Sports. The school centers around sports, and it's nearly indescribable to the fact that "obsessed" can't quite cover it. The best way to describe is that the school worships sports. It's not an obsession, it's a religion. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism. None are comparable to the wrath that faces the religious obsession of sports which has engulfed Woodlawn Grade School. Upon entering the front doors of the school, to go to the office, one will be straight across from a trophy case filled with extra curricular trophies, most of which, are, in fact, sports trophies. However, the collection does not end there. To the left of the trophy case near the office, one will see, planted inside the wall itself, another trophy case lined with more sports trophies, but even for a school as small as this one, two displays are not enough. Yet another display, which not only features sports trophies, but pictures of sports participants as well, can be found in the entrance of the most recent gymnasium, often referred to as the "new gym", as opposed to the school's first gymnasium, called the "old gym". Lining the walls of the newer gymnasium are large boards that feature years, participants, and ranking of multiple events that Woodlawn has achieved. But these areas that feature Woodlawn's achievements are not enough. Sports are involved in everyday activities at the school. During morning announcements, at choice or not, I'm to hear of all the achievements of sports teams or individuals that scored or ranked well in their particular field of sports, as well as upcoming sport events and the measures taken to achieve them. Aside from the generic everyday announcements, such as what is for lunch, nothing is announced but sports, leaving so much more unsaid. If I'm not hearing about sports over an intercom, I'm seeing signs and posters littered about the hallways regarding sports, or overhearing idle chat of staff or students regarding something such as a game that occured the night before, or an argument over which team is the best. Of course, sports are a major part of American culture and interest, but when it comes to a point of throwing off priorities of an educational system, something is really wrong.