Sperm U (9:19) http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3554822
With a Sports in Society class, the E:60 Sperm U video segment is a great way to start a discussion about sports in America. The clip really is a “pre-youth” sports lesson, discussing athletic expectations BEFORE the birth of a child.
The primary question raised during the video is “if you had a choice of genes, would you select athletics over academics?”
Some other discussion points raised in the video are:
- Parental hopes / unrealistic expectations for a college scholarship
- The value society places on athletics over academics
- Pressure on children to excel – “Valedictorian vs. Tom Brady”
- Sperm Donors and the possibility of physically testing the candidates
Pre-video discussion questions
Prior to watching the video, the students answer a few discussion questions. Here are a few ideas:
- List the college scholarship athletes that you know:
- If you could pick whether your child would be athletic or smart, which would you choose and why? Give reasons for your choice.
- What do you know about in vitro-fertilization (test tube babies)?
- Do athletes in high school receive special benefits? Support your position.
- How do athletes in America receive special treatment? Why does America value athletes so much?
- What type of pressure do parents put on youth / high school student-athletes? Is this pressure healthy? Try to give examples.
- FAST FORWARD: You are a parent, what type of expectations do you have of a child and sports. What do you want your child learn from participation in youth sports? List the 3 – 5 things.
Post-Viewing Questions / Notes: Here are some notes about the content in the video that might be worth discussing.
- Hope for a college scholarship – at what age should this be discussed? (age 4 seems a little early)
- Education vs. physical – Dad’s thoughts in choosing a donor / society’s expectations
- Sperm donor has 16 offspring all around the country. Would you be comfortable being a sperm / egg donor knowing your child is “out there?”
- Sperm bank has audio of donors
- Recruit student-athletes through magazines (UCLA, USC, Standford)
- $75 up to 3 times a week $900 a month ( $10,800 a year)
- Selby Seims (MA) valedictorian vs. Tom Brady (high school athlete) – incredible parental pressure / expectations at an early age. How would you like to be a child with these expectations?
- Sperm bank possibly do NFL combine like testing on donors – What are your thoughts?
- Is it wrong for parents to want the best genes for kids?
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