A Town, a Team, and a Dream: High School Athletics and Small-Town America
A Town, a Team, and a Dream: High School Athletics and Small-Town America
(20) A Town, a Team, and a Dream: High School Athletics and Small-Town America - R. Drew Pasteur, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
For the 30% of Americans who live outside of urbanized areas, high school sports are often central to community life, shaping not only the identities of the student-athletes who compete, but also those of whole towns. In this seminar, we will study contemporary interscholastic athletics from social and cultural perspectives. Readings will include several nonfiction books related to high school sports, including Mark Kreidler’s Four Days to Glory, along with short articles on specific subjects. We will also view relevant documentaries (such as Go Tigers, about nearby Massillon, Ohio) and excerpts from feature films. Issues of race, social class, gender, and academics will be at the forefront of the seminar. Other likely topics of discussion include economic issues, leadership development, physical and emotional health, immigration, the military, hazing, educational politics, and the mass media, as related to high school athletics.