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Standing Alone For What You Believe In ("Coach Carter")
Ever since I can remember, sports have been a part of a High School’s persona. For my high school, a bulldog was the sign to every one of what to expect whenever they attempted to conquer Carver High School. Schools use sports not only to motivate kids, but it may be the one ingredient that will keep a borderline student in school. In addition to helping students learn the disciplines associated with good sportsmanship, a good program can bring much needed funds into a schools curriculum. Unfortunately, the connection between academics and athletics can become distorted to the extent that they have no relationship to one another. Academics should always be the priority; the reason why kids enroll in school in the first place is to learn. But when athletics becomes the primary focus at the sacrifice of academics, then we all become losers. This theme is explored in the film, "Coach Carter". The film portrays the true story of a Richmond (CA) High School basketball coach, Ken Carter (Samuel L. Jackson), who refused to compromise academics for the sake of winning basketball games. He basically told his players to shape up or ship out. He demanded a 2.3 GPA from his players or he wouldn’t let them play. No matter how talented they were, he benched them. The players thought he was kidding. After all, they were undefeated (13-0). They had the best record in the state. But when the report cards came out and several team members didn’t make the grade, Carter called off practice, cancelled all the games and locked the gym. Even his colleagues and eventually the media claimed Carter was too extreme, but he held his ground. That’s basically the story. But the film does a good job in capturing a man who sticks to his principles. It also captures the struggles and disadvantages faced by inner city schools (i.e. gangs, drugs, poverty, low academic expectations, etc.). Coach Carter has to stand alone, but what he believes in is a right thing. Success in academics opens the door to opportunities to go to college and eventually escape the cycle of poverty. And it all starts in the books, not on the court. An interesting (and disturbing) subplot is the fact that the fiercest opposition to Carter’s policy does not come from the players. It comes from the adults in the community including parents, fellow educators and the principal. For them education is secondary. Well, that’s a problem. Coach Carter is rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language, teen partying and drug use. There is no nudity, but provocative dressing and suggestive dancing are present. Although the plot of Coach Carter is a good one, the abundance of foul language pretty much lands it "out of bounds". By: Edmund Brown |