A sports model for educationA sports model for education Sports Model for Education

A sports model for education

Over the past few years I've been doing some thinking about how some,
particularly in education, exhibit a certain distain for competition
and sports in general. History and archeology is strewn with examples
of how humankind has competed with one another. This long history
demonstrates that competition is basic to our makeup and ingrained in
our psyche.

Given the historical evidence and importance of sports in today's
society, let me turn to education's rejection of this basic need and
pose a paradigm shift in think on how a sports model could shed new
light on the education process. Now, my thinking in this area is a
work-in-progress. So, I invite you to comment, make suggestions on
improvements or generally offer reasons why this would not be a viable
alternative to the current organizational methods used in education
today.

Currently, it has been my experience, that in lower grades classes are
generally taught by a homeroom teacher with higher performing students
breaking out into math and literature beginning about third grade. I
would pose that lead teachers draft their class just as a professional
football coach/team would draft their players, rotating the teacher
choices one-by-one. At kindergarten each child would be rated
initially by an entry level test to determine their current level of
knowledge. As they progress through the year and earn their grades,
take achievement tests and work on projects their rating in relation
to each other student would be established by their performance. Each
week or month students could compete in "College Bowl" type venues,
science projects, art shows, music recitals and conventional
achievement tests and winners/runner-ups declared. Subjective contests
could be judges by independent judges drawn from the business
community. At the end of the year they would have established their
rating for the next year.

The class would become a team for the year. Two possible directions
could go from here. The school could chose to have the next grades
teachers draft a new team or the lead teachers would moving with the
class/team (thus becoming their permanent head coach) as they
progressed through the grades. Sticking with the team as they moved
from grade to grade. As the teachers reached the top grade in that
school they would start with another team at the entry level (ie.
grade school teacher would progress from K-6, Middle school teachers
7-8 or 9 and High School teacher 9 or 10-12)  Teachers would receive
bonus pay commensurate with their teams performance.

An assistant math and literature coach/teacher could be made a part of
the coaching staff as well as other specialties (art, coral music,
band music instruction, etc.) to augment the lead teachers expertise. 
If a student found some incompatibility with a certain teacher or team
they could be traded to another team/teacher, Special needs students
would have a "Handicap" that would allow them to compete at their
level of competence. This team approach assures that the most capable
students would help those struggling because it would be a team
effort. An air of cooperation would permeate the class because their
wins would depend on the teams wins. The numerous variety of teaching
methods in vogue these days could quickly be evaluated and adopted or
rejected for their effectiveness.

Generally families can be divided into two categories. Those who
stress academics over sports and those who think playing a sports is
equal, if not more important than academics.  My family is weighted to
the academic side, but I appreciate that acing a math or science test
does not give you the same thrill that winning a game, hitting a home
run, or sinking a critical basket, can achieve. As a matter of fact
just the opposite is sometimes present in school these days. My
daughter is an MIT Chemistry graduate who in middle school and early
high school would purposely blow a test because it was not cool to be
too smart. Turning education into a sport could elevate getting A's to
the level of being an ace pitcher with all the commensurate accolades.

This is a brief synopsis, but I invite you expand on it, criticize
this approach and offer your suggestions or objections.  Of course, as
I am not steeped in the history of education, their may be some
researched being done in this area of which I am unaware. If this is
the case please point me in the direction of such research.

Regards,
Michael Swaine