"Miss'ion Statements and 'Miss'ed Opportunities...

Mission statements pique my curiosity. If I understand mission statements correctly their purpose is to bring attention and awareness to a business, company or person’s core values and beliefs. Mission statements are proclamations that guide an institution and all their endeavors.  

That being said, our local middle school touts the following as their mission statement: Where All Students WILL Succeed!

Interesting… I’m wondering how all students can succeed when ALL are not given the opportunity? Is that possible? How is success defined? Does ALL mean each and every student regardless of ability and achievement? Furthermore, do all individuals employed by this establishment truly embrace this declaration? More importantly what are the ramifications if their beliefs don’t align with the announcement?

I pose these questions as a result of the ‘missed opportunity’ the middle school coaches overlooked in selecting a track team. My son tried out but didn’t ‘make’ the team. In fact, sad to report that many students were not chosen. For whatever reason, they were not given the lead-in to mature as runners in order to cultivate a healthier lifestyle; therefore, they will NOT succeed in this arena; contrary to the school’s mission statement.

I’ve specified before that I run the risk of sounding like a resentful parent but I’m not. My son will continue to run for enjoyment and health benefits because as his parent, I will encourage and support him in navigating his course. Rather, I’d prefer to be regarded as a pebble commencing the rippling effect; an individual generating awareness to an epidemic that continues to perpetuate and exist in our world today; childhood obesity.

This state of affairs is so widespread our own First Lady; Michelle Obama has instituted a Let’s Move enterprise to entice our youth to get off the couch. She passionately and vehemently states, “The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake,” said Mrs. Obama. “This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working together, it can be solved. So, let’s move.”

It’s unfortunate our middle school coaches weren’t on board with this initiative.  I’m not certain of their rationale as no one has responded to a letter sent to them to gain understanding.

Nevertheless, it brings me full circle to the notion of mission statements; If ALL students are not given the opportunity, how can they ALL succeed?

A Missed Opportunity...

moving on to Regionals, 2011-Recreational Track and Field

Let me clarify this letter prior to your reading…it was written (and sent) to the coaches of the middle school (7^th and 8^th graders) track team to which my son didn’t make the team.  Although I risk being viewed as a disgruntled parent, I’m not. I’m more upset with the principle that these coaches missed a gigantic opportunity to send a message to invite all kids, regardless of talent, to get up off the couch, get active and to start young in developing a healthy lifestyle. Instead, it appears the coaches persisted to send a ‘win at all costs’ message that society continues to perpetuate.

Dear Coaches,

As a parent of a child who did not make this year’s middle school track team, I felt a strong need to question and understand your objectives and goals for such a sport. As in most sports at the middle school level, coaches have an unenviable position of having 50-plus students try out for a single team and then whittling those names to a roster to 12-20 kids. Granted, these teams; soccer, baseball, football and basketball are definite sports of skill and ability. Most likely, the kids who make these teams have been in the sport for a good part of their lives in order to develop these skills.

So while Nicholas did try out for basketball and soccer, we feel he probably knew as well as we did that there was little chance he would make the team.

However, in trying out for the track team and the perceptions toward such a sport I thought might be a bit different as running is a unique kind of sport. If the correct goals and objectives are in place at a middle school level as well as the desires of coaches, track can have the irreplaceable benefit of developing youngsters into their abilities as well as evolving kids into a positive and healthy lifestyle.

I’m finding it difficult to understand how in a sport where numerous runners can be placed into most given events (multiple heats) that you would have a rooster of only 15 or so students? Track is the ideal environment to get many students involved not only during practice but giving many a chance to compete in at least one event.  What considerations have you given to injuries or kids that drop out?

Having been a track coach (my husband) that qualified athletes for the state finals I was able to grow my program by encouraging every student that wanted to be a part of the team to come out.  Needless to say I was never surprised by a student who matured into a competitive athlete. But perhaps the most rewarding part was having the knowledge that each student felt a part of the TEAM.  So despite wanting to build a team that was competitive I did not do this with a win at all cost mentality. Nonetheless it appears obvious your interests lie elsewhere.

Allow me to share with you the link to USA Today where a school in your own backyard, Green Hope High School has developed an outstanding cross country program dedicated to students for the joy of running and the desire to be part of something bigger than them; wouldn’t our middle school children be so lucky to have such an outlook? Other schools are showcased in the article as well and granted they are speaking of students at a high school level, but I can assure you many of these runners developed as middle school students who were given an opportunity to participate, belong and advance whatever abilities they encompassed.

In researching records set by 2011 North Carolina Middle School runners; the very individuals you are coaching, a fourteen year old youngster ran the mile in 4:58-Very Impressive! A seventh grade student ran and won a meet with a 5:29; again, good for them!-however those students are few and far between since many other North Carolina Middle School runners completed events and placed in the top twenty with times over 8 minutes.  While they were not in the medals they came away with something even more valuable, again they competed as a member of a TEAM. 

The point is that while winning is the reason we keep score much more can be gained by any kid that has a strong desire to be part of something.  I’m convinced they had dedicated and caring coaches to foster, nurture and encourage them and their love of running. I only wish Nicholas would have been afforded that same chance!

the Spaine's