By Jordan Bickham
Staff Writer
High school is extremely busy for the average student. With extracurricular activities, clubs, and difficult classes, it is hard to balance everything.
This lifestyle is especially difficult for those dedicated to extracurricular activities. With practices, rehearsals, performances and games constantly going on, there is not much time to sit down and concentrate on homework for a few hours.
Because of this, many students who spend all their time involved in extracurricular activities struggle with their grades and may even fail. But failure results in exclusion from games and performances, making all the time they pour into these activities pointless.
“Any grade below 70 in any class (other than an identified class eligible for exemption) or a student with disabilities who fails to meet the standards in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) may not participate in extracurricular activities for three school weeks.”
Those who are dedicated to their extracurricular activities should not be penalized, and that is exactly what this UIL exception rule tries to save these students from.
This rule states that a student in an extracurricular activity who is making a 65 or above (up to a 70, which is passing) in a Pre-ap or AP class can obtain a waiver, have their teacher sign and agree to the terms and conditions, and their grade can be rounded up to a 70 so they can be passing and can continue to participate in these activities.
While many would argue that this rule is an unfair academic rule for team players, the rule actually helps students get their act together. By having to obtain a waiver, these students realize the true extent of slacking off in class, and this encourages them to participate in class more and in their extracurricular activities a bit less.
This lets them know they need to balance their lives and focus more on their schoolwork if they want to continue pursuing what they love. This rule acts as a wake up call to these students, but it still allows them to participate and continue their extracurricular activities.
Most students focus more on their activities outside of school, and because of this, many of them pursue these activities as future careers instead of academic-based jobs. When you are passionate about something, it is difficult to focus specifically on anything else.
That is why these students are able to let their grades slide without necessarily compromising their futures. It does not mean they are bad students; it just means they are not focused and they should not be punished for that alone.
Even though students should learn to balance academics and extracurricular activities, they still need to be given a chance to get everything together.
Dedication to something as grueling as football or time consuming as band is difficult to do, and students should be rewarded for pouring so much time and effort into these activities. It is OK for them to receive a slight grading curve that rewards them for their dedication.
If we did not have students who were dedicated to what they did, we would not have the wonderful sports teams and programs that we have at our school.
If students did not pour in all their time and effort, we would not have any chance going to large competitions or having the best band or sports teams in the country. Without dedication, how could anyone be the best of the best?
