ATHLETIC PRIVILEGE IN HIGH SCHOOL Jeffery Eyanson Azusa

ATHLETIC PRIVILEGE IN HIGH SCHOOL Jeffery Eyanson Azusa Pacific University Dr. Suzanne “Malia” Lawrence Azusa Pacific University

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate high school teachers’ perceptions of athletic privilege among student-athletes.

Rationale • Perception at Collegiate Level • Excessive Time Commitment • Negative Attitudes • Attitudes of High School Faculty

Literature Review • Baucom & Lantz (2001) • Simons, Bosworth, Fujita, & Jensen (2007) • Adler & Adler (1985) • Medic, Mack, Wilson, & Starks (2007)

Participants 40 High School Faculty Members 22 (55%) Female 18 (45%) Male 10 (25%) Athletic Coaches 30 (75%) Non-Coaches 32 (80%) Former Athletes 8 (20%) Non-Athletes

Athletic Privilege Survey • Ten Demographic Items • Qualitative Survey: 4 Open-ended Items

Qualitative Open-Ended Items • Do student-athletes receive privileges? If so, what privileges did they receive? • What groups of student-athletes received privileges? • Did the student-athletes deserve these privileges? • Should these privileges be reduced? And suggestions for reducing privileges?

Methods • Transcription of written responses. • Investigative Team. • Development of raw-data themes of each transcript (Marshall & Rossman, 1999). • Inductive analysis (Patton, 2001). • Development of themes across transcripts (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000).

Major Themes • Grade Inflation • Football Players • No – Should Be Same For Everyone • Yes – If Abused

Grade Inflation • I have been asked on several occasions to give extra assignments so that the athlete could pass. (03) • I also know of several occasions when an administrator has tried to influence a teacher’s grading process in favor of an athlete; I consider this a privilege because we never see administrators intervening for nonathletes. (15)

Football Players • Overall, I’d say that the football players generally receive the most privileges, followed by some individual male basketball athletes and some individual male and female track athletes. (11) • I believe that it is mainly football players who receive these privileges. (26)

Yes – If Abused • Only if they are being abused. The problem is on the coaches and administrators; they need to be put in check and held accountable. Kids will only do what they can get away with, it depends on those who are allowing the privileges. (07)

No – Should Be Same For Everyone • No. I believe that student-athletes should be held to the same expectations as all students. (34) • No, they cannot earn something that is not available to other students. They earn the respect of adults that have played at a high athletic level so these adults lower the student part of studentathletes and then we have privileges. (05)

Discussion • Perception: • Resentment: • Privilege:

Future Recommendations • Stereotyping and negative perceptions among faculty • Are athletes being treated differently in the classroom environment? • Longitudinal study on the amount of time athletes spend playing sports.