Shredding Success
Skateboarding for Success: Exploring the Academic Benefits Highlighted in 'Shredding for School'
Jacobson, L. (2019, September 18). Shredding for school: Researchers study links between skateboarding and academic success. K-12 Dive. https://www.k12dive.com/news/shredding-for-school-researchers-study-links-between-skateboarding-and-aca/562948/
By Braden Verge
In her article, “Shredding for School: Researchers Study Links Between Skateboarding and Academic Success,” Linda Jacobson explores the growing connection between skateboarding and academic achievement, showcasing how schools and community programs are harnessing the sport's unique qualities to foster creativity, problem-solving, and resilience among students. Jacobson highlights various skateboarding initiatives, such as the Garage Board Shop’s after-school program in Los Angeles, which integrates tutoring, youth entrepreneurship, and skateboarding. The program helps students apply lessons from skateboarding—such as persistence, creativity, and self-starting skills—to academic success, while also fostering teamwork and community engagement (Jacobson, 2019).
Skateboarding has historically been viewed as countercultural and even disruptive, but Jacobson emphasizes that researchers, including Zoë Corwin from the University of Southern California (USC), are working to change this perception. Corwin's research, supported by the Tony Hawk Foundation, investigates how skateboarders develop skills that are highly transferable to academic and professional settings. These skills include perseverance in mastering tricks, problem-solving, creativity, and the ability to communicate across diverse cultural groups. Skateboarding, Corwin argues, cultivates qualities that are beneficial in educational contexts, making skateboarders ideal candidates for college admissions (Jacobson, 2019).
The research also highlights how skateboarding helps students develop resilience. Skaters repeatedly attempt tricks until they succeed, a mindset that translates into academic perseverance. The sport encourages participants to take risks, challenge conventional boundaries, and think outside the box—qualities that can lead to innovative problem-solving in both academic and personal settings. This shift in perspective is changing how educators and communities view skateboarders, seeing them not as rebels but as dedicated, creative individuals (Jacobson, 2019).
We at First Push Syndicate have our Get On Board program, which aligns with the themes presented in Jacobson's article. Just like the initiatives at the Garage Board Shop, Get On Board seeks to blend physical activity with educational development, using skateboarding as a tool to teach essential life skills. First Push Syndicate works within schools to offer skateboarding programs that promote perseverance, problem-solving, and social skills, mirroring Corwin’s findings about the academic benefits of the sport. By integrating skateboarding into school curriculums, the Get On Board program challenges the outdated perception of skateboarders as troublemakers and instead highlights the sport’s potential to foster creative, resilient learners.
Moreover, just as schools like San Pasqual High have embraced skateboarding as an official part of their extracurricular programs, First Push Syndicate advocates for including skateboarding in physical education classes. This allows students to engage in a physically active, challenging sport that teaches both physical coordination and mental fortitude. By offering structured skateboarding experiences, First Push Syndicate and the Get On Board program provide students with opportunities to develop resilience, creativity, and collaboration—qualities that are as essential in the classroom as they are on the skateboard.
In conclusion, the connections between skateboarding and education outlined by Jacobson are directly reflected in the work we do at First Push Syndicate and the Get On Board program. Both initiatives recognize the value of skateboarding in helping students develop skills that are crucial for personal growth and academic success, such as persistence, creativity, and teamwork. As schools and communities continue to adopt skateboarding programs, the sport's role in education will likely expand, offering students new and innovative ways to engage with both learning and physical activity.
References
Jacobson, L. (2019, September 18). Shredding for school: Researchers study links between skateboarding and academic success. K-12 Dive. https://www.k12dive.com/news/shredding-for-school-researchers-study-links-between-skateboarding-and-aca/562948/