The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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September 8, 2010

Your View: Don’t place young athletes on such high pedestals

By Rick Kramlinger, North Mankato

— I agreed with Chad Courrier’s recent column, “Media helps feed egos for pro athletes,” however, this phenomenon in our society starts at a much younger age than Courrier writes about.

I understand the benefits of playing sports, such as learning sportsmanship and teamwork, keeping our bodies fit, etc., but I feel there is far too much attention and emphasis placed on the athletic prowess of young students.

Case in point: The newspaper has a daily section devoted entirely to sports. Where is the daily section that highlights all the great students who excel at speech, debate, science, art, theater, math and technology?

Also, when a student goes to state in a sport, the school prints giant posters and plasters them all over the halls of the school. When a student goes to state for being great at singing or playing an instrument or speaking or debating, no such poster can be found.

Yes, athletes can be enriching and rewarding, but placing young athletes on such high pedestals can do more harm in the long run.

 

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