Should High school coaches be allowed to teach

burniegoeasily · 04-22-2005, 08:49 AM

I was a varsity coach for over 10 years before I took over the science department of another school district. I ask this because, when I was in the system, some of the worst teachers I ever encountered were coaches (not all, some coaches were actually the best I have ever encountered.). There is a saying among coaches that goes something like this, "screw the class, the field/court is what will get you fired. You can be a bad teacher and get away with it, but if you screw up on the field, your toast". As a coach, It was difficult to be gone every night till very late and be truly prepared for the next day. I did it though. I always took the class room first. I was made fun of for that as well. More in jest, but still made fun of for being a "teacher". I ask this question because I have been getting lots of calls wanting me to tutor kids in college that had coaches for science teacher. These kids are so lost on the basics they are struggling in college. Most of the time I can tutor them in the basics of the discipline( chem. physics, bio, anatomy, etc.), and that is all they need. High school is were they were suppose to have gotten this. I have noticed a trend, when I tutor someone, the first thing they tell me is, "I didn't get much out of this class in high school because our coach taught it."

Again ill add, some of the best teachers I have ever seen were coaches. Ill also add, some of the worse teachers I've ever seen are class room teachers. But for the most part, Coaches make the worst teachers.

etothepii · 04-22-2005, 08:57 AM

Quote:

I ask this because, when I was in the system, some of the worst teachers I ever encountered were coaches (not all, some coaches were actually the best I have ever encountered.).

I know exactly what you mean.

It's not ecenomically feasable for many districts to hire "just coaches." But I've heard horror stories about some of the coaches that sit in classrooms. It's a tough question to have an absolute answer for.

BenGarrett · 04-22-2005, 09:04 AM

It is definitely a problem, but I'm not sure what the solution is. Around here, all phys ed and social studies teachers are coaches. They give them the subjects deemed to be "easy" subjects, it seems. The problem is that our kids aren't being taught in phys ed; they're playing dodge ball or walking around aimlessly in a gymnasium. It's a social hour. Social studies is a joke. Like you, some of my best teachers were coaches. But the coaches who were good teachers were few and far between.

So the solution might be to hire coaches simply to coach, eh? As has already been mentioned, that just simply isn't feasible in most areas.

I guess the overall solution is to stop putting so much freakin' attention on athletics. Academics first, and if the coach's students aren't scoring what they should be scoring on standardized tests over a period of time, ax the coach.

Aught Six · 04-22-2005, 09:10 AM

All of my high school's coaches were also teachers. If you have a person who's good at both, all the better. But if they're not pulling their weigh in the classroom, the school needs to find someone who will.

Deleted User · 04-22-2005, 09:10 AM

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logs · 04-22-2005, 09:21 AM

I think is a case by case issue.
I know several local coaches that teach. Here it is the norm for the teachers to be coaches to increase their income and do something else they enjoy.
One of the gentlemen is a math teacher at one school and coaches at a different school closer to home.
I know some of his former students who think the world of him as a teacher and a person. Some of his former players work out at our gym and are now adults with families. They still call him Mr. and shouw him great respect.
His football team is stuggling and has been for years. Small school in a big school conference.
My point is, it is the individuals additude toward everthing they do that effects the results of their efforts.
It is a shame some would drop the ball in the class room to put more effort into the sport. That is a great disservice to the student(s) and shows a lack of true dedication to the profession of teaching.

kevin1 · 04-22-2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Aught Six

All of my high school's coaches were also teachers. If you have a person who's good at both, all the better. But if they're not pulling their weigh in the classroom, the school needs to find someone who will.

I couldn't agree more .

tardfarmer · 04-22-2005, 09:33 AM

Quote:

It's not ecenomically feasable for many districts to hire "just coaches."

Of course it's economically feasible - depending upon the state you live in (now remember that statement for when the ****** pile starts on me), you can start making teacher's pay for a small portion of their own health insurance, trim their outlandish retirement packages.. trim trim trim -- just like is done in the "real world". Make them pay socialist security...

schools are awash in money and benefits and always go the stupid route and "cut classes" when they're threatened.

Tazman · 04-22-2005, 09:46 AM

Just my opinon on this, but public school systems should not be allowed to use public money for coaching or equipment for sports.

Nor should a teacher be allowed to coach, there job is to teach, coaching should not enter the equation.

Sports in public schools should be funded by money raised by who ever is participating in the sport, thier parents, the fans and any alumni or volunteers that wish to help.

When I was in High School the gym teachers handled all of the coaching, which was good for the teams, but I can tell you first hand that an awful lot of our gym time was spent in quasi practice for what ever sport was in season at the time, and most of the time the entire gym class was pushed off into a corner playing some BS gym game, while the players of the sport in season were given additional practice time. In some cases before a season started up gym class was used as a scouting camp for the coaches, I always felt sorry for the klutz's stuck on the side line who had absolutely no ability in atheletics who basically sat around like a lump on a log.

If the people raising the funds for the sports want to hire a coach, cough up the bucks or go with a volunteer coaching staff.

I am a big sports fan and have played football, basketball, softball, wrestling, baseball, and volleyball so please do not say I am anti sports in school, I am not! Our priorities should be our kids education and not whether or not the TEAM wins the big game.

burniegoeasily · 04-22-2005, 09:52 AM

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you can start making teacher's pay for a small portion of their own health insurance, trim their outlandish retirement packages.. trim trim trim

Im not piling it on here, but that is exclusive Wisconsin. In Texas regular ed. teachers pay most of their insurance. I know many who cant take insurance because it would cut their check in half. I pay 500 a month for me, and my two girls. And the coverage stinks. 1000 deductable. High copay.

I need to move to Wisconsin. Sounds like teaching is the profession to be in up there.