Chapter 7 Work and leisure

What are the pros and cons of extracurricular activities? Are extracurricular activities worth the resources schools invest in them?

• Basic information on participation in extracurricular activities is provided through the Quick Tables and Figures section of the National Center for Education Statistics website. Note the differences participation by SES and ethnicity.
• Children's activities, school achievement, and well-being: A research report compiled by the National Institute of Child Health and Development.
• How did sports become so central in high school culture? Kerry White, of Education Week, puts school sports in historical perspective. As can be heard in this story about the Wolford Wolves and another about the Valley Head Tigers, sports can be a particularly important part of individual and school identity in small town America. This view is supported by a report by the Carnegie Corporation of New York on the benefits of participating in sports.
• An article in Education World entitled Science or Soccer? How important are extracurricular activities? includes a large list of on-line resources.
• Both school engagement and extracurricular activities have fallen during the past few years, according to a new report by the Urban Institute. This is consistent with the initial findings of a technical report by the same organization, asking, "What extras do we get with extracurriculars?" However, the authors argue that interpreting these results is much more difficult than it first appears.
• There are both positives and negatives to extracurriculars. A fast search of Kid's Health in the teen section provides information on both sides of the picture. Don't forget to look at their excellent links! Busy schedules and too many activities: Helping kids slow down in The Christian Science Monitor expands on the topic of adolescents who have too much to do.