Public Editor's note: This Opinion article includes substantial unattributed material from

several other sources. Those sources include the 'Coaching Excellence' blog of the Institute
for Professional Excellence in Coaching, the blog, Pro Sport Chick, an online encyclopedia
and a 1989 Op-Ed article in the New York Times written by Anita L. Defrantz, then president
of the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles and a current member of the International
Olympic Committee. Spence has acknowledged that he plagiarized parts of his article and
apologized to the Star and its readers.
Right now in Ontario, our children are being starved of the opportunity to participate in
something that plays an integral role in their education sports and other extracurricular
activities.
As obesity rates soar for children in Canada, it is more important than ever to encourage
children to participate in physical activity.
And while the physical benefits that sports provide to children are evident, we must also
remember that the psychological and social benefits are plentiful as well.
Our schools emphasize a broad educational mission: to develop the whole student. For the
majority of students, involvement in extracurricular activities plays an