Maybe I am being a bit naive, but I think our school does a pretty good job striking a balance. No, it isn’t all things to all people, but there is a compromise of sorts going on that seems… well… fair.
For one thing they started a whole wellness curriculum two years ago. Gym and health are an integrated class and is required all four years. DD does not love it (but doesn’t hate it either), but there is no doubt exercize is good for everyone, reduces stress, and can even help combat low levels of depression. Since DD doesn’t participate in EC sports, I think this is a healthy part of her day, even if the kids don’t all appreciate the benefits a short workout can provide. Junior and senior year they can actually pick their activity, which makes it less miserable. It’s not the gym class I had growing up, that’s for sure!
The high school is very big on partipation in ECs… sports or clubs, it doesn’t matter. They are always reporting to parents studies about the relationship between school involvement and participation with better academic performance and improved mental health, higher graduation rates, etc. Still, despite very small or no fees (or waivers), two different “late bus” times, and guidance, homeroom teachers and administration tracking, supporting, and encouraging students in this, a lot of kids choose not to participate. And that’s fine - I am sure some of them are working or otherwise helping to support their families. However, if there is a positive correlation here, why defund such activities if your school district doesn’t absolutely have to? Who knows how many problems this “whole wellness” might be preventing before they start?
Our HS is very large, and we actually do have multiple psychologists and psychiatrists on staff. As I understand it, their primary ongoing focus is IEPs and learning-related issues. They will see students for other mental health needs, but they will refer students out to private practices after as few as three visits (learned that tidbit after bad depression hit a friend of DD’s). Three is not many, but if the problem is, say, an eating disorder or suicide ideation, it doesn’t make sense to repeatedly see a psychologist trained to specialize primarily in learning differences.
We’re not a particularly wealthy school district, but we are big. That’s why we have some of the resources that we do. While not everything can be scaled, in my opinion cutting sports or gym is equivilant to cutting out a “whole wellness” program.