After-School Activities Make Educational Inequality Even Worse

Leisure activities – the exposure to new ideas, projects, adults and ways of working within teams – can contribute to a child’s later status. “While we talk a lot about inequalities between the rich and the poor, and the role school quality plays in perpetuating class divisions, one often overlooked factor is the opportunities middle- and upper-middle-class kids get to strengthen their life skills through organized competitive activities outside of the school system,” writes Hilary Levey Friedman for the Atlantic, based on 200 interviews with US parents, children, teachers and coaches associated with competitive chess, dance, and soccer. Children learn about the value of competition, both winning and losing, as well as time management, adaptability, assessment by strangers, and what she calls grace under pressure. Many parents credit activities with improving children’s confidence and skills, and colleges consider such activities in selecting among applicants. However, cuts in education and community budgets lead to widening inequality and activities limited to families that can afford the extra costs and time. – YaleGlobal