(This is a follow up post from earlier this month.)
Schools of “higher learning” were first established to provide information to students so that they could more successfully perform in their chosen career field. They were traditionally education centers where teachers imparted their knowledge in four year programs. Eventually sports programs were added to the activity list. And soon enough–with the aid of network ad money–some schools found profit centers in their sporting programs. It was at this point that schools lost much of their focus on in-class studies for education-minded individuals. Instead the schools put profits from sports ahead of the traditional learning process. The train is clearly off the track.
When schools provide more scholarship money to sports-minded individuals than to serious educationally-minded students they enter a business that their charter never contemplated. And when those athletes leave before graduating they prove that “higher learning” for an education was never their purpose. They, in fact, took scholarship money under false pretenses. Is that any different than the recent college entrance scandal that sent some Hollywood celebrities to jail? Didn’t they falsify applications to gain admission for their children? Isn’t that what 90% of all sports-minded athletes do when they apply? And don’t they accept “full ride” scholarships– worth up to $75,000/year or more–without any intention of getting an education? Is that something non-athlete students should accept? Are those serious students unfairly deprived of scholarships that they should have had a chance to win?
That said, no, university athletes should not be paid for their on-field efforts. To do so will only bastardize the “higher learning” process into something of a business endeavor.
As in the previous post, high school seniors who pursue a sports playing career should be allowed to follow that dream by playing in minor league venues that will sharpen heir skills.
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