Football as a school subject in Victoria

[Beaussie]

Kick start to VCE footy
26 December 2004
Sunday Herald Sun
By TONY RINDFLEISCH, Education reporter
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/
common/story_page/0,8033,11784160%255E20322,00.html



FOOTBALL may be introduced as a Year 12 subject in Victoria. Sports Minister Justin Madden, Victorian principals, parents and AFL figures have backed a move for students to play and study football -- like any other subject -- as a South Australia Certificate of Education subject next year.

Educators hope the plan will increase the number of boys who complete schooling.

Mr Madden, a former AFL player, said he supported any initiative that encouraged greater participation in sport and led to professional development of elite athletes.

Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals president Andrew Blair said a football subject would be popular in sports-mad Victoria if it was part of a rigourous course of study on health and fitness, physiology, sports administration or psychology.

Parents Victoria president Gail McHardy said football as a VCE subject was a fantastic idea.

Aussie rules and many other sports were big businesses and students should be encouraged into sport-related professions, Ms McHardy said.

Wayne Craig, principal at Box Hill Senior Secondary College, said: "We cater for kids who are gifted in maths, science and the arts, so we should be doing it for kids who are talented in sport."

Former AFL star David Cloke said there were benefits in giving students an added sporting interest at school.

"If it keeps kids in school longer and can be made to fit in with their (university) ENTER scores and improves their skills it's a good idea," Mr Cloke said.

The course, to be a full-time unit of SA's Year 12 Vocational Studies program, will be run by two schools next year -- Immanuel College and Sacred Heart College -- and for students in the Open Access College.

Up to 100 students are expected to take part.


Sounds like a good way of entrenching the codes popularity and perhaps as was mentioned, increase the number of kids that actually complete schooling.