Extracurriculars should not be required. Although such activities can help students stay active and social, sometimes it doesn’t work for everyone. 

Some students  have jobs after school that they need to support themselves or maybe help support their families. Some people might need to take care of siblings or other members of their household.  Others may have medical reasons they can’t participate. 

Additionally, extracurriculars are a significant time and often financial commitment.  There is not always a need to do something 24/7. Some people’s life schedules do not have that flexibility. Extracurriculars are also financially costly; some families don’t have the funds for that. 

If the school were to make extracurriculars mandatory, I think there would be many problems, with things like getting rides or not having the time. It would also affect the way some students perform academically. 

Patrick Buckley is a lecturer in Information Management at the University of Limerick. His research includes active learning, lifelong learning, and the pedagogical use of technology. 

Paul Lee from the University of Limerick is Head of Student Engagement. He is responsible for the management and development of student clubs and societies, from  Sage journalism said that “[extracurriculars] can lead to negative effects at both the individual (alienation, lack of motivation, lack of social engagement) and institutional level (high drop-out rates).”

Dr. Harpreet Kaur, a licensed clinical psychologist for kids and teens at CHOC in Orange County, California, said, “keeping your kids so busy outside of school that they lack free time for play or rest can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression.”

In most schools, just about half of students participate in extracurricular activities, but for those who don’t, there is a reason why, and that choice must be respected.