Amazed And Worried

Last Friday Amber and I attended the Rockridge home football game versus Monmouth-Roseville.  That shouldn't be all that newsworthy that I attended my school's Friday night football game, but it's the first home opener I've seen in four years.  In the recent past, I have attended my youngest son's games with his school at Sherrard.

Different yet was our view of the football game at RHS.  We were in the bleachers - again you are probably wondering why that was significant.  The reason for that is that previously attended football games (when Cole's team wasn't playing) had us sitting up close to support the cheerleaders, as Amber's daughters were all cheerleaders under the Friday night lights.

So my view from the bleachers allowed me a close look not only at the football team's efforts, but the view also allowed me to see the cheer squad, the marching band, the color guard, and the dance team.  Here's where the amazed part comes in from the title. 

Because I haven't yet had a full two weeks with my students, I really don't know what they are involved in - either in school or out of school.  The view Friday, though, helped me to see a bit more of their lives.  I'm amazed at how many of our students are in something and even more amazed at how many are in multiple activities during the same fall, winter, or spring season.  There were dance team girls playing an instrument or throwing a flag around.  There were sophomore football players in the marching band.  There were cheerleaders in the marching band.  And then there were students I have in class that I recognized were participating in something that I didn't know.  It's wonderful that so many students are participating in something...

...and worrisome.

I know preparing these students academically for their chosen post-secondary paths is challenging.  I know preparing these students for the SAT is challenging.  I wonder and worry how challenging the task is with these students stretched in so many different directions.  Our scores in the first year's report were very good.  I anticipate our score's in year two aren't going to be quite as good but still pretty solid.  Sometimes I think our scores should include an asterisk suggesting that these scores are achieved while students are also participating in many activities throughout the school year.

And then again maybe it's participating in all of those things that helps students.  Our students are competitive in their activities; they want to be better than other schools and often they are.  Perhaps their competitive attitudes compel them to compete in all areas of their school lives - outside the classroom and inside.

Still I worry.