Activities or subjects that are outside the regular school curriculum, like sports teams, clubs, or art programs.
From Latin 'extra-' (outside) + 'curricular' (relating to a course of study). The term became common in English education systems during the 20th century to distinguish optional activities from required coursework.
Schools realized that learning happens outside classrooms too—sports teach teamwork, music teaches discipline, debate teaches persuasion—so they created this word to legitimize what was happening beyond the regular lessons.
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