Football for Polynesians is not only a sport, but a way of life. The player is not the only one who journeys through the sport. As family being the central concept of Polynesian life, football has been adopted into their cultures to obtain social mobility, capital gain and educational attainment. However, I am aware of the stereotypes football has created for Polynesian males, but what I am proposing is to use football as a tool for Polynesian males to obtain and sustain an education. I am also proposing the same for Polynesian females in the sports they engage in. Sports should be viewed as resource in obtaining education, despite the stereotypes. Football allows for Polynesians to obtain social positions where their voices can be heard. Football also provides opportunities for Polynesians to be in position to challenge inequalities specific to their culture and create pipelines other than sports. For this is why the gridiron to school pipeline challenges and is an alternative for keeping Polynesian males out of the school to prison pipeline.
I think this is great that polynesians use their strengths to gain an education, but it takes more than telling the students to use sports to get to the next level. Football would probably be the worst because polynesian students have good grades when it counts toward eligibility but fall off when they think there is no consequence. Teachers, coaches, and parents would have to be consistant in helping make sure the students go to class and not be afraid to punish them when needed. Consistancy can go along way.
ReplyDeleteThat was Tonga :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comment above. It would also be great if they could do a seminar of some sort for the parents of these football players. The mentality of "football being a way a life" often times stems from parents. If we could educate or inform the adults then our 2nd and 3rd generation would have a better support group and a greater vision of the big picture.
ReplyDeleteAny extra-circular activity, whether it be a sport (contact or not) or the math club is what is needed now-a-days for our youth (specifically speaking minorities and students that are in the lower social economic status) to move beyond stereotypes and break those discriminating barriers. If sports is the only few ways for Polynesians to move forward with their life, then I say- GREAT! Anyone who is bound for college and has a sports scholarship is still required to have the entrance qualifications to enter; as well as when they graduate- the graduation requirements need to be fulfilled or that student doesn’t graduate.
ReplyDeleteSports help the youth learn a number of different things qualities/skills that will help them to be driven-adults as well as good role models. Theses qualities/skills are also looked after in the workplace: Leadership, Communication, Time Management,
Consistency, Accountability, Honest and Integrity.
I could not agree more, being a minority I know that getting involved in sports and extracurricular activities made a huge difference for me. It didn’t only helped in my academics by it also made me step out of my comfort zone and socialize with other ethnic groups.
ReplyDeleteGreat points.
ReplyDeleteVery good points that were brought up. I too think that there should be some sort of way to help these kids And also the parents understand and realize the importance of education. So many wasted talents because they couldnt make grades. They also got to look at life post NFL if they do reach it. Avereage person's career in the NFL is 5 yrs (www.nfl.com).
ReplyDelete