The Career Path to Pro Tennis Often Passes High School By (homeschooling)

New York Times ^ | August 30, 2009 | David V. Johnson

[reaganaut1]

...

American junior tennis has had a major change in the last five years. Aspiring pros now commonly abandon regular school for home or online educational programs. Although alternative schooling is not new to junior athletics, tennis is perhaps the only sport whose full participation requires it because of year-round competition and travel.

Smith persuaded Mkrtchian and three others to join a special U.S.T.A. training program.

“It’s got to be a six-hour day,” Smith said. “It’s normal for foreigners.”

Marcos Giron, then 15, was convinced after hearing about Roger Federer’s ambitious junior tournament schedule. But Giron was considering the option for another reason: his American rivals were doing it.

“I felt I was a little held back,” said Giron, who is ranked eighth nationally for his age and will play in his first junior United States Open this week. “All these other guys that I would play against were doing home schooling and training all the time.”

His father, Andres, a physician in Thousand Oaks, Calif., said he had preferred that Marcos have a complete education. “But it became clear there were other kids who were being exposed to bigger-level tournaments,” Giron said. “That seemed to be a hindrance to his competitiveness.” Giron said he did not want his son to live with unresolved questions about his tennis potential.

Marcos Giron and Mkrtchian enrolled in independent-study programs offered by their school districts. When in town, they meet with their teachers once a week to collect and submit homework.

Julia Elbaba of Oyster Bay, N.Y., found that her local high school would not accommodate her training and travel schedule. It even insisted on physical education classes, even though she was ranked fourth nationally at 14.

[reaganaut1]

When a child has a special talent, it's an interesting question whether he or she should take the conventional path through school. Sports are so competitive and unpredictable (s single injury can end a career) that youngsters should have a plan B. It's true that what is taught in high schools could be learned in less (but more focused) time, but in some cases "homeschooling" may amount to neglecting academics entirely in favor of athletic training.

[businessprofessor]

Tennis is so competitive and demanding that I wonder how anyone achieves professional success on the tours. The sacrifices to attain professional success are almost overwhelming both for parents and kids. For every success, there are thousands of failures. I am thankful that I do not have this decision to make for my children. My daughter competes in lower level tournaments but she does not have talent to even contemplate competing on a national level.

[Pete]

It's true that what is taught in high schools could be learned in less (but more focused) time, but in some cases "homeschooling" may amount to neglecting academics entirely in favor of athletic training.

That is certainly possible. What bothers me are the proposed solutions to hypothetical problems like the one presented here. These solutions usually involve drastic restrictions on all homeschoolers and it often turns out that providing justification for such restrictions was why the story was written in the first place.

[Moltke]

Mkrtchian

Uh, can I buy a few vowels, please?

[Kevmo]

The Career Path to ANY Profession Often Passes High School By

Proposal for the Free Republic High School Diploma.
Free Republic ^ | 1/8/05 | Kevin O’Malley
http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1316882/posts
Posted on Saturday, January 08, 2005 2:35:26 PM by Kevin OMalley