In the movie Coach Carter a tough moral dilemma presents itself through a decision between academics and atheletics. Mr. Carter (Samuel L. Jackson) takes a basketball coaching job at a run down high school. The school doesn't put academics at highest priority and Carter wants to change that. He asks his players to sign contracts saying they need a certain GPA in order to play. The problem is the community and teachers aren't backing him up on his requests. The team starts the season undefeated, but when Coach Carter finally sees the kids grades he is not pleased at all. The players had not been performing in the classroom so he issues a lockout and cancels practices and games until the players raise their grades. the community wants to remove Carter as coach and end the lockout. The moral question is, "Are winning basketball games more important the getting good grades?" This is a poor message to send to young high schoolers, that they are above the law if they are winning games.

This movie has taught me a lot about morality. I've learned that by letting people get by with things that they do because they win games or donate a lot of money is sending the wrong message to those people. You tell them that it is okay to do bad things because they are making bid contributions to benefit yourself. Soon enough they will do even worse things and think they should be able to get away with it. This is happenning in professional sports more and more today. It's showing kids that it's okay to do bad things because they can get out of the concequences. My awareness of this type of action has improved and I definitely see it happenning in our world. Everyone should be treated equally no matter what, white or black, professional or amatuer, young or old. It challenges me not to look for the easy way out of things. i'm inspired to face my concequences whether they are good or bad. I don't want to use any excuses.

Back To David's Course Home Page