Ineffective Argument in Jessica Statskys Essay, Children need to Play,

Jessica Statsky, in her essay, Children need to Play, Not Compete attempts to refute the common belief that organized sports ar good for children. She sees organized sports non as healthy pass-times for children, and as onerous tasks that children do not truly enjoy. She also notes that not only are organized sports not enjoyable for children, they may start irreparable harm to the children, both emotionally and physically. In her thesis statement, Statsky states, When passionate parents and coaches impose braggart(a) standards on childrens sports, the result can be activities that are neither satisfying nor unspoilt to children (627). While this statement is strong, her defense of it is weak. iodine of the premises Statsky makes is that, One readily understandable danger of overly competitive sports is that they win children into physical actions that are bad for growth bodies (627). This statement rests on the assumption that children would not perform any physical actions that are bad for growing bodies (Statsky 627) without organized competitive sports. This is simply untrue. Children jump from swings, climb trees, skateboard, pop wheelies and otherwise put themselves in physical peril with alarming regularity. Childrens salve and unorganized play often results in broken bones and stitches, even off for the most timid children.Statsky also makes another faulty assumption, which is that emulation is an giving imposition on the world of childrens play. She says in her article, The primary conclusion of a professional athlete winning is not appropriate for children (629). Children make do to win in the same way that adults do, and they do so on their own without any adult pressure. Common playground gam... ...petitive sports can motive lasting harm and have no benefits for these children (Statsky 627), then examples of how childhood competition negatively affected individuals years after the fact would go a long way to proving her accusation. As Statskys thesis rests on the assumption that adult imposition of competition and organization in childrens sports makes the games neither satisfactory nor beneficial to the children, then lack of benefit must be shown along with lack of satisfaction. The existence of unsatisfied child athletes in organized sports is no meter reading that children are somehow unsuited to competition and team sports. Works CitedStatsky, Jessica. Children motif to Play, Not Compete. Reading Critically Writing Well A endorser and Guide. Ed. Rise B. Axelrod, Charles R. Cooper, and Allison M. Warriner. 7th ed. Boston Bedford, 2005. 627-631.