a lesson they take with them wherever they go in life.” He also talks about how school sports helped him to become accountability in other aspects of life. Sports have a different atmosphere to them if they are a non-competitive team. There is not as much competition or egos. This could help the prevention of hazing. However, it might not help too much, because the players are ultimately who make the decision. As you can see, the hazing and sexual harassment can be maintained and controlled without getting rid of high school sports all together.

In response to Alissa Anastasi

I agree that though high school athletes should be punished but taking away a sports is not the answer

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High schools should not eliminate their sports teams. High school sports are a way of making new friends. If some people cant handle it then no one else should suffer. Yes, high school sports have gotten out of hand at some point but their not perfect. As Kevin Kniffin says "Sports offer formative and life-long lessons that stick with people who play." That is a true known fact! I have played many sports before and I still do today. Also i've learned a lot that has helped me throughout the years too! If they cut high school sports then some people don't learn those life lessons that could help them go through life and survive what's to come ahead. One of the things that you learn while being on a sports team is using teamwork. And another reason is that you learn how to cooperate more with people which can help you a lot through life. High school sports should absolutely be monitored. As i've said before not every high school team is perfect, so if anything goes wrong at least we have people their to witness it. In conclusion they should not get rid of high school sports and no one should have to suffer the consequences of someone else's dumb actions. Also high school sports should be monitored closely.

In response to Austin Morrocco:

I agree with you that high school sports should not be eliminated and should me monitored by people more closely to prevent anything from happening.

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A lot of these competitive high school athletes have gotten a little out of control with their behavior. They should be punished for doing such terrible things, but taking away a sports team is definitely not the answer. What about all of the good and mature football players who didn't do anything wrong. They shouldn’t be punished! From playing sports in high school students can take away something positive. For example, by playing a sport like football you learn to be a team player. You learn how to cooperate and use teamwork to work through plays. Student athletes should only be monitored if they are the ones committing the act of hazing. Once again, why should student athletes who know how to behave like an adult get punished? Mark Hyman who proves a good point when he says “Let’s preserve high school sports and monitor them closely.” This is true because competitive sports are more fun if students are competing for something. No student is going to want to play for nothing. Students can learn life lessons like competing for things that matter and not doing immature thing to look popular. Overall, high school athletes should be treated like students and not get punished if they didn't do anything wrong because that isn’t right.

In response to Steven Peixinho:

I agree that high schools should not get rid of their teams. Competitive athletes have gotten out of hand, but that doesn't mean that everyone should get punished for one person’s immature mistake.

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School sports are the main topic of every school across the nation. Whether they are overrated and should be eliminated or should be "dulled down" in some way is just ones opinion.In some ways you could say it has gotten out of hand but overall not very much. Jay Greene of the New York Times states that "Athletics have always been an essential component of a liberal education." This side of the argument is agreed and disagreed upon by many. This however is correct because school sports have always been a part of the school culture, so what the are saying is that they want to eliminated all jocks and a huge chunk of the school's culture just because of rough-housing or so-called "sexual assault!?"

In response to Nick Psikakos,

I completely agree with you. You say that this is just one case and that if they take it away it definitely will not have a positive outcome, which I completely agree with you.

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At most schools with sports, sports is a very big deal and is taken very seriously at most schools. With the New Jersey high school football team scandal happened, the situation was definitely dealt with in the correct way.In some cases teenage athletics have gotten out of hand, but in others it has brought communities closer together. Kevin Kniffin states, "privatization of competitive youth sports would also create the largest barriers" so if you were to make these after school programs your community wouldn't be able to unite and celebrate. School should, and will continue to be, a bigger priority then sports, and it should be kept that way. Sports teams should not be distracting the school day, and preventing other students education. If you are on a sports team, or any kind of club or after school activity, you have a community. We need to have communities to thrive, and sports teams can give us that advantage of helping us become closer. Plus if you are to be with a player for three or four years you are going to develop chemistry, and hopefully become friends. Without that team, there wouldn't be strong relationships like that. Of course these teams should be monitored though, they should've been monitored in the first place. Coaches should not only be keeping track of their team for hazing, and sexual assault, but they should be keeping track of any crimes/behavioral issues. With this scandal, this should open the eyes to many players, and should motivate them to behave well. Also, if these teams became non-competitive, this wouldn't really change anything. It would still be hazing and assault on their teammates, so if their teammates aren't going to change, then there is no point. If this were to be a punishment that would be different and that would probably show those players that what they did was wrong. School sports are very important to a community, and as long as they aren't harming their community they should not be changed in any way.

In response to Austin Morrocco,

I disagree with how you believe that sports teams ave gotten out of hand. It us unfair to say that as a general statement because there are many sports programs that are okay. I do agree with how you word the collaboration of these players and how it brings them closer together.

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High school sports are very important to the students that play them and they teach the meaning of working with others, respect, teamwork and self confidence. Some kids put their heart and soul into the sport they play. The incident that happened in New Jersey is very unfortunate, but the whole team should not be punished. Hazing is a form of bullying, and should not be tolerated at any level. Banning sports for everyone is not fair. The players involved need to be disciplined and an example needs to be made with the punishment to ensure that in the future, this doesn't happen again. But, eliminating all the sports teams is definitely not fair to all the other players that were not involved. When you play sports, it is well known that you form a "family" bond with your teammates and coaches. Sometimes, sadly, this is the only "family" a kid has and eliminating high school sports teams could really have a negative affect on these kids. School is for learning, but you also can learn a lot from sports. Sports also teaches discipline, teamwork, and morals, and these qualities can be used throughout your life in your future job or just life in general.

Babe Ruth said "The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime."  Playing on a high school team teaches kids to play together and to try your hardest, and that can be used for the rest of your life.

In Response To Austin Morrocco: I agree with you that sports these days have gotten a lot out of hand and that they should not be eliminated

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Athletics and school sports have gotten a little out of hand. Athletics and school sports shouldn't eliminated a better soultion is to monitor the sports more closely. There are many athletes that play high school sports "7.8 billion suited up for their high school teams last year" this and "the troubling reports out of Sayreville, N.J" are why high schools should pay more attention to athletics and school sports more than ever. School sports should not be taken away for it gives a lot of lessons and statistically "people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay." In school sports and athletics you can learn many lessons, Donté Stallworth former N.F.L. player incorporates what "Coach Al taught me as a teenage boy - Teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, accountability" in his life for many aspects of his life. "The magic of high school sports is how kids can step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves." Being able to do this espically at such a young age will help people in many aspects of thier life. For example if you have an essay do tomorrow and you haven't started it you got to get of your comfort zone and stay up all night and finish it. Another life lesson school sports teaches no matter how tired you are how bad you want to give up and quit you keep going no matter what. This is shown in Donté when "With nothing left in me, I made a reception over the middle and outran everyone for the go ahead touchdown."

I agree with Austin morrocco when he says that kids gain so much from doing sports such as life long lessons that will stick with them forever.

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Yes, school sports have gotten out of hand, but they shouldn't be taken away. The kids who choose to do the bad things, such as sexual assault or inappropriate behavior, should be kicked off the team or suspended for a certain amount of games. The actions of one should not affect others fun. Another reason why high school sports shouldn't be eliminated is because sports are good for your health, and it helps people become more active while having fun and hanging out with friends. Also, by playing on a sports team you can learn many different life lessons. For example, one is to learn how to cooperate and help others. By saying cooperative it means if a coach says he is going to teach everyone something new, then you have to be quiet and pay attention to him, and you can't be distracted and talk to other players. By saying a life lesson is to help others means that if someone might be having trouble doing something you are very good at then you should help them out and teach them how to do the move or whatever they are trying to learn. Another way sports can be safer so we don't have to take them away is to monitor them closer then people do now. Since someone will be watching the players more closely, the players won't act up as much which will make the sports safer and more fun. Finally when you play on a school sport team you might be on the top of the list when a manager goes to hire someone for a job because you have experience working with others. For example managers want to hire people that tend "to have more self-confidence, self-respect and leadership" (Kniffin).

In response to Austin Morrocco:

I agree with you that school sports shouldn't be eliminated, but instead they should be monitored more closy.

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“Getting rid of high school football is a terrible idea”. School sports shouldn’t be eliminated because of seven varsity players were charged with hazing and sexually assaulting younger players. “What is needed is a turning down of volume-not such an easy task given how competitive sports are ingrained into our culture”. They should just not let those students play the sport, but everyone else who is innocent can kept playing. They shouldn’t take away the sports because it punishes those who love playing sports and didn’t do anything. They should just be more careful of who they put on the team. They should let those students who work hard and are good a role model to the younger students. School is about learning, and playing sports can help kids learn about many different things. Things like how to be apart of a team, working together, working hard on winning the game, and more. These are the benefits of playing sports in school; you can learn and make friends. This can help to get in collage with being apart of things, and if someone is really good can get a scholarship from a collage and that can be a career for them. The sports should be monitored more closely to prevent hazing so they wont have to cut people from their team and try to get new players. Life lessons you learn from being on a team is that sometimes you might not win but as long as you tried and had fun doing it, sometimes that’s better then winning and your enjoying yourself. No, its not different if it’s a non-competitive team because its still something people do and they should all that they same rule.

In response to Sarah Hobin,

I agree with you, teams are a learning experience for many

students. Students can’t play sports because a few broke the rule? To me that isn’t fear because they worked hard to get on the team and they like what they are playing. Now a few students make it but do something bad and they all get punished for their actions is wrong.

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Sports. They are extremley boring, and uninteresting. Should they be taken away from schools?No. While it doesn't make everyone happy, there are still a lot of people who enjoy them. While there has been a problem recently in one particular school Buzz Bissinger says that "football is now being watched with a high power telescope". While it is true, most males try to prove their extremely frail masculinity through sports, not all would go to as far lenghts as these students did. Besides, teenagers have surely been as violent as this before, perhaps they were never truly noticed. While it is true that school is about learning, sports are important as well in that they help students relieve stress by doing what they love. Although, there has been some cases, mostly protraid in movies, that school values winning more than learning, but movies do tend to exagerate, and teachers will always have their favorites. In conclusion, getting rid of sports in school, would cause problem in and out of school, and it would be in everyones best interest that they are kept.

In responce to Nick Psikakos

You're, right. As a person who plays videogames I can verify how annoying it is to hear things like '"video games cause violence". Same princible here. Just because one team did something wrong, doesn't mean that every team does as well. If that was the case, sports would have caused violence longer ago, and there would be way more accidents.

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High school shouldn't be taken away. what happened in New Jersey shouldn't affect other high schools. It would be unfair to take these sports away because of what another school did. The kids who did the bad things should be punished. Sports "[are] how kids can step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. " (Donte Stallworth, former N.F.L. player). Every kid needs to step out of their comfort zone at least once in their life. Sports help with that. They give the kids an opportunity for it. Sports also teach about competition. Competition gives you determination. With this determination you achieve your goal.

In response to Austin Morrocco,

I agree with you that every high school shouldn't be punished for something they didn't do. The people who did the wrongdoings should be punished. it would be unfair to blame them for something someone else did.

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Competitive sports in high school shouldn't be abolished, but altered. Yes, school is for learning, but how's that fun? It's a reward to be able to play for your school team. Also, it brings the community together. Everyone from friends, teachers, parents and siblings go to the games. Kids on those teams also get to meet others with the same intrests, so these sports also form friendships. Sports aren't the most important thing anout school, "but getting rid of high school football is a terrible idea. What is needed is a turning down of the volume" (Buzz Bissinger). Recently, what high school football is not what anyone wants to hear, so maybe we should just make it less of a big deal.

in response to:

I agree with what you said about it being good for the community, but the volume does need to be turned down.

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Many teenagers enjoy playing sports. If high school sports are eliminated, many teenagers won't have anything else to do in there spare time. This could lead to kids doing worse things than the seven varsity players did. Just because seven players did the wrong thing doesn't mean that everyone else should have to take the punishment. Other kids should still be able to play on teams. On the other hand, high school sports should be monitored more closely. If teachers had paid more attention to these seven players, things wouldn't have gotten out of hand. Also, it would be better if kids played on a school team instead of a competitive team, because there would be fewer problems. High school sports should not be eliminated, but "what is needed is a turning down of the volume"  (Earl Smith 2104). This way teenagers won't feel the need to compete or harass other students. High school sports will be a way for kids to have fun, interact with others, and have something to do in their free time. Also, these sports will eliminate hazing. This will make sports more enjoyable to play. In conclusion, high school sports should not be eliminated, they should be non-competitive.

In response to Leah Ragosta,

I agree with you that high school sports should not be eliminated. They should just be improved so it is less likely for things like that too happen. For instance, sports should be monitored more closely to prevent more bad things from happening.

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Competitive teenagers have gotten out of hand in a New Jersey High School, but that doesn’t mean that all high schools should eliminate sports team. Although school is about learning, sports are important too. For example, team sports can teach you teamwork and good sportsmanship. Some benefits of playing a sport in school is that you get to meet new people and make new friends. In addition, sports should be monitored more closely to prevent to prevent injuries. You also learn many important life lessons being on a sports team. You learn how to work with other people and how to communicate with other people. Competing is showing people how much work you put into a sport and showing everyone what you can do. Also, competing sports make kids “step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves”, said Donté Stallworth (2014). Even though non-competitive sports would prevent hazing, high schools should keep sports, but be monitored carefully.

In response to Nickolas Psikakos:

I agree that just because of there is a problem with football, they shouldn’t eliminate all sports in high school. Also, I agree that sports are for having fun and getting physical exercise.

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In school sports and athletics are kind of getting way too out of hand. The school sports should be carefully watched so no rookie would get embarrassed on the first day of practice. It's not right for other people in a sport team haze the new guy on the team. Who ever does this should be punished. Maybe if sports where different with a non-competitive team then there might not be any more hazing. The reason why a team haze on someone then the person hazing could have been embarrassing before and he just want to bring and embarrass others. It's wrong what sport trams do to their rookies. Spokespeople find funny others not so much.

In response to

Aram Elmayan

I agree with them because if one person is being mean to other people on team means they shouldn't cancel that sport "why punish the good kids then just punish the bad kids." Poncer from Mrs. Hard as. Plus if the whole team sexually harass or haze someone then the sport should get canceled.

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high school sports over the years have become more popular and more widely watched. But it's a little bit of an overstatement to say it's gotten out of hand. I do personally believes high school should cut down on sports teams (this is a bias statement because I'm not a big fan of sports) but even without his bias statement you should definitely cut down on sports teams because it causes distractions in your academic life making a hard to focus on what's more important afterschool sports or your future. This also closes off the possibility of an achievable goal such as a career in banking or law by blinding  you with the dream of becoming a professional sports player which is one of the most difficult goals to achieve. I do not believe sports being monitored more closely will prevent hazing might decrease it but all you have to do is talk with someone won't don't have to do it in school which makes it just look like a normal conversation when really they could be setting up a scenario to Haze that person. I do not believe making sports non-competitive will make much of a difference people can still he sexually assaulted young players on their own team instead of the  other team. There are however many advantages to playing school sports

Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime.

it makes you more athletic, teaches you how to get along with others( there's no I in team) you can even gain some friendships, but there are also many disadvantages like bullying hazing other students because of their color their body mental state all of these can be reasons  that put people who haze at an advantage over those that they haze.

in response to  Austin Morroco

I agree with you
because you say that is not eliminate its only cut down on those sports avoid  the scandals and scrutiny to bring to the high school and the sport altogether.

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High school sports should be kept at the high schools but with close monitoring buy an adult at all times for freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity teams younger and older. Teenage athletics haven't gotten out of hand but too many adults have put too much emphasis on it and want them to become professionals so that they can be taken care of. According to Mark Hyman from the New York Times (2014)"Most 14-year-olds aren’t cut out to be stars. They lack the D.N.A., the drive or both. They’ve played organized sports most of their lives. They simply want the opportunity to keep going. Pickup games are an option, of course. But have you seen a pickup game lately?" What Hyman is trying to say is that most 14 year olds aren't cut out to be stars but are made to believe that they will be since they have been playing for most of their lives. School is for learning but sports can teach you more than you think they do. For example Basketball can teach you hand-eye coordination. The benefits of playing sports in school is that they can promote health by staying physically and mentally active. Sports should be monitored more closely to prevent hazing because of what happened at the New Jersey high school and prevent that from happening again. You can learn life lessons from sports like learning how to accept defeat as well as how to win gracefully. It wouldn't be different if its non-competitive because a sport is a sport no matter if its competitive or not. That would not eliminate hazing .

In response to Noah Goldthwait- I agree with you when you say that you can learn problem solving skills, team leadership, and working as a group because you can then use those skills later on in life.

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Sports teams are a great way to show passion and spirit for your school, and should not be taken away. However, that situation was entirely out of control. Lets all listen to Mark Hyman's words of wisdom when he advises school sports to be kept safe but also watched and controlled. Especially when he says "Let’s preserve high school sports and monitor them closely. Let’s also seize this moment to start paying more attention to the millions of kids who enjoy tossing footballs but are not going out for the varsity.". This is wise because it is also a compromise for the two sides on the argument.

I agree with Sarah Hobin when she says "There will always be kids who abuse the rules, no matter what you do in life. These activities should not be taken away for everyone because a few kids broke the rules". This is very true. That is why rules are put in order. When kids break them, it would be better to punish them and find new teammates rather than ruin it for the victims and people who aren't even involved.

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Sports should not be abolished. Sports teach kids good sports men ship and how to work together. "The problem with mixing sports with academics is that the message it sends is dishonest and shapes kids' priorities."(Amanda Ripley) this is absolutely wrong, sports are proven to improve academic grades because you can not do sports if your grades are to low you have to have a passing grade to continue to do the sports you have choose. in high school you have to have an a or b average. in conclusion sports should remain in schools.

in response to Jacob Z

I agree that just because a few students messed up that does not mean all students have to be banned from sports

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High school sports should not be cancelled everywhere because of one incident. The accident in New Jersey should just warn other schools to make sure it doesn't happen in their schools. The school in New Jersey was right to take the season away, but the other schools do not have the right because nothing bad has happened. Football is a way for kids every where to have fun and learn life lessons, such as discipline, hard-work, and playing as a team. It can help a kid in elementary or high school learn from the sport such as "playing for school pride to working hard to being the best you can be" (Hyman) do we wanna take away students best ways to learn these lessons. Some may think the sport is just about hitting people and scoring touchdowns, but it is more then that. It's about working hard, and learning through something fun. That is why school sports should not be gotten rid of.

In response to Nickolas Psikakos

I agree with you on the fact that people should not blame football for the incident in New Jersey. It is an American tradition that should be kept.

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The high school sports can be very important to kids and some even look foward to high school because of the sports. High schools should not eliminate their sports teams. It isn't fair if someone does something bad, and because of this they cancel the sports. If someone did something bad such as hazing and sexually assulting younger players, the people who did these things should be the ones to get into trouble. Not the kids who actually want to patricipate in these activites and the kids who did not do anything bad. Some competitve teenage athletics have gotton out of hand but we can make sure that this does not happen again by monitoring the sports more closley. Sports are not only bad things but they're also good as well. In the article by Nicole M. LaVoi she states that "but when done right, sports can positively affect lives" In conclusion high schools should not eliminate sports teams.

In response to Luis Felicio, I agree when he says that the schools should not eliminate sports because it could ruin peoples sports lives, which is very true.

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Just because New Jersey high schoolers were charged with sexually asulting younger players does not mean that we should abolish high school sports. Although many situations like this have happened high school sports is a interactive way to create a bond between others. This bond can create more than just sports tho creates memories and learning experinces that last life time. Sports are completely different on a non different team i know that from prior experince. However this would not prevent hazing. "I incorporate much of what Coach Al taught me as a teenage boy — teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, accountability — into other aspects of my life." (Donté Stallworth) This shows that football teaches more than just sports.

In responce to Austin Morrocco I agree with you when you said Eliminating high school sports teams would not be a good decision.  Working with a team and with people who have the same interests as you is a great thing. This is a great thing because of the reasons I've stated above.

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School sports shouldn't be canceled due to one incident. The New Jersey high school shouldn't have done that, but they still should have a football team. Teachers or coaches really should monitor the players better than they were obviously not doing when this happened. What about all the other players. They have to give up their football team over seven players. Even though the incident got out of hand, the other innocent players shouldn't have suffered. Also, high school athletes is where they "suited up for their high school teams last year" says Mark Hyman, students want to have the best last year of high school. Students know that they have to work hard on sports if they want to do something with their life as an athlete. Lastly, if this wasn't a non- competitive team and instead was a school team, their probably be a better chance of players not doing stupid things such as what happened in New Jersey. Players would be more cautious because following school rules would be a part of having a school team. They would follow the rules and not get into any problems. "Let's return high school sports to the simple after-school activity it once was, like the drama club or the science club" says Earl Smith, he wants the original school football. In conclusion, the New Jersey incident shouldn't have happened, the coaches should monitor them more often, and having a school team instead of a competitive team would solve many problems.

In response to Austin Morrocco,

I agree with you that the high school shouldn't be canceling football. Athletes learn way to much in their high school year just to get it canceled. This would be unfair towards the team and players.

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When it comes to sports it's one topic kids enjoy, but when one child decides to do something, the others try to do something better. Children tend to be very competitive, even some adults are competitive. With sports it helps kids mentally, socially and physically, it can make kids feel better about themselves, helps them develop skills such as working with others, hand eye ordination, communicating with others, and helps kids physically by keeping them active and healthy. If sports where non-competitive it could make a difference because the children wouldn't be able to analyze the different tactics used by other players on other teams, when another player that they see has good game plans and has a way of doing something while on the field they kids would try to work harder to try to accomplish getting to a goal of being a bit better. Although some high schools have had problems with competition that cannot be an over all assumption. That's only based information on not many schools, the many other schools have many great talented children that just enjoy playing the game. Most of the time it's only a few of the team members that chose to go out of hand and do something they really should not be doing, but that does not mean that the whole team is like that which means that instead of taking away the football team entirely they should of just taken the seven kids out of the program and let the others play, or add seven other players into the program. In the article it had said, "Ask a group of healthy college students in their 20's if they know what they had for lunch three days ago and you’re not likely to see many hands go up. But ask them for memories of competitive sports they played when they were younger and suddenly you’ll hear stories about when they pitched for their school baseball or softball team." and it's completely true as well, being on a sports team can bring back many memories when older, and is also a great help when trying to relive stress.

In response to Alex, I agree with you because if someone where to take away ones motivation for success they wouldn't try hard for anything else. If taking away the program completely is what they do they will have most of those students work less and less on their school work which they no longer are motivated to do anything for. Having the program taken away will only make the matters worse and worse.

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School sports and athletics in general have definitely gotten a little out of control but they should not be eliminated. What this is telling us is that we should pay closer attention to what teenagers are doing and if they are setting good examples for younger players.  Kids involved in school sports have been given an opportunity to work hard and succeed in that area.  Eliminating high school sports teams would not be a good decision.  Working with a team and with people who have the same interests as you is a great thing.  People always say, school is about learning and not about sports.  This is not completely true because you learn a lot from playing on a team.  You learn how to work with others, cooperate, and that it takes more than one person to do anything.  Kids gain so many things from being part of sports teams and one thing that benefits them is that they “offer formative and life-long lessons that stick with people who play” (Kniffin).  It is found that people who play on high school sports teams have had some of the best times of their lives with their teams.  They learn so many things from each other and work hard to become better athletes.  For this reason, the actions of teenage athletes should not affect everyone.  Sports should be monitored more closely and effectively to prevent hazing so that it does not create any further issues with high school sports teams. School sports can help people in school, for example, in an article written by “Donté Stallworth” he states that “I've come to realize that the best times of my life, when I was playing high school sports, also provided beneficial life lessons.” It states that when Donté Stallworth played for his high school football team it taught him a life lesson. Yes, schools sports should be monitored more so that the teachers, principals, and coaches can be assured nothing bad is going on between the students. Yes, sports are different when they are non- competitive because most people take competitive sports seriously and if the sports are just after school sports they would be more for fun than serious.

In response to Chloe Brown,
I agree with you because you state that students should not eliminate their sports teams due to something the students didn’t even do. The coaches should only kick off the people that are bad students not the ones that keep up good academic excellence and don’t do anything bad.

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This topic is somewhat idiotic, considering it's like showing violent games to kids, if one person does something bad with a background playing it and does something horrific, they automatically blame it on the videogame. One school, with one group of kids, on one football team leads to this. It's quite an American tradition to play high school sports, because it's the American way. Now, despite a bit of an accident occurred we shouldn't ban every single sports team in a High school. What will happen to the letterman jackets we all know and love? Plus, high school sports aren't really gender biased either. Even though there are little to no girls' football teams, it's because girls don't have the testosterone to really want to beat the crap out of other people for a ball. (Well, knowing some people, heh, that might be a lie).  High school sports are not meant to promote any sexual assault anyway, it's a physical work out with one goal to whatever the sport may be. Donte Stallworth, a former NFL player states how his coach and team taught him  "teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, and accountability" . Now, though sports can't teach you something, your team and instructors can. Though it sounds cheesy it can be true depending on the people with you. High school sports aren't meant to sexual assault kids, it's meant for fun.

*Inspirational music*

In response to Steven Peixinho:

I don't agree with the statement that all highschool sports have gotten out of hand, because it was really only this one recorded case that rarely happens. On a probability scale I would really believe it would be a low percentage rate for someone to do such a thing.

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Cutting sports from schools curriculum would be a bad move, regardless of what competitive teens are doing. There are plenty of students who wish to pursue a career that involves sports, and they would suffer dearly. Teens, adults, even little kids, no matter what age you are its in human nature to get competitive. The varsity players who harassed the younger players had nothing to do with competitiveness, rather taking their hazing way too far. Harmless hazing is supposed to be funny for everyone and is a form of a right of passage for rookies. School is never just about learning, its about building on skills to prepare you for college and life. Sports are so important for teens, they help teens build on their team working skills, sports -especially sport teams- build confidence, keep teens fit, and alleviate stress. Sports inspire kids to try and reach for their dreams of playing professionally in a sport, for Donté Stallworth "Football posters became a collage on [his] wall, providing [him] with daily inspiration." plenty of kids have dreams and goals, and many make it their goal to make it to NFL or play the World Cup Series in soccer.

In Response to Nick Psikakos,

I absolutely agree that the topic is stupid, one of those "a couple bad apples ruin the bunch" things. This topic is like in the movie footloose were the church blamed music on the pastures' sons' death, when really it was alcoholic intoxication and stupidity. I also agree your team and instructors do teach you things, things like team work, and good sportsmanship.

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School sports are not negative things. Perhaps in the case of New Jersey High School malicious events occurred, but that is fairly rare thing. High School competitive sports above all else bring the school together as a community. With the whole school anticipating and rallying for a game gives the school a feel of unity and makes all kids feel as if they belong. And in all honesty it is an extracurricular activity. Some say it’s a distraction in school, but wouldn’t a sport not affiliated with the school do the same? Nervous thinking in school derives from many things. So what is football but an extracurricular sport that deepens friendships and unites the school as a community. In reality, high school sports teach kids many things. Like Donte Stallworth said, people who are involved in high school sports tend to incorporate much of what coaches teach them “— teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, accountability — into other aspects of… life.” High school sports are an indirect and fun way to learn valuable life lessons. As far as the rare situation where a student is harassed, There isn’t much to be done. It is horrific that someone would injure or violate someone else because of a sporting event. How could the school really monitor what is happening with high school groups outside of school. It would be very difficult to monitor these activities.

In response to Brynn Terry,
You make a great point about sports removing kids for rough situations. Competitive sports can give kids who are tempted to walk down a bad path the inspiration to make the right choices and have a true passion in life. It can get kids to look past the atrocity of the world and find a passion.

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Sports are very important to students for multiple reasons. One, most people become best friends with people they play sports with. It gets people to know and interact with one and other because your on the same team. Two, sports is technically educational because you do have it as a class in schools so you are required to learn it. If you exceed in it then mine as well play it after school hours. Just like there are art clubs, art isn't really educational. Also to some people that could be their career in the future and colleges look at high school teams as well. So if you think about it it's would be a lot harder for people to become noticed. Three, of course there are going to be times were people get in a little diaster but should that stop them from playing. No it shouldn't. People always look at the negatives of the situation and never look at the benefits. People do benefit from sports " About 55 percent of women in top executive jobs played sports in college – presumably after playing in high school"(The New York Times). As this states a lot of people that play sports exceed in life and schools still want to take it away.

In response to Brendan Dodd, I completely agree with you on how you said that its ridiculous to take sports away because of some fight. Also I agree that sports are enjoyable and can teach us many things especially socially, and that people that did do the crime should should be punished.

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Teenagers usually get overly competitive while playing sports. When they win, they’re all happy about their win. But when they lose or when they mess up a play, they think the referee messed it up. This is all true, but take a moment to think about the kids who go to school, do well, and then look forward to their high school sport after school. Just because one kid is being a jerk doesn’t mean the schools should cancel sports. If, however, one team does sexually harrass or haze the younger players (or anything of the sort), then only that school’s team should be cancelled, not all of them. So, no, sports should not be taken away unless anything bad happens. Kevin Kniffin says “Sports offer formative and life-long lessons that stick with people who play.” And yes, they do. They teach us about teamwork and how to work with other people. When you get a job one day (not playing sports), you are going to have to work with other people. They provise these lessons to teach us about life (and possibly sports) andhow to deal with life.

In response to Alex Marion,

I completely agree with you that high school sports shouldn’t be removed. It teaches the way of teamwork, which may stay with you your whole life. Just because one school had a team hazing the younger players doesn’t mean sports should be shut down completely. That would be idiotic.

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Just because some high school sports are getting out of hand doesn’t mean that they
should get rid of them all together. Sports teach many valuable lessons such as
teamwork and good sportsmanship. These skills cannot be taught in a classroom. Studies
have shown that sports can “sports can positively affect lives”(Nicole M. LaVoi 2014).  The article talks about how sports can give mental, physical, and educational benefits. This is all true. Coaches should monitor players more though. There should be serious punishments for hazing and sexual
assault. They don’t need to get rid of sports; they just need to improve them.

In response to Zari Apodaca,

I agree that high school sports teach you many valuable lessons such as leadership, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Therefore they shouldn't get rid of them. Kids would lose so many benefits, it would be unfair.

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high School sports are always very competitive and because of this they have gotten out of hand. High school athletics are fun and what a huge amount of kids look forward to in high school and it would be unthinkable to cancel them. yes the majority of kids do go to school to get an education but if high school sports were canceled some kid might not even bother coming to school. Also their are many benefits from sports such as scholar ships to colleges. You also learn life lessons such as team leadership, working as a group, and even problem solving all skills that are used a lot in jobs today. As said by Donté Stallworth "I've come to realize that the best times of my life, when I was playing high school sports" which is just another reason not to cancel sports. maybe monitoring things more in sport will further prevent things like New Jersey from happening but they should not cancel high school sports because for some it is a way of life.

In response to Olivia Perrota

I agree that school sport should not be canceled because they teach the kids life lessons. for many of these kids sports are their lives and if you were to take that away from them they would not learn skills that will later on help them with their jobs or even their family.

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Sports teams are a learning experience for all kids who choose to participate. They teach sportsmanship and leadership skills. There will always be kids who abuse the rules, no matter what you do in life. These activities should not be taken away for everyone because a few kids broke the rules. While school is about learning, sports can be incorporated. They teach lessons about physical fitness and good qualities to have as a person. These are also the benefits of playing sports in high schools. More benefits include gained friendships and new oppurtunities. Sports should not be noncompetitive. This takes away the adrenaline rush that players get and all the fun. It now becomes an intramural, or even and instructional class. Sports, in general, have not gotten out of hand. They are meant to be rowdy and fun for everyone. It is a way of being involved in your school without it being school work. Some kids have gotten out of hand but they shouldn't ruin it for everyone. Sports should remain how they are today. It's some of the kids who need to be changed.

A simpler way of solving the problem would be to take a little more control of the kids who abuse the rules. The ones who misbehave shouldn't be allowed to participate in sports or after school activities. Do not treat the teams like babies, but don't let them get into fights and start to harm each other. Mark Hyman wants to "preserve high school sports and monitor them closely" (Hyman) which is a very good idea. Kids need to be taught not to take sports so seriously to the point where it is starting problems. They also need to be taught discipline and respect, so kids after them can enjoy all the benefits of sports.

In response to Troy Cedarfield

I completely disagree with you. Sports should not be canceled from after school! They bring so many benefits to the students that are curtail to their high school experience. Players can get competitive, but you can stop hose certain kids. They just need to be watched more carefully. In today's world, violence can happen anywhere. We don't close down Applebee's because one person got mad at the waiter. It isn't practical to cancel school sports completely if some kids get violent. You just have to deal with the people involved in the situation.

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Kids can take sports really competitive and treat people with disrespect to how dominance on the field. No teenage athletics didn't go out of hand. That was only one incident that has happened its not like this happens on a day to day basis. The person who committed the crime should have heavy consequences but high school sports shouldn't be eliminated. School is about learning but you are also learning sports so your learning either way. There are many benefits for playing sports. It helps for education. You have to have a certain grade to play a high school sport and people who want to play a sport will try their hardest to get their grade up to make the team "They’re a rite of passage in many ways, from playing for school pride to working hard to becoming the best you can be" quote by Mark Hyman who made the article Preserve High School Sports, but Monitor Them Closely. This showing a benefit from a high school sport working hard. High school sports should also be monitored closely to insure their wouldn't be any foul play involved. You learn many life lessons being on a sports team. You learn how to cooperate with your team that can help you cooperate with other people in the future. To win a game you have to work hard this inspiring to work hard in the future.

In response to: Daniel White

I agree with you on how sports teams should remain. I agree with a majority of what you said on how sports give very valuable life lessons and how high school sports can give a great start to a person who wants to be on a masjor league.

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High schools should not do away with sports teams. Many kids wait for to get to high school just to play sports. Also if kids want to be able to be in a professional sports league one day then high school is a great place to start. Another thing is that school shouldn't be just about learning there should be fun involved and sports is a good way to get fun into schools. Sports give very valuable life lessons and can teach kids a lot about team work. People who play sport are also more likely to succeed in life better than others. "Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime."(High School Athletes Gain Lifetime Benefits). Lastly, if high school sports stay there should be more supervision to make sure kids are not harassing each other.

In response to Luis Felicio

I agree sports should not be taken away and that sports are also very important to kids

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High schools should not eliminate their sports activities because it keeps the players in fit and is not fair for the players that didn't do anything wrong. Just because one school in New Jersey had a sexual assault happen at their school does not mean that every school in the country will do the same. The only way for their to be a reason to eliminate High school sports is if multiple schools in multiple states have the same scandal happen. School sports should be monitored more closely but they cannot be monitored from inside the locker room, so in that case they will have to go with the benefit of the doubt that nothing sexually assaulting will go on in that locker room. As Mark Hyman said "They're a rite of passage in many ways, from playing for school pride to working hard to becoming the best you can be."

In Response to Jacob Z.

I agree, why should school sports be banned for everyone in the country just because of a few kids who made very bad decisions?

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Although competive teenagers can get out of control taking away the athletic program will just make matters worse. Taking away an athletes drive to succeed at is just taking away their motivation to do good in school. Just because a select group of kids were hazing doesn't mean the whole program must be suspended, It just means these group of students should be penelized and should be watched more closely. For a lot of families across America, money is tight and public schools provide a free athletic program funded by the taxpayers of that city. "I think if you want to win, you have to leave hazing outside, it doesn't belong in the locker room" Dallas receiver Dez Bryant states. This means you must focus on the goal and not let hazing faze you.

In response to LJ I agree that academics come before sports. Hight school sports have more than an athletic aspect to it but a soscial aspect that is important for kids to experience and make new friends.

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Obviously there are some incidents in high school sports, but to get rid of them completely is outrageous. Lots of kids in high school enjoy going to school so they can do what they love. Sports. If there were no sports then most people wouldn't even want to go to school. Sports are very enjoyable, but they can teach us how to many things and can lead us to careers depending on your skill level. Nicole M. LaVoi says, "Boys and men have long known that sports can lead to social, psychological, moral, physical and health benefits, and lead to business success at a very high level." These physical activities can teach young men many things. It can teach sportsmanship, how to play the game, and how to socialize and make friends. Without school sports none of this would be possible. High school sports can also lead to a career. In some cases, taking away high school sports is almost like taking away some's future career.

In response to Steven Peixinho:

I agree with you that the people that did the crime should be punished. Just because a couple of people did something wrong, that doesn't mean that everyone should get penalized because of it. Just those certain people should be the ones with some trouble on their hands.

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Its no doubt that  just about every school has sports team, these teams are a great way to get out and about, being able to do what you love at no extra requirement. Even if kids have done something as bad as sexual harassment, they should not get rid of sports team altogether, that's like saying " if a kid hurts himself on the playground, then playgrounds. Not only that, sexual harassment is everywhere, and closing school sports just for that reason is too far fetched. what we do need is "a turning down of the volume"(Buzz Bissinger). Today in school sports we see no chance of it turning down, it has become too unruly and has no sportsmanship, for example at Cranston West, one of the rock with the players name has been painted green, a prank from Cranston East. As for hazing, it should definitely be monitored more often, while a whoopee cousin or a spitball here or there is okay, no extreme matter should be tolerated at all. to:

in Response to tatum hasset, I completely agree that sports are too competitive and they are just a game.

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Sports can get very aggressive sometimes it goes too far. the football players from new jersey should not be allowed to play. the team shouldn't have canceled the season but is just what the school thought was right. Anyways, school is about learning but, students don't want to go from six straight hours of working to do one or even two more at their house. they want to relax and forget about work for a couple of hours. some benefits of playing sports are to get away from bullies. When I played football we weren't just a team we were a family. Same thing with baseball, its like your second family when your on a sports team. you learn to never give up and teamwork when you're on a sports team. no matter what you try to do sports will always be competitive. If they weren't competitive then there would be no point in playing.

in response to Abigail Sampson

I agree with you that a lot of kids are looking forward to high school sports next year. also school isn't just about learning its also about teamwork which is found in sports.

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What the kids in New Jersey did was wrong, but canceling the football season may not have been the best form of punishment. Not only is this punishment effecting the offenders but everyone on the team. Now, other players may be upset and do other harmful things. Teenage sports though,have not gone out of hands. They are competitive sports, that's why they are taken seriously. Now what those upper class men did was wrong, but you are taking away joy, and life lessons from the other kids by taking away the program. What most people don't realize is that sports are learning. Kevin Kriffin says, "Studies showed that people that played high school sports tend to get better jobs." Now, we arent talking about a high school baseball player playing in the MLB, but the high school baseball player that sat the bench the first three years but was a starter in his senior year, and through sports was taught to never give up. Sports give you the life lessons that nothing else can, and that is why they are related to school. If a sport was non competitive, it may prevent hazing, but it can't stop it. Those boys from NJ just had the place to do the hazing, but it may have had nothing to do with sports.

In response to Zari Apodaca

Although in some ways I do agree with you, in many ways I don't. Sports shape peoples life and are not taken too seriously. Sports are ment to be competitive, and are for a reason. I do agree that sports are not ment to be violent, although they are.

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Kids who play sports tend to be very competitive. when a competitive player loses they can get out of hand. High schools should not eliminate there sports teams because some kids look forward to coming to high school and especially to play sports at the high school. some people tend to think school is all about learning but it is but then it isn't. school is about teaching the kids something hard,but in a fun way. school isn't just about learning because some people play sports because their good at it and because they can get a scholar ship to a really good collage or can even get drafted by the big leagues. Benefits of playing sports in school are you can get into a good collage and you can get a scholar ship.sports can teach kids a life lesson,"The magic of high school sports isn't about how a kid can go pro someday, or even that their team wins, but that they step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves, a lesson they take with them wherever they go in life."some life lessons are from being on a sports team is if your good at something then it will help you when you get older. some high school sports should be monitored more closely, like hockey and football. the reason they should be monitored more closely because they change in a locker room and their isn't someone in the locker room watching them all the time, and they can get out of hand knowing someone isn't watching them.

in response to Zari Apadaca

i agree with you that these kids base their lives on sports. and if they took the sport away they would most likely be upset. their fore they should not get rid of high school sports.

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Competitive teenage athletics has gotten out of hand. But, that doesn't mean that high schools should completely get rid of sports. School is about learning true, but sports make it a lot more enjoyable. Some kids wouldn't even bother coming to school if there weren't sports teams. There shouldnt be kids getting punished for other peoples actions. Also according to Earl Smith, "The primary mission of high school has been supplanted and replaced by sports" (Smith 2014). Give punishments to those who have done wrong but the kids who dont do anything accept play there sports leave them alone let them play. Kids come up from Middle School and Elementary looking forward to the sports in Highschool.

In response to Zari

Yes i agree with you they should still be abale to play sports and have fun but the players that do the wrong deserve the punishments they get but the other players who all they do is play and have fun and dont get involved in drama should still have the right to play so keep Highschool sports.

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Yes competitive teenagers have gotten out of hand because they are getting to be to aggressive and should not be hurting younger players. No high schools should not eliminate sports because if they do people will not be ready for high school and it could ruin peoples sports lives. School is about learning because education always comes first because over sports, but sports is also very important as well. There are many benefits in playing high school sports because you will meet new people and have many new friends. Sports should just more crossly be moderated for the harassment of the students. In the artical it states "Ask a group of healthy college students in their 20s if they know what they had for lunch three days ago and you’re not likely to see many hands go up. But ask them for memories of competitive sports they played when they were younger and suddenly you’ll hear stories about when they pitched for their school baseball or softball team. Sports offer formative and life-long lessons that stick with people who play." Memories last a life time and you should keep these memories with you forever.

In response with Zari Apodaca i agree with her in some aspects ii dont agree with her when she says that sports are too violent and are taken way to serious I believe sports are some lives in kids and imagine a world wwithout sports.

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kids who play sports tend to be very competetive. When teenagers lose a game they get out of hand and they get mad  at everyone for losing the game. High schools should not eliminate sports because the kids who play the sports love to play and represent their school. people tend to think school is all about learning, but its really not. learning is about teaching the kids something hard but in a fun way. from the recent scandel in New Jersey schools should not get rid of their sports, if anything they should just expell the kid. Say their was more than one kid who sexually assaulted the younger players then they should take sports away. Some of these kids love playing the sport and that might be one thing they would love going to high school for. elementray schools don't have sports, and only some middle schools have sports. High school is the year to have fun in school by playing sports.These kids live thier life on these sports and would be dissapointed if it was eliminated. kids who play these sports can get schollar ships to collage and can even get drafted to the big leauges gand get famous,"Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime."(High School Athletes Gain Lifetime Benefits.) Some sports should be monitored more closely than others, for an example ,hockey and football. they have a varsity and a junior varsity team and they also get changed in locker rooms, some kids take advatage of being in a room with kids by themelf without thier coach or someone to watch them. spots are not different if thier competative or not. it depends on the sport that would prevent hazing.

In response to Zari Apadaca

I agree with you that these sports are some of these kids lives,and motivates some kids. even though some kids may fail thier academic classes or succed at least thier doing something besides laying ont he coach with a bag of chips. you see on t.v. that some kids get drafted into the nhl,nba,mlb,&nfl when thier 18 or older because they played the sport when they were in high school and were really good at it.

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Sports are competitive. Hence, a "competition". However, sports nowadays are too violent and are taken way too seriously. These sports are some student lives, but that doesn't mean that you should put it before the importance of their health or someone else's. Sports teams shouldn't be eliminated because sports are part of the motivation in some students for excelling in their academic classes. If a student doesn't do well with their classes, they cannot participate in extra curricular activities. This is an important benefit to playing a sport in high school. With sports comes motivation, and that fits right along with school. Life lessons from being on a sports team are numerous. You can be taught leadership, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and most importantly how to have fun and participate with your peers. As Donté Stallworth says “As I move beyond my N.F.L. career, I incorporate much of what Coach Al taught me as a teenage boy — teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, accountability — into other aspects of my life.” What you are taught through a team sport, can most definitely be incorporated into your everyday life. However, the violence and competitiveness is at an overload. Girls are taking rough and tough to a whole new level, acting like boys and taking things to a whole new level. Yes, girls should have just as much fair treatment as the boys. On the other hand, girls need to act like girls and are taking things way too seriously. Another flaw with sports is the seriousness taken with it. As many know, it's a one in a million chance to make it in major sports leagues. However, sports should be a thing to aspire to strive for in a career, but you shouldn't have your whole life based around it. Sports are a great way to learn life lessons, relieve your stress, and better yourself in every way possible. In response to Olivia Perrotta, I agree with your thoughts that school sports should be monitored more closely. However, like everything else in today's world it definitely needs a limit. With little freedom we do have, it shouldn't be another thing to be watched on. Yet, it would be very cautious and shrewd to have these sports be monitored for safety reasons.

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Competitive teenage athletics have gotten out of hand they should not be based on who wins. It should be based on how much fun the team had playing not winning. High school sports shouldn't be eliminated because it is what some kids look forward too at the end of the week. Also if they aren't looking forward to anything else it will be hard to concentrate in school. School is about learning, but people like to play sports. Also they might not join another team, and become lazy. The benefits of playing sports is the students are getting physically, and socially. Sports also tend to "more successful teams produce higher test scores and graduation rates" (Greene).School sports should be allowed, but aren't meant to get competitive.

In response to  Sebastian Furtado-Vacchelli

I agree with you we should still have them. It is fun to enjoy, but should be monitered more closely so we don't have these kinds of fights.

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High Schools should not get rid of sports, but they should be taken very seriously. Not like in a sore winner or a sore losers way, but in a fun way. Sports in high school can affect you in your future. From Kevin Kniffin, "Research to which I contributed, complementing previous studies, showed that people who played high school sports tend to get better jobs, with better pay, and that those benefits last a lifetime.". (Kniffin) This is why sports should be taken seriously. Sure you may have lost every game, but you tried to play sports, which will lead you into a good career. If you do take it seriously, then its dangerous and can lead into many injuries.

In response to Sebastian Furtado-Vacchelli,

I afgree with you because if they are not monitored very closley, then serious, hutful, and mean things can happen.

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We should still have the competitive sports in high school but we should monitor them closley. Sometime people get carried away with the competitiveness and get over agressive which needs to be dealt with by the school board and coaches. The following quote really troubled me becasue I think we should all have a fair shot at trying out for all sports :"One of the distressing realities of today’s youth sports landscape is how it caters to the most talented, competitive players"(Hayman). While everyone should have a fair chance, it is proven that better players will be rewarded for their atheltic strengths. "In other words, there are clear and robust individual and societal benefits that appear to be generated through the current system of school support for participation in competitive youth athletics"(Kniffin).

In Response to Maxwell Green :

I agree that it is extreme to get rid of all sports all together.

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School should be about learning; not about sports. It's good that schools have a gym class and that's okay. Sports should be cancelled from after school or school teams because they can get real violent. The players can get really competitive and angry if they lose a game. According to Amanda Ripley, "The problem with mixing sports with academics is that the message it sends is dishonest and shapes kids' priorities" (Ripley 2014). In middle school, kids don't get competitive. Only in high school it starts. Some teammates have been known to start fights with the opposing team if the home team loses. Also according to Earl Smith, "The primary mission of high school has been supplanted and replaced by sports" (Smith 2014).

In response to Tayla Grasso,

I disagree with you because some of the games can get EXTREMELY violent!

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Sports in high school are very important to the students. It gives them something to root for and something to do, besides school work. Sports teach teamwork, strategy and are great physical activities. Competitive sports have absolutely not gotten out of hand. Just because some people have done something bad, does not mean sports are out of hand. They are still very, very organized and have strict rules. If schools got rid of sports teams, everyone would be very upset and maybe not even want to go to school anymore. It is true that school is about learning, but students would die of boredom if all they could do was work. Sports are fun and take the students’ minds off of their work for a while. If you play sports in high school, there are also quite a few benefits you can get from it. You while most likely be in excellent physical condition, and have a fantastic sense of teamwork and cooperation. If you are good enough, maybe a college scholarship. School sports should be monitored a little more carefully. The bigger kids are “hazing” the new kids and humiliating them. Maybe if a teacher sees something going on, they can bring it to the principal or coach and have the player suspended, or something to that effect. However, sports do provide life lessons. For example, in the article by Kevin Kniffin (2014) says that former student athletes are expected “to have more self-confidence, self-respect and leadership” and when tested, the result turned out as expected. If sports were to be non-competitive, it would prevent hazing, however it would not be fun, because there is no joy of winning or sadness of losing. There would be no championship to celebrate, or anything. To get rid of competitive and high schools sports would be a horrendous idea.

In response to Leah Lancellota

I disagree with you when you say sports are getting out of hand, however, I agree with everything else like what you said about the advantages and lessons.

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This example of the seven varsity football players are the people who give high school sports a bad name. In my opinion, yes, competitive teenage athletes have gotten out of hand regarding conduct. On the other hand, I think that it is a little extreme to abolish high school sports regarding this issue.
To some degree, it is about education, not sports, but sports can also be a valuable component of the educational experience. Sports are a good way to have a common ground with some people. Sports additionally can teach you valuable lessons for in the future. When playing high school sports there are many advantages. Some of the benefits of playing sports in high school are that it
helps you get into and stay in shape. Also, it can give a person a strong base for their life ahead. “Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime.” says Kevin Kniffin. Already, I am getting a solid start in life because of my lacrosse team. It has taught me valuable lessons that I can carry forward. Yes, sports should just be monitored more closely to prevent hazing. If the players are monitored close enough with stricter consequences, and
then another event of this nature should not happen in the future. The reason why this would work is because the players will be afraid of getting kicked off their team. There are a lot of lessons that you learn from being on a sports team. For example, one lesson is responsibility; another is teamwork. These lessons are only ones that you can deduct from being on a team, even if it is a
non-competitive team. If a sport is non-competitive then it can sort of prevent hazing to a point. When a sport is competitive there is a lot more at stake, so it can put more pressure on people, therefore, new comers will do anything to belong. That is where hazing comes from. With stricter monitoring and
consequences, hazing will hopefully disappear.

In response the Jacob Zoglio

I agree with you when you said that they should not get rid
of high school sports because of the acts of a few. Also I agree with you when you
said that the school committee should put a stricter policy on hazing, even if
it is a zero tolerance one. To prevent this, the students should be watched
more closely.

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Competitive teenage sport are what some kids live for. If money is a problem in the house they at least have a chance to make it to a paid league for whatever sport they play. Say it baseball, many people from our state has made it to the pros. If high schools eliminated school sports there would be a huge outrage in America just about sports itself. School to most kids can be kid of boring. With sports in the mix of things it make going to school more enjoyable knowing afterward you have a game or practice. "High school sports have a lot to offer. They’re a rite of passage in many ways, from playing for school pride to working hard to becoming the best you can be" (Hyman). Working hard at a sport and realizing after what you have done to yourself to push yourself to the best you can be is a great feeling. Many high school students play sports just for popularity. Those kids usually do not get as much playing time. The kids who coaches silently see work to the best of their abilities are the kids who will play and do good. Some kids even play sports because it looks good on their job applications. Their are many life lessons to learn just by playing high school sports and being around your friends while doing so.

In response to Jacob Zoglio I agree with you that schools should not take away sports. For many kids that is their last shot at doing something good in their life.

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high school sports shouldn't have to get canceled cause of other peoples actions. every teenage kid will always have there competative side to them. cause of others peoples actions they shouldn't be canceled just that the people who cause it should be and get pentalized, but no school isn't just about learning i mean like yea have to know your important subjects and basics but you should also be able to play sports and blow off some steam. the benefits you have with playing sports is that there is learning new things there and sportsmanship. sports should be somewhat monitored cause if you take so much coaching the kids won't try as hard. if it wasn't then it would be just out of control. life lessons that you learn from playing a sport is expecting new people and trying to get along. sports need to be competitive it woulnt prevent hazing.''you'll be subjected to hazing all your life''(martin luther king)

in response to olivia p

i agree teenagers can be very competitive

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High school sports shouldn't be eliminated because of sexual harassment.  There is no doubt that they need stricter policies, even a zero tolerance policy but why destroy the goals of all students because of the poor decisions by a few.  So many teens find there way into college because of sports scholarships.  If you take the opportunity away from high school students, there would be a huge decrease in college sports talent. Many of them may go down the wrong road, and end up in trouble.   Sport memories will stick with you all your life, and set good examples for your future.   This is evident when Kevin Kniffin, "Sports offer formative and life-long lessons that stick with people who play."  The high school students should just be watched more closely.  This could prevent the sexual harassment issue.  Finally, high school sports are the first real competitive years of sports due to the college and professional scouts.

In response to Alex Marion,

I agree with the point that you made about school being about learning, but that sports make high school a lot more enjoyable.

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Competitive teenage athletics has gotten out of hand. But, that doesn't mean that high schools should completely get rid of sports. School is about learning true, but sports make it a lot more enjoyable. Some kids wouldn't even bother coming to school if there weren't sports teams. Some benefits of playing sports at school are learning teamwork, good sportsmanship etc. are very important and could become a part of your life later on. Instead of completely canceling a sports' team, it should be monitored more closely to prevent bad things from happening. Like Mark Hyman said:"Let’s preserve high school sports and monitor them closely. Let’s also seize this moment to start paying more attention to the millions of kids who enjoy tossing footballs but are not going out for the varsity. There should be an equal path in sports for them." (Hyman) People tend to get better paying jobs that are more enjoyable to that person, the two things you need to be successful in life. If a team isn't competitive to win, then why even bother playing? A main point in sports is to have fun. How can you have fun if you're not winning? A team needs to be competitive or they won't get anywhere later on. In life you basically have to compete for everything. Why not start at a young age to better prepare that person for later on? Non-competitiveness wouldn't prevent hazing from occurring, since no one would even try.

In response to Jessica Tennent

I agree with you, when kids are on a sports team, they work harder in school to stay on that sports team.

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School sports are important to students. You learn teamwork, you make new friends, you learn to follow directions from your coaches. One of incentives of playing team sports, is knowing you have to keep up your grades to stay on the team. School sports should be monitored very closely. No parent should have to worry about their child being hazed or abused by the people they play with. "Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime" (New York Times). High schools should not eliminate their sports teams.

In response to Leah Lancellotta,

I agree with you that school sports are slightly out of control, however they can be fixed. I think that sports should be closely monitored to avoid the problems that caused New Jersey football team to cancel the season.

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The importance of school and team sports now for children, teenagers, and even adults today is so high. Team sports, such as high school football, teach those involved interacting skills, teamwork, and athleticism. School sports play a huge role in high schools, and teach students things that their daily science, math, history, and English classes can't teach them. Also, those with anger issues, which include many players on teams, are able to release some of their built up anger into a team, competitive sport. Those who previously a member on one or more of these teams are more l likely to "donate time and money more frequently," in comparison to those who have not (Kniffin). However, many of these players have been getting a bit out of hand recently. There have been multiple incidents involving the "date rape" drug and sexual assault within the past few years in many colleges and high schools, proving that these teams must be more closely monitored in order for everyone to be safe and happy. These coaches apparently are not very observant if they weren't aware of the incident that occurred in the New Jersey high school. However, the students should be intelligent enough to determine that what they did was wrong, which should be punished.

In response to Brynn Terry, I agree with you that many students do depend on sports to get into a good college. However, in these colleges it is still a requirnment to get good grades, being the football star is simply not enough. Academics are still a very large part in any scholarship.

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School sports help build social skills and teamwork, so yes play a huge role in high schools. They also keep students thin, help them blow up steam, and they also make them work harder in school if they want to stay on the team. Sports help students "step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves, a lesson they take with them wherever they go in life" (Stallworth). High schools should not even consider eliminating their sports teams. However, sports should be monitored more closely to prevent these issues, such as hazing. Obviously the coaches were not paying attention if students were able to successfully haze and sexually assault younger players. Sports would most likely not be different if sports were non-competitive. People are also going to be competitive and find ways to compete with others. Besides, sports are meant to be competitive. Just because seven, out of the millions of kids on sports teams, did something wrong, does not mean our nation should be punished.

In response to Dennis Austin:

I agree, high schools should not cancel their sports teams because of one wrong thing. Coaches and teachers should just monitor the players more closely.

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School sports were created for fun and bonding purposes, not a way to harass others. Sometimes sports in schools can get out of hand. Someone shouldn't be the most envied person because they can throw a pretty ball in between two yellow sticks. It would be a bad idea to eliminate high school sports. For many less fortunate students, sports is the only way they can go to college because of money. Many students rely on scholarships for a brighter future, by eliminating sports, you're basically saying only the smartest and wealthiest kids can go to college. Besides scholarships, sports can pose as a beneficial distraction. For kids like Donté Stallworth, a former N.F.L. player, football took him away from what was going on around him. "I grew up in a rough neighborhood engulfed by gangs and drugs," says Stallworth. Football kept him away from all of the bad things that could've possibly ruined his life. Most students don't want to haze others, it`s disgusting in my opinion. These kids should be monitored regardless of the fear of sexual assault. On a sports team, you learn discipline. You get to see hard work put to good use. Being on a sports team can help you a lot by working hard and playing hard. Non-competive or not, hazing can occur. These students did this for their own amusement, but who's to say the victims can't become the monster? For all we know, this could've been going on for years. In conclusion, school sports are great, but it`s the person that makes the player. No matter how far you can throw a ball, your behavior can create a domino effect.

In response to Olivia Perrotta:

I agree with you that many teenagers are competitive, regardless of the situation. Although the old saying goes, "It`s not about winning, it`s about having fun," even the coaches would prefer to win. It`s more fun to win and be happy then to lose and be disappointed. It may not say it on the scoreboard, but the players know the scores like the backs of their hands.

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High school sports is a educational experience for all students. It teaches you how to be competitive, yet still knowing where to draw the line. Also, it teaches teamwork that can be used in every day life. This is a benificial experience to all players and should not be removed from all or any high schools. These sports teach things such as "teamwork, responceablility, percerverince, and accountability" (stallworth). These sports should be more closely monitored by coaches.

In response to Leah Lancellotta

I agree that school sports are slightly out of control but can be fixed

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School sports and athletics in general have definitely gotten a little out of control but they should not be eliminated. What this is telling us is that we should pay closer attention to what teenagers are doing and if they are setting good examples for younger players.  Kids involved in school sports have been given an opportunity to work hard and succeed in that area.  Eliminating high school sports teams would not be a good decision.  Working with a team and with people who have the same interests as you is a great thing.  People always say, school is about learning and not about sports.  This is not completely true because you learn a lot from playing on a team.  You learn how to work with others, cooperate, and that it takes more than one person to do anything.  Kids gain so many things from being part of sports teams and one thing that benefits them is that they “offer formative and life-long lessons that stick with people who play” (Kniffin).  It is found that people who play on high school sports teams have had some of the best times of their lives with their teams.  They learn so many things from each other and work hard to become better athletes.  For this reason, the actions of teenage athletes should not affect everyone.  Sports should be monitored more closely and effectively to prevent hazing so that it does not create any further issues with high school sports teams.

Playing sports in high school has many advantages.  It teaches them valuable lessons and is a stress reliever for many kids.  It allows them to take their minds off of all their schoolwork and anything else that may be bothering them.  People who have experience with being on a team and playing sports tend to have more leadership, self-confidence, and self-respect.  Sports can positively affect our lives in many ways.  Athletes have physical, social and mental health benefits that will eventually lead them to business success at a very high level.  Sports have applied many lessons such as “teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, accountability — into other aspects of my life” (Stallworth).  On top of this, sports are meant to keep kids motivated and to let them make goals to achieve certain things.  Sports can be different if you are on a competitive team but in some cases it may not be.  People may be more careful of what they do on a competitive team knowing they can be kicked off. With that being said, this may prevent hazing but not in all circumstances.

In response to Dennis Austin:
I agree with you that people should keep a better eye out and monitor if any hazing is happening.  Not by any means should school sports be eliminated and one persons actions should not affect everyone.

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High school should not eliminate their sports teams because sports teach teenagers valuable life lessons.  Donté Stallworth says “As I move beyond my N.F.L. career, I incorporate much of what Coach Al taught me as a teenage boy — teamwork, responsibility, perseverance, accountability — into other aspects of my life.”  This was said by a former N.F.L player who has taken what he learned as a child and used it in his adult life.  Every female or male athlete will learn something by playing school sports but by taking it away they will not learn anything.  Yes school is for learning but not only do athletes’ play the sport they do because they enjoy it, it is also a stress reliever for most kids.  It gets them away from their school work and anything else going on but if it is taken away from them they won’t be able to do that.  Most teenagers take anything competitively, so it won’t change anything if it is competitive or not.  It probably would not prevent hazing even if it is not competitive.  School sports should be monitored more closely to prevent hazing.  Now really anything can happen and coaches, staff or administration may not know about it.  If athletes know that they are being monitored then it may stop them but it also may not.

In response to Dennis Austin:

I agree with you that other coaches should not cancel their season because of what happened in New Jersey.  You shouldn’t punish everyone for something that only a few kids did.  I disagree with you though when you say school sports should not be allowed in inner city schools.  Some kids in that school may perfor m well in their sports and that could take them somewhere in life if they don’t perform well academically.

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No one likes to hear about people sexually assaulting other people but sadly it happens all the time. Athletics in all sports have been going out of hand to such as Ray Rice, Darren Sharper, and Thomas Henderson. Their is sadly a even bigger list of sex offenders out there and it will be hard to stop sex offenders. Due to sex offenders at a New Jersey high school football team the high school has cancelled their football season. Other schools should not cancel their football seasons because this event only happened at the New Jersey high school, its not like coaches should just cancel their football seasons because they are worried about another student being sexually offended, they could just keep a better eye out to see what happens around the school instead of everyone having to be punished and getting their right to play football. Schools should not cancel their sports teams just because they are worried about students sexually assaulting other students just keep a better eye out. Yes, school is about learning and not playing sports but people like being on the football field and they should not be punished for other peoples actions. In an article written by “Earl Smith” he states “No, high schools should not have competitive sports teams. And especially not in under-resourced inner city high schools where academic programs are often sacrificed to finance sport teams”. This statement is true in some ways. First, schools should have competitive sports teams because it makes the game more interesting. And second, its true when it states that competitive sports teams should not be allowed in inner city schools. This is true because those types of schools students lack academic excellence. And also inner city schools tend to be more violent than other schools. School sports can help people in school, for example, in an article written by “Donté Stallworth” he states that “I've come to realize that the best times of my life, when I was playing high school sports, also provided beneficial life lessons.” It states that when Donté Stallworth played for his high school football team it taught him a life lesson. Yes, schools sports should be monitored more so that the teachers, principals, and coaches can be assured nothing bad is going on between the students. Yes, sports are different when they are non- competitive because most people take competitive sports seriously and if the sports are just after school sports they would be more for fun than serious.

In response to Chloe Brown,
I agree with you because you state that students should not eliminate their sports teams due to something the students didn’t even do. The coaches should only kick off the people that are bad students not the ones that keep up good academic excellence and don’t do anything bad.

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High School Athletes Gain Lifetime Benefits

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High School Athletes Gain Lifetime Benefits

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Research shows that people who play high school sports get better jobs, with better pay. Benefits that last a lifetime.

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Preserve High School Sports, but Monitor Them Closely

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Preserve High School Sports, but Monitor Them Closely

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Let's seize this moment to start paying more attention to the millions of kids who enjoy tossing footballs but are not going out for the varsity.

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Now Women Are Seeing the Benefits of School Sports

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Now Women Are Seeing the Benefits of School Sports

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Title IX opened up athletics to girls,helping them advance in the corporate world.

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School Sports Provide Lessons in How to Live

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School Sports Provide Lessons in How to Live

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The magic of high school sports is how kids can step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves.

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Make Sports an After-School Activity, Not a Competitive Team

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Make Sports an After-School Activity, Not a Competitive Team

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The primary mission of high school has been supplanted and replaced by sports, especially for those young men playing football and basketball.

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Make Sports an After-School Activity, Not a Competitive Team

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Turn Down the High School Football Volume

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Football is being watched because of the spate of recent scandals at every level. Maybe enough to make high school football just a game.

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Turn Down the High School Football Volume

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Turn Down the High School Football Volume

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Football is being watched because of the spate of recent scandals at every level. Maybe enough to make high school football just a game.

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School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports

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In the world's smartest countries, school is about learning. Full stop. There is no confusion about the academic hurdles kids must clear to have full and interesting adult lives. Kids play sports, of course, but outside of school, through recreation centers, club teams or pick-up games on dirt fields with no adults in sight.

The problem with mixing sports with academics is that the message it sends is dishonest and shapes kids' priorities.

When these same kids come to the U.S. to live or study abroad, they are surprised by the Olympic villages they encounter in our high schools. Here, school is about learning, but it's also about training to compete in games that the majority of kids will never get paid to play. It's about pep rallies, booster clubs, trophy cases and cheerleaders decorating football players' lockers after they fill them with brownies.

Those messages shape kids' priorities. When I surveyed former exchange students about their impressions of America, 9 out of 10 said that teenagers here cared more about sports than their peers back home. "Doing well at sports was in the U.S. just as important as having good grades," observed one German student.

This mash-up makes school more fun, without a doubt. "The biggest difference was definitely the school spirit," one student from Finland noted. "It was amazing to see how school wasn't just about the grades. In my home country, school is just for learning."

The problem is the dishonesty. By mixing sports and academics, we tempt kids into believing that it's O.K. if they don't like math or writing - that there is another path to glory. Less obvious is that this path ends abruptly, whereupon they get to spend 50 years in an economy that lavishly rewards those with higher-order skills and ruthlessly punishes those without.

Kids notice when they have a sub in math class because the football coach (I mean teacher) has an away game. It is not lost on them that their local newspapers devote an entire section to high school sports and say nothing about the trials and travails of the AP English class. This hypocrisy eats away at the focus and integrity of our schools.

Imagine if medical schools dedicated hours of every day (and a chunk of their budgets and staff) to the culinary arts - to perfecting tiered wedding cakes and artisan breads. We could argue that this approach keeps med students from dropping out, but we would sound insane.

Competitive sports is not about exercise. If it were, we'd have the fittest kids in the world. It's about a fantasy with a short shelf life. If we want to build school spirit and teach kids about grit, hold a pep rally for the debate team. Those kids are training to rule the real world.

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School Should Be About Learning, Not Sports

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In the world's smartest countries, school is about learning. Full stop. There is no confusion about the academic hurdles kids must clear to have full and interesting adult lives. Kids play sports, of course, but outside of school, through recreation centers, club teams or pick-up games on dirt fields with no adults in sight.