It is a misnomer – a misnamed set of activities. Extra-curricular programs, in the 1960s to 1990s, were seen as those activities that happened as a consequence of school enrolment, but that had little to do with education. Perhaps, some of those programs were irrelevant to formal learning. Parents, after all, were seeking cookie-cutter education for their children, thinking that the path to success was to follow established patterns. If the “3 Rs” were good enough for the fifties, they should be adequate for the 60s, and so on. But the world evolved, and so did after- or out-of-school programs.
I was speaking to a 7 Oaks resident at his home last week and among other topics we discussed was the value of extra curricular activities in high school. This resident related to me that the highlight of his high school experience was playing on the school's football team. He recalled having some excellent teachers, but it was football that kept him in school. He graduated from high school in 1989 and to this day, his team gathers from places around the world once a year in Winnipeg for brunch where they reminisce about their football days and catch up on their lives.
Research has shown that high school students who participate in some kind of extra curricular activity, have an increased sense of engagement and attachment to their school. It is proven to be especially important for students who are at risk of dropping out of school. Participation in extra curricular activities is also shown to increase student attendance and academic success which will, in turn, increase the probability that these students will complete high school and go on to post secondary institutions. It is known that these students make stronger connections with their teachers, coaches and strike new friendships with other students.
All the schools in 7 Oaks School Division try to ensure full participation in the extra curricular activities that we offer. I counted 55 extra curricular activities available for students at Garden City Collegiate which include -a variety of Sports, Drama and Musical Productions, Leadership Opportunities, Social Activism, Weight Training, Multi-Media, Student Council, Volunteerism and Year Book. This would be a typical sampling from all our high schools."
Interestingly, after-school activity options have expanded, but most student remain focused on familiar standbys, such as sports, drama and specialty clubs. The most dramatic change has been the cross-over of traditional student groups into other, less mainstream events. There is less of a stigma for students to be involved in non-traditional (and restrictive) clubs or organizations, and more of a willingness to embrace a more eclectic approach, that addresses individual interests and aptitudes. Science clubs have evolved, for instance, with a large number of students who seemed to be lost in gaming now finding a home in IT and computer animation projects. Instead of restricting oneself to structured clubs, loosely knit collections of children participate in volunteer activities. In-school drama sometimes leads to Manitoba Theatre For Young People, and other groups take an interest in overseas projects and research.
The diversity of after- or extra-school activities does not mean increased costs to ratepayers, since most of the activities are self-funded. However, learning and the enthusiasm for learning about a topic of specific appeal and interest to the student has blossomed. Instead of expecting our children to fit into boilerplate standards of learning, we at Seven Oaks continue to explore ways to challenge each youth, and to help them grow to fit the world around them. And, from the student’s perspective, an unstructured opportunity seems less like schoolwork and more like a hobby. This stimulates a greater desire to learn. Yes, extra-curricular activities develop outside the curriculum, but the curriculum of these less formal, optional programs help to ensure greater enthusiasm for and participation in regular curriculum activities. It is, I suppose, an unanticipated “extra.”
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