Sports VS. Arts. One of the biggest yet unacknowledged competitions in the high school. Everybody knows it’s there, but everyone refuses to talk about it, especially faculty and administration.

The issue is between the students, but it’s supported by the staff.

After a big game for the football team, whether they win or lose, every teacher seems to congratulate them on their effort. When the volleyball team wins, it’s acknowledged too, as are most of the other sports.

After a weekend of play performances, a band concert, or art competitions, the only praise those students get is from their coaches. None of the teachers ever say anything, and most likely none of them even knew the event occurred.

This is the problem. All the teachers, if ever asked directly, will most of the time deny favoring sports over the arts, but they all do it. Art students notice the favoritism; it makes them feel left out and unrecognized.

Teachers don’t have to love theater or go to every band concert but at least acknowledge the art students efforts and support them.

Some people say there is no competition between the arts and sports, merely cooperation, so therefore there can be no favoritism.

Phil Bressler, the principal said that there is no competition between students, only cooperation. He thinks that they only things we compete against are opponents and perfection.

This may be partly true; we are in competition with opponents and perfection, but we are not exactly in cooperation with each other.

The arts and sports are at opposite ends of the spectrum of activities. They are very different from each other, so naturally the students show some dislike and superiority towards one another.

Some might also argue that arts students don’t work nearly as hard as athletes do. This is very untrue. Art students put in many hours of rehearsal and practice.

No, they don’t do physical workouts but they do put in a lot of hard work in order to perfect their craft, whether that may be acting, drawing and painting, or playing an instrument.

According to Julia Capitini, drama student and frequent stage manager, theater students could put in anywhere between 50-60 hours in rehearsal time for just one play.

I am not saying that the arts should get all of the attention, I’m saying that they should share equal attention with the sports programs.

The sports and the arts share equal importance in society. They both play very vital roles in entertainment, so i believe that they should be treated with equal importance in schools as well.

Administration and faculty should give praise to all organizations, they should recognize all students efforts and support them. Once teachers start to give and show fair recognition and appreciation towards all student activities, then the competition and favoritism can end.