Editorials



__The Importance of High School Sports__ __By: Casey Schoenholtz__ High school is a growing stage. It is a time to make friends, get good grades, participate in activities, and prepare for the future. Expanding the mind with more vigorous concepts than before, becoming more comfortable with one’s self, and taking part in the stereotypical high school events is the epitome of high school. There are school dances, pep rallies, and Homecoming festivities, but many events seem to revolve around sports. Yet, with budget cuts some districts have opted to cut back on athletic programs and funding. Sacrificing high school sports only lessens every child's high school experience, their ability to perform at optimum academic levels, and develop into well-rounded adults.

High school sports create a sense of spirit and school pride, while unifying teams and building stronger athletes. In one way or another, it seems every student is affected by sports in some way. Athletes are directly involved with the game, while members of the marching band perform, and members of the choir sing the national anthem. Then there are the students that support their school because they love sports or wouldn’t miss out on a social event. So what would high school be without sport participation?

Sports offer a release from the academic atmosphere of school and enable students to unify for one cause whether playing, observing, or cheering. It is a great way for people to blow off steam and meet new people. High school sports also help increase school pride and take away from the negative perception school sometimes has as being boring.

Sports teach beyond the classroom and share valuable lessons that teachers sometimes fail to display. Team sports, especially, build friendships and trust amongst teammates. Working with a group of people for an entire season builds special bonds that create even more unity in a school environment. The skills required to master a sport help teach athletes about discipline and control. These traits carry over to the classroom as misbehavior results in consequences on and off the field. Sports also provide a motive for student athletes to attend school and work for better grades.

Student athletes are absent six to eight less days from school than non-athletes and have a better chance to get through college. They seem more motivated and are less likely to drop out of school, use drugs, become teen parents, smoke cigarettes, or get arrested than non-athletes are. Athletes also help promote citizenship and school spirit while displaying positive behavior. They understand what a consequence is and tend to have better bonds with family. But besides the mental advantages, athletes are in better physical shape and run less of a risk of becoming obese in the future. Sports create better attitudes and happier times all throughout school years.

High school is also largely about creating memories and friendships that are made to last. When an adult looks back on their high school career, it is doubtful they will remember the names of their teachers or the specific grades earned. The memories sports create, however, will fondly be remembered by spectators and athletes alike.

Overall, high school sports enhance what might be a dreadful high school experience. The only downside to sports is that it makes the time fly. So cherish the moments, attend a game, or even try out for a team before it is too late or budget cuts hinder a huge part of what high school is all about.

The Role of the Trainer and the Role of the Nurse(MC)

As long as sports have been around, injuries have been a major problem. Unfortunately, the issue is becoming more prevalent, especially in the past view years. The common reaction to this is to, a, prevent the problem altogether and, b, make sure that there is suitable care for the people who do get injured. The latter solution has most impact on high school athletes, who have their entire futures ahead of them.

As with everything, health care systems everywhere have become more complex in the last decade or so. Lawsuits are more likely, and schools and athletic departments need to ensure that all injured athletes are being treated with the best care possible so that they aren’t held accountable. The two occupations that specialize the most in the care and treatment of high school athletes’ injuries are the occupations of the sports trainer and the school nurse. Oftentimes, though, their turf crosses, and many question whose responsibility it really is.

Officially, the role of the athletic trainer is to “help prevent and treat injuries for people of all ages,” according to the Bureau of Labor. These professionals, who often hold a masters or PhD, are to be one of the first providers of healthcare when injures occur, and they need to “be able to recognize, evaluate, and assess injuries and provide immediate care when needed.” Long hours are common, and the athletic trainer often accompanies athletes to their away games/meets.

Meanwhile, the school nurse (according to the National Association of School Nurses) has seven roles: to provide direct health care to students and staff, to provide leadership for the provision of health services, to provide screening and referral for health conditions, to promote a healthy school environment, to promote health, to serve in a leadership role for health policies and programs, and to serve as a liaison between school personnel, family, community, and health care providers. They “address the physical, mental, emotional, and social health of their clients,” and can provide care to children with special needs, infants, toddlers, some adults, and, of course, traditional school populations.

At Central High School, both the school nurse and the athletic trainer are involved with every athlete. Every athlete must fill out forms to turn in to the school nurse, and parents have more communication with the nurse. But when it comes to serious injuries, the athletic trainer is supposed to be the main source of treatment and rehabilitation. This can clash in itself, but it gets even more complex because the nurse’s office must clear an injured athlete to go back to their sport. This requires communication with the athletic trainer, but in many cases this communication does not occur.

Oftentimes, students simply do not go to the source that they are supposed to. It is only expected that over time, a student may develop a preference for the school nurse over the athletic trainer, or the trainer over the nurse. Perhaps one of them is more agreeable, or maybe the student believes that one does a better job than the other.

But when the student goes to the source that doesn’t do the best job, problems can ensue. The athletic trainer, for example, treats concussions, but the school nurse may be able to identify symptoms of a concussion with greater ease. Who does the best job? Will a star athlete not be treated to his or her fullest potential because of this clash? Will their future be in jeopardy because of a silly miscommunication?

Any conflict can be solved (and athletes’ careers can possibly be saved) if the athletic trainer and the school nurse vow to have open communication. Both the mind of the trainer and the mind of the nurse have great value, and neither should be considered lesser than the other. With this collaboration, stopping the growing number of athletic injuries can be addressed.