IMPORTANCE OF AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES

By

Scott Wilkerson

A Capstone Project

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

Degree of

Specialist of Education

Education Division

Table of Content s

CHAPTER I- INTRODUCTION3

Introduction3

Problem Statement3

Research Question4

Rationale4

Independent Variables5

Dependent Variables5

Hypothesis5

Limitations of the Study6

Definition of Terms and Symbols6

CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW8

Critical Analysis15

Chapter 4:16

Conclusion16

Importance Of Afterschool Activities

CHAPTER I- INTRODUCTION

Introduction

This study was developed to examine the effects of extracurricular activities on student grade point averages. Many people, including myself, routinely make the claim that students involved in extracurricular activities receive better grades. This claim is based on personal bias and experience with students. This topic was studied because high school budgets are minimal, and the administration of these schools wants to spend the money efficiently. Consequently, funding for extracurricular activities may be decreased when the money gets tight. This study will examine the correlation between extracurricular activities and academic performance.

Problem Statement

It is beneficial for students to be involved in extra curricular activities. If so, why do students who are involved in extra curricular activities get better grades and does it matter what type of activity the student is in? This is an important question that needs to be asked by school administrators making budgetary decisions. With funds of all kinds being restricted to school districts, fiscal minded administrators want to get the most of their money.

Since improving academic achievement is every schools district goal, it only makes sense to spend precious and limited dollars on activities and programs that will help a school to reach that goal. I hope to, through this study, put some light on what I consider to be a very effective and economical way to help students meet their academic goals.

Research Question

To serve as a guideline for the research design of this study, the following question will be utilized. Does the participation in extracurricular activities impact student achievement?

Rationale

The purpose of this study is that students involved in extracurricular activities receive better grades than those who are not involved in extracurricular activities. If in fact activities improve the overall student and they help students to receive better grades by teaching them character building lessons, teaching them lifelong skills, saving some at-risk students who would possibly drop out of school and helping students develop social skills, then extracurricular activities should not be the first cut in the budget reduction. Instead, administrators of school ought to increase their funding of extracurricular activities since it positively impacts academic achievement. Schools should encourage students to participate in these activities since they benefit students in so many ways. Also, the schools should educate their coaches and group sponsors on the influence that the activities have on the students' lives.

It is the opinion of this researcher that activities are not solely about what the score is, how many wins or losses are attained during a season, or what place is won at a competition. They provide and instruct students with lessons that will last them a lifetime. In accordance with this belief, this researcher believes that funding extracurricular activities is vital to the livelihood at school ...