Televise high school football games?

NEWS FACT High school football is all about character development and school spirit. Or is it about fame and fortune? This year, 21 high school football games will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and Fox Sports Net. Several other high school games around the country will be televised locally.

Many people--including a coach whose team has hit the big time--wonder if national broadcasts of high school games are a good idea. "I know our football success is broadening these kids' life experiences," Bobby Bentley told The New York Times. "But you don't want to sell your soul to do these things." Bentley is the coach and athletic director at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, South Carolina. His team has won two nationally broadcast games this year.

How might appearing on television affect student athletes? Showcasing the talents of high school football players could give them opportunities they have only dreamed about. But many psychologists say our sports-obsessed culture already puts too much pressure on young people.

What Do You Think?

Should high school football games be televised?

Yes

Participation in high school athletics fosters teamwork and provides lessons that can't be learned in a classroom. Kids who work hard at developing their athletic skills deserve national attention.

"It's a great idea that brings out the good Of your community and your school," Joey Gregory, 17, tells J$. Joey is a wide receiver at James F. Byrnes High School. "It's one of these memories that will last for a lifetime."

Despite some reservations, Joey's coach agrees. "It's good exposure for the guys," Bobby Bentley tells JS. "They work hard, and it's kind of a reward for [that]."

Tiara Stewart, 14, says that athletes who don't do well academically might benefit from showcasing their talents on TV. "Everyone's not a great student, so doing this might help [them] get scholarships for football," says the ninth-grader at Overton High School in Memphis, Tennessee. "As long as they still stress the importance of education, I don't see a problem with it."

No

For years, campus jocks have been accused of getting special privileges because f their involvement in sports. Exposing star athletes to more acclaim will give them one more excuse to behave badly.

Nick Sterczala, 13, an eighth-grader at Agawam Junior High School in Agawam, Massachusetts, says no to televising high school games. "It is like shining that big bright spotlight known as 'fame' on the players," Nick tells J5.

Being on TV puts more pressure on athletes to perform well. "1 think grades would slip if games were televised," says Nick, "because the players would want to make sure they look good on TV. If they try to improve their skills on the field by practicing [more], that would take away from their homework and studying."

The executive director of the South Carolina High School League agrees. "My concern is that we take something that is supposed to be educational," says James Singleton, "and flip it over to entertainment."