EDUCATION matters
I
It is important that we get young people involved in sport, because good habits formed during childhood are very often habits that we maintain throughout our lives. There is of course room for computer games in life, but they too often become a recreational default, and they cannot fill the hugely significant role that childhood sport plays in assisting in vital physical development. More than this, many studies have shown that fit and active children are very often happier and more successful in their academic work. Sport as recreation is important not only for fitness; children who are interested in sport are less likely to get involved in negative and dangerous lifestyle options in their teenage years, particularly if they have a shared commitment to a team. Their attitude is shaped by a peer group with a positive, mutual goal and interest, and the sense of discipline and responsibility that goes with it. Sport in all its guises also plays an important role in teaching young people respect. To enjoy most games we need some form of opposition; without them the contest, whether a recreational game of tennis or a fiercely contested inter-house basketball tournament, is impossible. Therefore we must appreciate and be respectful of our opponents for the part they play. Similarly, students must learn to respect rules and
authority: once again, sport is a safe and healthy endeavour where rules and the referee are a central element. Young people soon learn that without them the activity simply flounders, quickly descending into chaos. Sport, if delivered properly as a means of developing healthy social interaction, has another important role in the education of our pupils. Those who have never played rugby, for example, often find it difficult to understand how such a physically tough and combative sport can have such a strong and thriving social scene attached to it. It is not the purpose of this article to explain why, but rugby and many other sports are very good at bringing people together and breaking down barriers. Traditionally teams and their supporters partake in refreshments together after a school sports contest, and there’s no better way of promoting social interaction than bringing people with similar interests together over a meal or a drink. Many schools also undertake sports tours or participate in sports tournaments, for example through the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), which brings young sportsmen together from across Far East Asia and further widens their social network. The highly competitive nature of modern society and everyday life is mirrored in sport
72 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School
because competition is an intrinsic part of sport, and again sport provides an excellent learning environment. Very few other experiences in school can match sport’s ability to teach us how to, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, “meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same”. Another core element is being part of a team. This yet again illustrates that sport is a microcosm of life itself. Most employers rightly value the ability of prospective employees to perform well as part of a team. An important part of a child’s education must be to ensure that they understand the importance of successful relationships, where individual personal needs and desires are tempered and adapted to the needs of others. Furthermore, students should have a clear understanding and appreciation of the fact that they can very often achieve a great deal more through co-operation and teamwork than through their own individual efforts. Sport in school provides a myriad of opportunities for this to be experienced and reinforced. The role of sport in school is not confined to the benefits of mass participation in an open access sports programme. Most schools also do what they can to support the pursuit of sporting excellence. A broad programme of sporting activities creates a wide base of participants for a performance