wallylm: Not just corrupted sports, but also education, as school is now just the bottom rung of the elimination ladder for professional sports, which are as you say. “School spirit” is exclusively tied up to the sports establishment. In the conforming late 1940s, our high school almost erupted in revolt when the debate team went to state finals and only got a truncated pep rally (the band wasn’t permitted to play, as they had to for sports team rallies). No, I wasn’t on the team, but was among the protesters. (I was on the chess team but we couldn’t play other schools because none of them were permitted a chess club. “Next thing, you’ll want a poker club!”)
wallylm: Not just corrupted sports, but also education, as school is now just the bottom rung of the elimination ladder for professional sports, which are as you say. “School spirit” is exclusively tied up to the sports establishment. In the conforming late 1940s, our high school almost erupted in revolt when the debate team went to state finals and only got a truncated pep rally (the band wasn’t permitted to play, as they had to for sports team rallies). No, I wasn’t on the team, but was among the protesters. (I was on the chess team but we couldn’t play other schools because none of them were permitted a chess club. “Next thing, you’ll want a poker club!”)