Athletic success plays role in classroom success

December 18, 2009

Anonymous The Daily Southerner Fri Dec 18, 2009, 11:35 AM EST

It is probably well-known by now that Tarboro’s football team has come home with the state championship. SouthWest and North Edgecombe also went deep into the playoffs. If Reidsville was properly placed in the West, there is a good chance SWE would have also played for the state title. Congratulations to the teams and coaches.

I wanted to use this successful season as an opportunity to highlight how important athletics and coaches are to our schools. As a classroom teacher, I see how important athletics are to our students. It is not just football, but every sport or club with a good leader makes an important contribution to student success. In a society where many of these children do not have the proper support system at home, athletics and clubs offer purpose and pride to these young individuals. Sometimes when teachers have an issue with a student, we get the best results after speaking with the coach.

I have seen this at Tarboro High with the head football coach, Jeff Craddock. For example, I know of a situation where one student was posturing to fight with a football player. This player would usually knock the block off any adversary (ask players from Mountain Heritage), but instead he walked away and said, “I want to play on Friday night.” Another example includes a student that was failing science. It didn’t seem to bother the student that if he failed the class he wouldn’t graduate. What concerned him the most is that he let Coach Craddock down. Many of these students would have already dropped out of school or been suspended every other week if it wasn’t for athletics. Now, many of these students serve as role models for others.

I have learned that students often mimic the character and integrity of their coaches. They watch to see how the coach responds when they are down late in the game, or how the coach responds when they lose the state championship. I know Tarboro players watched closely how Coach Craddock responded three years ago when inept fans questioned Craddock's coaching ability by writing letters to the editor of The Daily Southerner. These were hurtful letters intended to degrade and humiliate him publicly, but Coach Craddock quietly accepted the criticism while ignoring the mean spirit with which they were written. Coach Craddock accepts that part of his mission is not just to win football games but also to shape the moral compass of his players. Often players learn more from losing a game than when they win. They also learn how much work is involved in order to be successful. This helps to explain why our Tarboro players displayed such decency and respect for the losing Mountain Heritage team in Chapel Hill on Friday night: they took the lead of their coach. Our players have learned from Coach Craddock that they can’t just show up game night and expect to win; they have to work every single day to prepare for just a few games.

This character development pays dividends in the classroom and beyond. Students do not only succeed because they want to be eligible to play; they succeed because athletics instills the work ethic necessary to be successful in the classroom. These athletes now know they can’t just show up for the exam; they have to prepare and pay attention every day in class in order to do well on the exam.

We have several good programs in place throughout the county, such as Positive Behavior Support (PBS), but I have never seen a program that can replace the relationship between a player and a coach. It is not because of punitive measures the coaches use but because the coach has developed a relationship with these young individuals. I see that with Coach Craddock and throughout Tarboro High’s athletics, and I expect it is probably true throughout the county.

Coach Craddock and his “Rude Boyz” are the inspiration behind this letter, but it really just reminds us that we need to be aware of the important role our coaches have throughout the community.

Lane Freeman

Tarboro High School

Text Only

Letters to the Editor

Tarboro Town Council Muhammad’s ‘legacy’ draws half-muted chuckle
May 24, 2012
General public needs education on rights of bicyclists, sharing the road
In last week’s paper there was an article about bicycling. I think first of all the general public needs to be educated about the rights of bicyclists and sharing the road.

May 24, 2012
A thief at large
To the Editor:
A glorious day was marred by a pickpocket, stealing from an eldery lady enjoying the day at the Happening on the Common on Saturday.

May 21, 2012
Remembering Betty Perrin NeSmith
Betty Perrin NeSmith was a force of nature. I hate the past tense, but it's the grammar we use when someone dies‚ Im just not sure it's the grammar Betty would use when thinking about death. She is moving on, with things to do. She was looking for a higher plane even while grounded on this earth, and I'm happy to think of her still searching out there in the other worlds.

May 16, 2012
A great example of poor judgment
TO THE EDITOR: I was having breakfast at a restaurant last week when I was asked, What do you think of the new police chief selection? I responded with, Who did they choose? Thats when I was given the devastating news it wasn't one of our own.

May 16, 2012
Who looks after our parks?
To the Editor:
There are so many wonderful aspects of living in a small town like Tarboro; we have opportunities to participate in improvement programs in gardening, home restoration courses, weight loss, summer recreation, wholesome weekend events, some of which are free, and many more that meet the interests of our residents, such as the upcoming free concert on our Town Common by the North Carolina Symphony. There’s a “Trap, Neuter, Return” organization to keep the feline population in-check. Check out the calendar page of the Daily Southerner and you will be informed of opportunities for all ages.

May 14, 2012
Thanks from United Way
To the Editor:
A remarkable group of more than 175 citizens came together recently to celebrate a major accomplishment for the communities in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. The joy was palpable at the Champions’ Luncheon as the United Way Tar River Region affirmed that the ambitious goal of raising more than $1.26 million has been reached! There was a collective sigh of relief in knowing that funds will be available to continue support for the growing number of needs in our local neighborhoods.

May 14, 2012
Your Views
May 7, 2012
Your Views
To the Editor:
It's always sad to see a piece of history fade away.
The Long Manufacturing Co. employed my husband when we moved to Tarboro, Edgecombe Co. in 1959.

May 3, 2012
To The Editor
To the Editor:
A recent news story about the Montford Marines honors the important and too-often forgotten group of men. However, some of the statements in the story were wrong and need correction.

February 20, 2012
More Letters to the Editor Headlines

Letters to the Editor

Search Results

Athletic success plays role in classroom success

Site Map