Statement of the Problem

            The purpose of my project is to determine if students grades 9-12 at North Olmsted High School that take any student activities, such as sports, clubs, academic teams, etc. are absent as often as students who are not in any student activities. Since students must be in school to do well academically, I want to see if the number of activities a students involved in affect the number of times they are absent from school. To see if students who are involved more, are absent less and if students who are not involved are absent often.

Background

            Students become involved in extracurricular activities not only for entertainment, social, and enjoyment purposes, but most important, to gain and improve skills.

Extracurricular activities provide a situation to become involved and to interact with other students, thus leading to increased learning and improved development. A student's peer group is the most important source of influence on a student's academic and personal development. By categorizing with a peer group, that group may influence a student's affective and cognitive development as well as his or her behavior. By working together with other individuals, students learn to negotiate, communicate, manage conflict, and lead others. Taking part in these out-of-the-classroom activities helps students to understand the importance of critical thinking skills, time management, and academic and intellectual competence. Involvement in activities helps students mature socially by providing a setting for student interaction, relationship formation, and discussion. Working with diverse groups of individuals allows for students to gain more self-confidence, independence, and appreciation for others' differences and similarities.

( College Extracurricular Activities - Impact on Students, Types of Extracurricular Activities http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1855/College-Extracurricular-Activities.html#ixzz0ndWZHELV)

It also helps students develop skills to get on the path for a career. Involvement allows students to link academic knowledge with sensible experience, thereby leading to a better understanding of their own abilities, talents, and career goals. Future employers seek individuals with these increased skill levels, making these involved students more viable in the job market. Specifically, participation in extracurricular activities and leadership roles in these activities are positively linked to attainment of one's first job and to managerial potential.

(http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1855/College-Extracurricular-Activities.html#ixzz0nXfZ1sUQ)

Attending class regularly, students achieve higher academic results than those who do not. When students do not attend or not in school, they are not learning and will likely not achieve academically.  When students do not attend too long, students fall behind in their studies. School is an ideal place to connect learning to the real world of students’ communities.  For students to be most successful, they must have the opportunity, to learn in a real-world context and to apply their learning to real problems in their communities. (http://www.communityschools.org/results/students2.aspx)

Physical activity tend to show improved quality such as increased brain function and nourishment, higher energy/concentration levels, changes in body build affecting self esteem, increased self-esteem and better behavior which may all support a student doing better academically and physically. Time outside of the classroom may give assistance from boredom, resulting in higher attention levels during classroom lessons.  (http://www.sports-media.org/sportapolisnewsletter19.htm0

National surveys reflect the opinion that involving students in more real-world learning experiences would help improve student grades and academics in school. They surveyed students ages thirteen to nineteen and ninety-five percent said opportunities for more real world learning would improve their school. The 1998 TUSD study they found that students with higher attendance rates achieved much higher scores on Stanford 9 achievement exams than students who were absent more often. ( http://www.communityschools.org/results/students2.aspx)