Playing Favorites

Favoritism, real or perceived, is a reality among teenagers.

Sometimes a teen believes his parents love him more than they love his brother or sister. Other times, one best friend in a group of three feels left out because the other two share secrets and bond better.

And when it come to whether teachers who are also coaches favor their student-athletes more than the other students, opinions are mixed.

"They (students) think they can get away with more because they know the teacher," says Robbyn Woods, a junior and a member of the dance team at Liberty High School.

Other students say everyone is treated equally.

"I feel that they (coach-teachers) treat me the same as everyone else," says varsity basketball player and Coronado High School junior Ashley Cohen. "There is no special treatment to us as there is to other students."

At least one local coach says he places all his students on a level playing field.

"I always try to treat my kids fairly," says Jeff Johnson, a U.S. history and government teacher as well as a junior varsity soccer coach at Coronado High School. "I always try to be there to help students, whether they're in chess club or in a sport."

Still other coaches say they can be tougher on their student-athletes than they are on kids who don't participate in sports.

"If anything, I am more demanding of my athletes, because I'm expecting them to put forth their best," says Kyle Hageness, a science teacher and cross country coach at Arbor View High School. "Athletes should have to earn their right to be on the playing field."

Most schools in Clark County do not let their athletes play unless they get C's or above on their weekly to biweekly grade checks. This means student-athletes need to keep their grades up, even during their sport's season, when practices usually occur every day for a few hours.

"Athletics is classified as an extracurricular," says Jay Beesemyer, a director at the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. "It's all about learn first and play later, assuming that the athletes are taking care of the academic parts."

Even though many teachers give students equal attention by offering extra help to all students who ask for it, bias still exists in certain classrooms, some students say.

"To some extent, I think they favor them (athletes) more because they know these kids on a personal basis," Woods says.

Elizabeth Gibbons, a Coronado junior who's not an athlete, says she believes students whose coaches teach them could enjoy benefits over other students.

"I think to a certain point athletes have an advantage if their coach is their teacher," Gibbons says. "It has never personally happened to me, but I would be very disappointed in any coach or teacher that would give an advantage to their athletes."

Perks could include teachers calling on athletes more often than other students in class, sitting with them at a late practice and helping them with their homework or even offering after-school tutorials to fit their busy game schedules.

"Sometimes, certain teachers allow athletes to go by their desk when other students cannot," says Dominique Gassetto, a freshman at Green Valley High School. "They have more trust in the kids."

Counselors also might move students to the class that is going to benefit them the most. Having a coach as a teacher for a particular subject a student needs or wants to take also might be an option for students, and a counselor is sometimes willing to move these athletes into their coach's classes before school starts, students say.

One Clark County high school counselor says coaches act with the best intentions.

"These coaches are trying to promote the school activities, and they're trying to get people to participate," says Deborah DiMattina, a counselor who works closely with coaches at Western High School. "Sports teach students community, commitment and gives them teamwork. Most importantly, it keeps students off of the streets. They (coaches) want the best for their students; they want them to put more time into school."

Coaches provide the encouragement that helps these kids achieve their goals and do their best on the playing field, Beesemyer adds.

"Coaches may have unique approaches in teaching and motivating their kids that other teachers might not be able to offer," he says.

Some say favoritism rarely is seen in the classroom.

"Preferential treatment cases are few and far between," Beesemyer says. Although many coaches feel passionate about their jobs on the playing field, they realize their first priority is within the classroom as a teacher. Many teachers offer after-school study sessions to help all students, as well as extra credit that will benefit each student who is willing to earn it.

No matter what, coaches who teach are just a joint in the body of the school that keeps it moving every day.

"Coach-teachers are there to represent their school and to represent their team, not to create a bias between students," DiMattina says. "Most importantly though, they are there to teach."