The results of the national junior-high school entrance exam that took place across Taiwan from May 16 to 17 are in. Once again, a disproportionate number of students from sports-focused junior-high programs received “needs improvement” grades. The issue is closely tied to the processes for selecting student athletes, as well as the broader system of educational advancement between schools.
In my more than 30 years’ experience working in a junior-high school, I have observed that academically strong students often perform well in class sports competitions. However, they are usually unwilling to join school sports teams due to training time commitments and the impact on academic performance and senior-high school entrance exam preparation.
Never mind the selection methods of official school sports teams that begin from primary school — which tend to lack true open tryouts — the net effect is that there are students with athletic potential who go unidentified through their school years. The prevailing attitude among junior-high school teachers is that students who struggle academically should join sports teams, giving them a platform to excel and opportunities for diverse development.
However, because of the substantial time demands of training and competitions, these student athletes tend to be put at a further academic disadvantage as they progress through the school system.
It is therefore unsurprising that their entrance exam results are generally lower than those of other students. You cannot expect a colt to run and not let it eat grass, as the Chinese proverb goes; expecting both high athletic performance and strong academic results is a similarly impossible situation.
We should focus on identifying students with good sporting potential early on and provide them with training and competition opportunities without undercutting or delaying their regular academic studies — only then can a balance between sports and academics be achieved.
Chen Ni-nung is the principal of a junior high school in Nantou County.
Translated by Gilda Knox Streader
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