Are our athletics programs on the right track?

Each week, I've been posting common questions I receive and my responses to them. Here's another common question: Are our athletics programs on the right track?

First, education is much bigger than athletics. Priority number one must be in the classroom.

That being said, second, athletics are an important part of a balanced educational system, and we need to re-think how they are organized in our communities. At the primary school level, many students are unable to play sports as they do not have the money to pay fees or the means to travel. Primary schools should work with the communities who do run primary school athletics programs to provide transportation and accessibility. At the secondary school level, the number of students playing for schools has decreased due to consolidation and the professionalization of athletics.  Secondary schools should run their own intramural programs much like colleges to provide all students the opportunity to further their education in athletics. Taking these steps would increase accessibility and place the focus of athletics on their educational value.