Short Introduction
Extracurricular activities are the type of activities of students during the academic year. The difference is that extracurricular activities do not belong to the obligatory normal curriculum of any school or college. In fact, such activities exist at different levels of education, whether it is primary or secondary school, high school, or higher educational establishment. In general, in the United States of America the average student participates at least in one popular extracurricular activity during the academic year.
Extracurricular activities usually represent voluntary participation. As opposite to the scholastic activities extracurricular ones that often include social sphere activities, different sports or philanthropic are usually free of charge. In some cases when some finances are needed for the normal activity functioning, faculty sponsorship is asked for cooperation. Among such activities school newspapers are popular and widespread.
Historical Background
The history of the most extracurricular activities takes the beginning in the United States of America in the nineteenth century. Firstly they were additional part to the normal academic year schedule. Some practical and vocational interest was implied into applying such activities. Literary societies were the first associations that became popular at Harvard University and Yale University. Then there appeared various debate clubs and different fraternities and sororities.
Students also initiated the emergence of the first athletic clubs in American colleges and stimulated the elaboration of the first athletic programs at University campuses. As at that time literary clubs lost their popularity, sport associations became the most effective means to prevent student distraction to the educational process. Moreover, sport became so-called dominant element among various extracurricular activities popular in America at those times.
However, there remained one more important part of student life in States school newspaper. It began since the time of the World War I. Today high school and college community proposes student a various range of activities in order to develop all-rounded people.