Should Grades Matter in College Sports?
April 26, 2010 by Kathy McManus
Should college basketball teams that graduate less than 60 percent of their players as a result of failing grades be banned from playing in the NCAA tournament? Would banning teams result in better academic performances?
In a commentary written for ESPN.com, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan argues yes, making a case for putting “the ‘student’ back into ‘student-athlete.’” Secretary Duncan, who grew up playing basketball on Chicago’s Southside, says he doesn’t understand “why a small number of programs that seem largely indifferent to the academic success of their student-athletes continue to be rewarded with opportunities for post-season glory.”
The “low” academic bar needs to be raised, Duncan writes. “It’s time to start holding coaches and institutions more accountable for the academic outcomes of their athletes,” he argues. “It’s time that coaches of teams with weak academic records worry less about getting athletes in a uniform and more about getting them in a cap and gown.”
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3 Comments
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April 27, 2010 by David
I remember in Middle School, I overheard my teacher having a discussion with an athlete. "You need an education to give you something to fall back from. What if you break your arm in the game?"
I think athletes should be forced to have an education for one reason: only a few actually MAKE it to the top. And even if you do, the education could benefit you in many ways. Being a quarterback in football requires some math skills, for example. Or even just an appreciation of the arts and sciences can be beneficial. Whatever the case, the bottom line is that ALL students need an education in this age.
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June 10, 2010 by Luis
The most common argument is that a player should have a backup plan if they don't make it. The reality is that most of them will NOT make it into professional sports and many that do may not always triumph personally, professionally or economically. Athletes aren't necessarily dumb, as stereotypes suggest, because there is a lot that goes into playing a competitive sport that isn't only physical. However abilities to memorize and diagnose plays is only a portion of success. If they make poor business decisions, they can easily make mistakes out of the game as careful as they are in it. Many professional sports organizations also emphasize their dedication to making the players "role models" for kids. As much as it is more propaganda than anything else, it will be a positive step if all the athletes are also educated and not just talented. "Educated" IS a realistic goal that kids can aim for as the shot at championships and fame will be missed by most. Athletes that are expected to excel academically will set out to be a whole new generation of role models and may also be better off for their own life decisions.
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August 14, 2011 by jim
any athlete that needs toutouring should not be allowed to play sports in college since it takes up study time. if they don't make an average grade without being graded on a curve send them home to work at a job they can do not one made up for them because they were a good player!!! and any player without at least a b average in high school should have to pay for college.
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