EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AFFECTS

THE ACADEMIC STANDINGS OF STUDENTS

By:
Darleen Mitchell T. Francisco

One of the parents' greatest achievements and immediate responsibility is to sent their children to
school but sending them to school doesn't only mean to make them accademically active but also to
make them socially active by joining and participating on ectra-curricular activities. Participating on
extra-curricular activities contributes a lot and helps the child molds their social being. From
preparatory to elementary to high school and even to college, school doesn't only for academic
enhancements and purposes, it always includes extra-curricular activities.
Students who participate in extracurricular activities generally benefit from the many opportunities
afforded them. Benefits of participating in extracurricular activities included having better grades,
having higher standardized test scores and higher educational attainment, attending school more
regularly, and having higher a higher selfconcept. Participants in out-of-school activities often
learned skills such as teamwork and leadership while decreasing the likelihood of alcohol use and
illicit drug use and related problem behaviors. Those who participate in out-of-school activities
often have higher grade point averages, a decrease in absenteeism, and an increased connectedness
to the school.
Music, parental involvement, sports - all of these have an influence on how children perform
academically. The way children choose to spend their free time can affect their school performance;
it is not simply traditional in-class instruction that impacts academic achievement.
Students attending school who participates in some sort of organized activities which may include
clubs, athletic opportunities, dance line or cheer teams, Scouts, drama or theater, youth groups,
student council, and club sports. There is substantial interest in how teenagers are spending their
leisure time outside the school day, and what types of activities are important to their development.
Through my research, I found out that there are studies that support either being involved, being
over-involved, or not being involved at all in extracurricular activities and how participation can
impact what becomes of teens in the future based on participation in activities outside the school
day.
Research indicates that participation in extracurricular activities may affects students academic
performance. More specifically, studies have been conducted assessing the effects of specific
extracurricular activities on academic performance.
Studies and research states that students participating on extra-curricular activities can improve their
academic standings.
Extracurricular activities appeal to student interests, according to Mahoney and Cairns (1997)
people looked at the positive connection to school that participating in extracurricular activities
created among students whose prior commitment to the school had been marginal. They discovered
that a wider choice of activities resulted in a stronger effect because students' individual needs and
interests were more likely to be met.
One source stated that, Extra-curricular activities connect students to school. Participating in an
extracurricular activity connects students more deeply to the school, its faculty, a peer group, and
school values (Mahoney, 2000; Mahoney & Cairns, 1997). Further, Jordan and Nettles (1999) found
that adolescents who participated in structured activities supervised by positive adult role models
were more likely to make personal investments in their schooling that might, in turn, motivate them
to excel academically.
Higher grades and positive attitudes towards school is the second effect that extracurricular
activities have on students. Self esteem can be a predictor of academic performance. Students that

dont like school wont do as well as the students that do like school because they are not motivated
to succeed. If students dont like school, it is usually because they do not feel as though they are
succeeding or that they can succeed. Participation in an after school program or extra-curricular
activities that is designed to build self esteem, had positive effects on standards test scores in math
and reading, while receiving extended time to complete homework did not have the same positive
effects on self esteem or achievements. (Cosden et al., 2004, 223)
This is regardless of student's previous background or achievement. Students that participate in
extra-curricular activities also showed positive changes in students self confidence, teacher
perception, and greater confidence, and then developed positive school related adult attachments.
Extra-curricular activities increases a students connection to school, raises their self esteem, and
positive social natures. (From the story from Cosden, Morrison, Gutierrez, and Brown about a girl
who improved her grades because of her participation in extra-curricular activities.)
Another effect that extra-curricular activities have on students is the social aspect. Students that are
involved in extracurricular activities meet many new people. Each club or sport is different, so
students meet different people in all different groups. By joining different ones they meet people
with the same backgrounds they have and people they share interests with. Most times the people
that students meet are students that they would never talk to or become friends with on a normal
basis. In different extracurricular activities students learn about group work, and sometimes they
end up having less conformity to gender stereotypes
However, McNeal (1995) indicates that they encourage peer interaction and extracurricular
participation provides previously marginalized students with access to a more elite stratum of the
student population and exposes the students to peers who have better attitudes toward school.
These are just some of the many reasons why extra-curricular activities can help students to
improve their academic ratings and increase their academic interests.
However, it is also believes that it is not always positive, some states that students participating on
extra-curricular activities also got negative effects on their academic performances.
Some studies highlight the negative effects of extracurricular activities. Bothpositive and negative
effects of participation are dependent on factors such as the nature of theactivity and the
background of the student involved. Studies have shown that some athletic activities can coincide
with increased alcohol use. Informal activities, that is, those activities not set up or supervised by an
adult, or controlled by the school, can lead to problem behaviour by the youths involved in terms of
undesirable social norms (Fredricks, 2006, 698). The undesirable social norms remain undefined,
but it is evident that the effect of participating in unsupervised and disorganised activities can be
negative.
Time management also contributes a lot in regards of extra-curricular activites negative effects to
student's academic performance. Teenagers often struggle with time management and some
extracurricular activities demand more time and energy than many students can handle. If a student
who needs a little longer than other peers to finish your homework, an activity that takes up a few
hours every afternoon after school may not leave you with sufficient time to get all the work done
It has been generally assumed then that participation in extra-curricular activities has a positive
impact on the retention of the students. However, it many also believe that these activities may
actually affect student performance in a negative manner due to conflicting time requirements and
competing schedules, even if they do in fact enhance student persistence. nterestingly, relatively few

studies have been performed in either of these areas due to a lack of applicable data on extracurricular activities which has both positive and negative effects to student's academic
performancces, it just that, everything is defend to the students on how they will handle it. Control,
discipline and time management are a must but extra-curricular activities are not just extracurricular activities. By engaging in extracurricular activities, students may be required to maintain
good grades in order to meet eligibility to participate in such activities. Eligibility may motivate
students to do their best academically in order to participate in the activity. Competing in a speech
contest, may help a student gain confidence, and being involved in a youth group or scouting
organization may help the student develop character and connect with the community. Community
service or volunteering might help a student project a caring and compassion attitude toward others.
We may come to the fact that negative effects are inevitable in this imperfect world, but everything
also has a positive effects, it is just necessary and important to understand exactly how each activity
is impacting a student and what type of positive development is taking place.
A 2001 survey of more than 50,000 high school students in Minnesota published in the March 2003
issue of the Journal of School Health found that those who participated in extracurricular activities
had higher levels of social, emotional, and healthy behavior than students who did not participate.
The purpose of this study is to explore and widen the knowledge of everyone on how being
involved in extra-curricular activities can influence development in academics, social skills and
completion. Determining the long-lasting effects of extracurricular activities may help parents and
students understand how participation can impact students' development now and in the future.
Armed with this information, families can make wiser choices for creating balance n academics and
activities in a student's life.
Extra-curricular activities are a part of students every day life. They play important roles in
students lives. They have positive effects on students lives by improving behavior, school
performance, school completion, positive aspects to make successful adults and social aspects.