Do Student Athletes Deserve Better Grades?

Year after year, as the college football bowl games dominate television sports and college basketball begins conference play, the money involved attracts our attention. Yet, year after year, nothing changes.

I don't begrudge college sports for making money from their sports programs. Also, I don't have a problem with tax exemptions on the profits. That is, if we can redefine the educational value of college sports.

Kids who participate in sports devote disproportional amounts of time from their lives to what has become such a huge boon to the colleges they attend. Yet, the charade of traditional educational values conflicts with student athletes time allocation.

Kids who play sports almost always have fantasies about playing at the highest levels. They want to play in the major leagues. It doesn't matter if it’s the NFL, NBA, MLS, MLB,  or any other. There is nothing wrong with that. Those who make it provide fascinating entertainment to those who enjoy watching. So, as public funding for education fails to meet needs, why wouldn't schools look to sports and corporate sponsorship?

What disturbs me is that, although we love seeing these kids develop, perform, and achieve in the realm of sports, we don't respect the educational achievement their efforts represent. Why do all kids need to demonstrate academic knowledge in literature, philosophy, economics, science, or technology? There is an abundance of jobs in sports: managers, trainers, coaches, announcers, etc. Education should be about developing aptitudes as well as intellect. A student’s abilities may excel in sports, while falter in language. Who gets to choose which ability is more important?

Why is a kid’s desire to play sports any less important than the kid who wants to be a writer or a banker? Traditional values need to change with the cultural environment that we create. Sports entertainment is big business, just as any other. Why is it alright for an actor who scores big in the movies to earn millions of dollars and nobody is bothered by it, while an athlete is disdained? Why is it alright for a CEO to make big bucks and earn huge bonuses if stocks perform well when that CEO may personally have less to do with it than the employees who work for that company, and it not be alright for professional athletes to have million-dollar base salaries? How many of us will actually end up with the job we dreamed of when we were kids? Not every kid who wants to play will be able to reach their highest goals, but there are many careers surrounding athletics they can prepare for by participation in athletics that complement their efforts.

Colleges should give kids academic credits for their athletic endeavors. If a kid starts for one of the school's sports teams, that kid should earn an "A". If a student-athlete sits on the bench and never gets into a game, give them at least a "C" for participation. If a non-starting, far-down-the-bench player is an invaluable practice player, that could earn an "A" as well.

The NCAA, our colleges, alumni, and individuals need to show respect for the student athletes that contribute more to our culture and social environment than the average couch potato does.