5 minute read
COVER
Pulling into the athletic parking lot, tailgate town to the right, fans struggled to fi nd an open parking spot to the left, the sound of parents ringing their cowbells as students chattered in anticipation of another thrilling athletic event. Then heading towards the gates of the football fi eld decked out in Royals gear, the aroma of parents cooking out under blue and gray pop-up tents is all around. At the gates, phones with pre-purchased tickets pulled out and scanned. The packed student section is a wave of blue constantly chanting in support of the Royals. Students cheered and socialized, having an amazing time. It was well past 9pm when students began to exit the parking lot. Some students began to realize that their time at the game should have been spent fi nishing important homework and studying for upcoming tests. The cost of belonging is not just about a price tag; it is about the toll on a student’s academics, mental health and physical health. When students participate in activities or athletic teams, athletic events, marching band or color guard, after school or in school clubs, the experience comes with various expenses. Take into consideration marching band: this year, fees added up to $1,200 per person. This covered the cost for transportation, competition fees, costs to make props and uniform but did not include the rental cost of an instrument if not personally owned, and repairs of a rental instrument if damaged. The cost of time is also hefty; depending on the section, there are practices many days of the week that “Students who participated [in extracurricular activities] were three times as likely to perform in the top quartile on a composite math and reading assessment compared with non-participants.”
often run as late as 9 pm. That leaves band members to devote at least 15 hours a week to marching band. All home football games, all Saturdays, many Saturday nights and afterschool hours are devoted to practices and performances. Being involved in activities like athletics can help students connect to their school and fi nd a sense of belonging: but are physical and mental tolls helping them grow or turning them away? Junior Hannah Young decided to join the marching band this year. “Everyone there is working towards the same goal, and we spend so much time together that fi nding a sense of belonging is not diffi cult at all,” Young said. “It is a big-time commitment, and hard to give up my time, however it has helped me learn how to better manage homework and I am way more effi cient with my schoolwork.” Students who participate in afterschool or in-school activities gain leadership skills, and statistics show many benefi ts, including learning teamwork and responsibility skills and fi nding a sense of culture and community. The National Center for Educational Statistics reports, “Students who participated [in extracurricular activities] were three times as likely to perform in the top quartile on a composite math and reading assessment compared with nonparticipants.” Participation, attendance and success in academics are also directly linked to student involvement with extracurriculars. The University of North Carolina Press, The Role of Extracurricular Activities in Education reported, “In the extracurricular setting [students] may also develop and practice artistic, musical, and psychomotor talents; leadership skills; and future career and occupational skills.” The ability to integrate and fl ourish in the real world outside of school is very important for young adults working towards college or other post-secondary endeavors. The article also states, “These organized school activities (freely chosen by the student rather than imposed by well-meaning adults) may provide a critical setting for the task of developing social literacy or the ability to communicate through many forms, and through communication, learn essential social and civic responsibilities.” Overall, studies show there are many diff erent advantages to partaking in extracurricular activities. Do these benefi ts outweigh the costs? Extracurricular engagement is favorable for fi nding friendships and making a big school seem small, yet it is at a lot of expense to students. Extracurricular activities often cost money to participate in some type of
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4 out of 5
students participate in school extracurriculars
arranged “pay-to-play” fee. If families cannot pay this, then opportunities to participate in these activities dwindle. This may aff ect a student’s connection to his or her school, as without the ability to participate, they may feel left out or isolated. Financial challenges are not limited to lowerincome families. According to the University of Michigan C.S Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, 12 percent of parents making more than $60,000 — about 1 in 10 — also cite price as the reason for their child’s decline in activities. Almost everything has a price associated with it, these statistics demonstrate that money is a factor for all families. Expenses like team uniforms, gas for travel, club dues and renting or buying an instrument can add up and be a challenge for many. To put it in perspective, if a student wanted to play an instrument and be on a school athletic team, the cost of both may force the student to choose between them. “I believe the school shouldn’t be able to make us pay over $100 for tennis uniforms,” Junior Sasha Gukasyan’Baykova said, “To be more inclusive, I feel like they should provide reusable uniforms or reevaluate the pricing.” All of this is true with after-school
activities as well as with social events. Football games are a big deal for many students. Themes to show school support are common at athletic events, purchasing tickets and spirit wear for these events can be costly. Homecoming is a great way to be involved and socialize with friends, but think about the cost of a ticket, the attire worn and the gas to get there. All these costs add up and aff ect every person of any income, and it is especially hard for students who are either low-income, too young, not able to devote the time or have a very low paying job. “I think it is taking away experiences for students who can’t participate because of fi nances, especially when society makes it an expectation for us to look forward to,” freshman Grey Ginder said. “Things like homecoming, prom and football games are just a few examples of those expectations.” Every situation is diff erent and every student is diff erent, but the costs of belonging that are placed on students for all activities are very similar. What cost are you paying?
Story by Julianna Wells and Avery Grunder. Photos by Paityn O’Neill and Cassidy Hayes.
Do you fi nd that the cost of participating in extracurriculars (clubs, sports, etc.) is a big ratio of your participation?
Data from @hsenews Instagram poll.
YES
