Anonymous wrote:All around the US, public schools are full of heavy duty sports culture. But meanwhile, they have steadily been slipping and sliding on the academic side. The pendulum swung to sports, but it really needs to swing back to academics.

Anonymous wrote:Who's talking about making it big in sports? It's not like Dunbar is in competition with Sidwell for athletics. This is about learning all kinds of skills - academics is a given, but for some of us it isn't enough. Teamwork, sportsmanship, working towards a common goal, knowing how to be the best and still have the admiration and support of your peers - these are all valuable skills. Fitness, athletic skills, and general attractiveness are also major advantages (in some cases, necessary ones). Not everything of value can be taught in the classroom, even at a good academic school. Again, that's why some families are focused on schools that offer excellence nurturing the whole child. Our children don't all need to be Tiger Woods, but they do need to perform well in a wide variety of situations.

Anonymous wrote:So, is the suggestion here that this DOESN'T exist elsewhere? Because, I really don't think that's the case. And, I think we need to move beyond preconceived notions of "it *has* to be football, and whatever other "traditional" sports. It amazes me that some people apparently have stronger priorities and preferences where it comes to sports than they do about academics. For most of us, sports are something we just do into our early twenties while we can, whereas the benefit of academics is lifelong.

Anonymous wrote:LOL! PP's not talking about Sidwell and Maret, but about sports programs in general. Overrated and overhyped. But since you bring Sidwell and Maret up, do you seriously think that people choose privates for their sports programs? Sidwell, Maret, Flint et cetera only play each other in conference, whereas the real competetive action in sports is typically NOT in the privates.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like somebody who was caught up in the whole "jock" thing. Reminds me of Al Bundy from "Married With Children", where all he has left in life to live for is his memories of that one high school football game - it was all downhill from there to a life as a shoe salesman. Pretty sad, really.

Why so stuck on preconceptions and sports? Heck, even building a bridge over the river Kwai builds teamwork, common goals and camaraderie. Debate team and many other types of competitive events also build teamwork, build sportsmanship, and so on - only, without the snapping towels at each other's butts in the shower afterward... And is there some special study out there from the American Sports Psychology Association that says soccer, tennis and the other activities that Basis promotes do not build any of those things, but that other private and public Middle School sports and activities do? I must have missed it. Or maybe there really is something to those snappy wet towels, teamwork and sportsmanship apparently are not learned, they are applied topically via wet towel.

Anonymous wrote:Lots of kids dream of making it big in sports, but anyone who has been through it knows that it takes a massive commitment of time, energy, money invested by the student, the parents, the school, it's athletic program, and the community - and even then, it's like hitting the lottery. Focusing on academics is far more likely to get someone situated later in life.

Anonymous wrote:I played in several competitive school sports all the way through college (at an NCAA Big Ten school), until damage to my knees and body finally took its toll.

Looking back, sports, while enjoyable and great for building some good friendships, did far less for me, and had far less of a lasting impact toward advancing my career than academics did.

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Anonymous wrote:^^Good question but I'd still MUCH rather have them at Sidwell, where per capita spending is several times what Basis has to spend, meaning facilities are roughly three times as good and classes are a lot smaller. No comparison. Basis can't even offer outdoor recess on its grounds.

This is a real concern for a lot of families. All of the good private schools have real sports programs, and an interest in educating the whole child. In addition to the health benefits, there are values such a teamwork and sportsmanship that are learned and practiced on the playing fields. I can't imagine wanting to send a child to a school that has no focus on that.

DC offers several sports leagues that are not school-based, e.g., soccer, baseball, basketball, football.

BASIS offers Soccer, Running, Girls on the Run, Yoga, Flag Football and Tennis Clinic as electives after school. BASIS has PE during the school day as well

For those kids who are not interested in sports, BASIS offers Science Bowl, Debate Team, Robotics Team, which also foster teamwork and good sportsmanship.