Description
Book SynopsisCrazy-Proofing High School Sports examines the often troubling high school sports phenomenon in two parts. Part one focuses on the problems facing educators, students, and parents as they struggle to make high school sports worthwhile. Few if any strategies for improvement in education are effective without first knowing what the real reasons are for failure. Part two offers solutions for “crazy-proofing” high school sports. Schools have everything needed to accomplish great feats via high school sports participation, and now is the time for our educators to be the experts in their field. Written in a language educators can understand, and with stories everyone associated with high school sports will recognize, Crazy-Proofing High School Sports offers real solutions to the real problems hurting high school student athletes.
Trade ReviewDuring his numerous years as teacher, coach, and administrator at the interscholastic level, Tufte (education, Univ. of Mary) has witnessed both the positive and negative aspects of sport. In this book, he laments the loss of joy experienced by high school student-athletes and lays the blame squarely on adults. His aim is to describe the current conditions of high school sport in a way that will encourage those involved (educators, administrators, and especially parents) to work together to remedy the situation. Tufte is a realist in the sense that he does not argue for an abolishment of high school sport, and he fully recognizes the physical, psychological, and social benefits of sport participation. He writes from personal reflection, observations based on his experiences, and interviews with educators, parents, and student-athletes. He advocates for educators to take the initiative in this process, to refuse to be silent, and to clearly identify the educational role of interscholastic sport. This book will be of greatest interest to individuals working closely with high school athletics but will appeal to the general reader as well. Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE *
“Finally, somebody has actually stepped forward and appropriately addressed what most of us (principals and activities directors) have been fighting for years...” -- Don Donarski, Activities Director in Minnesota
“John Tufte has us laughing with him and at ourselves while at the same time rethinking what we are doing, and why we are doing it, within our schools... His message is clear: It is time to start acting like educational experts! Indeed.” -- Todd Brist, principal, Watertown, South Dakota
Table of ContentsPart One: Where Schools Are – The problem is, we don't know what the problems are. Chapter One: Passion Chapter Two: Purpose Chapter Three: Relationship and Communication Quality Chapter Four: Success Part Two: Where We Need To Go – Educators have everything needed to improve high school sports. Chapter Five: Knowing What Needs to be Done Chapter Six: Having Control, Assigning Roles, and Owning our Profession Chapter Seven: Teaching Perspective Chapter Eight: Reestablishing the “School” in High School Sports Supplemental Pages: Suggestions for Parents
