- Teacher asks students to consider the perspective of those who made the grade requirement rule.

- Teacher plays devil's advocate by claiming she does not need school because she plans to be a NBA star.

- Student offers that sports participation is a privilege.

- Teacher asks students to consider the probability of becoming an NBA star.

- Discussion continues, relating the NBA draft process to college and high school attendance.

 

[clip length–4:37]

TEACHER: Why bother to say kids have to get good grades to participate in sports, Sarah?

STUDENT: Because they don't want kids that like have an F average to play sports cause they wont focus on school

TEACHER: Oh, so you're saying they use it as a incentive to get kids to focus on school and not just focus on sports? Why else Tayshawn?

STUDENT: It's not fair to the kids that work hard that...it's not fair to them because the kids that are not doing their work, they could just they think they could do anything they want, but the other kids are working real hard to get to play sports and everything.

TEACHER: You know I want to be an NBA star

Students: Laughter

TEACHER: Look at me! I can shoot baskets, (no), I can....

STUDENT: in your dreams...laughter

TEACHER: I don't even think then. But let’s say I want to be an NBA star. I know I'm gonna be an NBA star...I don't need this school stuff...forget about it. I don't need it, I don't need it. I don’t need it. I'm gonna be rich. I AM GOING TO BE A STAR, ON THE COURT! Fadrea why?

STUDENT: Because it's like you have to study for everything else and get a good grade on everything else, why shouldn't you have to do it....in sports.

TEACHER: Okay...so other things have requirements of good grades....like passing to the next grade. Is that what you're saying?

TEACHER to other student: Are you ready?

STUDENT: Yes, um...oh yeah...The thing is that sometimes students don't get that...well um...students that like sports they don't get that it's like a privilege.

Other student: Why?
STUDENT: From the school...You can't demand something that's a privilege and wanna be so focused and that the first...Um...When the first thing you're supposed to be doing is being in school.

Other STUDENT: mmm...that's good.
TEACHER: How many sports stars are there compared to how may people are in america?

STUDENT: Thousands. One out of a billion.

TEACHER: Maybe not one out of a billion.

STUDENT shouting: One out of a million

TEACHER: Is it common? Is it rare? Is it....What's a word we could use to describe. Is it average to become a star? I have a lot of conversation. I need to see hands. It's what? (to student)

STUDENT: No

TEACHER: What's the probability of me becoming an NBA star? Forget the fact that I'm short or forget the fact I don't even know the name of all the positions. Say I have great talent. Say I have great talent. Say I'm like Mr. Jordan downstairs and I have great talent. Whoosh. What is the probability that I'm going to become an NBA star?

STUDENT: laughter...like having a lot of talent?

TEACHER: ....and where do they recruit, does anybody ever watch where they recruit the NBA or NFL stars?

STUDENT: The draft.

TEACHER: Oh, the Draft!! How does the draft work? What, wait, wait....How does the draft work?

STUDENT: Um they like go to all the schools and watch all the kids play and then after they would recruit them into the draft, and after...One of the teams would get the number one pick or something and they would pick their favorite player that they want.

TEACHER: Okay...And where do they watch them?

STUDENT: They watch them at their school.

TEACHER: What kind of school?

STUDENT: Their college or High School.

TEACHER: Oh! So wait a minute...You're saying that they recruit them at a college sometimes....or very rarely out of High School. They try to actually avoid that.

STUDENT: Yeah, they switched it from High School cause um...some of the kids needed to get their...their...degree in college...What if they graduate, and they don't have anything to fall back on when they retire from basketball?

TEACHER: I'm hearing a couple of different important ideas there. I'm hearing...One: That they recruit you out of high school and college so if you're flunking middle school are you gonna get to high school?

STUDENTS: Noooo

TEACHER: If you're so focused on only sports. Sports, sports, sports, sports. No math. Be still my heart. No ELA. No nothing. And you don't pass middle school you don't go to high school. You're so focused on sports in High School you don't get to college...Are you going to see those recruiters?

STUDENTS: No

TEACHER: No! Nester has been waiting very patiently. Nester?

STUDENT: Oh, um come back to me.

TEACHER: I will absolutely come back to you. Alright, hold on one second. I’ve got you all wound up and then you lose focus. So Tyree do me a favor?

STUDENT: Lights?  Lights?

TEACHER: Yes.