Week 17: Summaries of Essays.

In the essay "Children Need to Play, Not Compete," written by Jessica Statsky, explains the importance of having fun and not being in a competitive environment where physical and psychological problems may occur. Highly competitive sports are too often played to adult standards. She explains, "they eliminate many children from organized sports before they are ready to compete, they are actually counterproductive for developing either future players or fan." Competitive sports are also physically harmful because they entice children into physical actions that are bad for developing bodies. Children are also easily influenced by their parents high standard that they cannot rely on their own self esteem or confidence to do well in life. The essay "Sticks and Stones and Sports Team Names" written by Richard Estrada illustrates the importance of respecting cultural names, more specifically to Native Americans and their ancestral tribes. The essay is truly pointless and not important. The best argument in his essay is in paragraph 11: "What makes naming teams after ethnic groups, particularly minorities, reprehensible is that politically important groups continue to be targeted, while politically powerful ones who bite back are left alone. How long does anyone think the name 'Washington Blackskins' would last? Or how about 'the New York Jews'? The essay "Working at McDonald's" written by Amitai Etzioni illustrates the importance of education and avoiding the low paying jobs because they are not career builders. Most teens get jobs when they are young and often drop out of high school because they believe that their job offer them enough money to support themselves. They completely ignore the fact that getting a higher education can offer higher benefit and a larger salary. A lot of the money spent are on non beneficial materials. Although having a job can teach a person responsibility and time management, it is better to stay in school! The essay "Boys Here, Girls There: Sure, If Equality's the Goal" written by Karen Stabiner explains that single sex schools can be beneficial.