12/03/24
January 12, 2005
NCAA Schools to Actively Recruit Skolar-Atheletes!: Starting this year, the NCAA will penalize schools for poor academic performance by scholarship athletes (but not dropouts). Plus the rules actually have teeth. HoyaSaxa provides another summary and links to multiple articles on the subject.
I think it is foolish. The difference in graduation rates between athletes and non-athletes is not that great. The graduation rate from public high schools in Florida is a shade over 55%, and that's mandatory. The decline of graduation athletes for students mirrors those of non-athletes. The problem isn't necessarily athletics or athletes -- perhaps the problems are with the schools meeting the needs of their students. I don't believe that the punitive nature of these measures is at all helpful to solving the bigger issues involved.
posted by bperk at 01:10 PM on January 13, 2005
bperk, what if (some of) the problems common to both groups of students are addressed and perhaps even solved because of the new focus on athletes' grades? This could be a very good change.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:32 PM on January 13, 2005
The difference in graduation rates between athletes and non-athletes is not that great. The graduation rate from public high schools in Florida is a shade over 55%, and that's mandatory. Two issues there and I have questions on both: 1. "The difference in graduation rates between athletes and non-athletes is not that great" when you include all athletes in all divisions, but you don't think D1 basketball and football players are graduating at a rate near the mean, do you? The NCAA needs to address the fact teams pick up poor kids, essentially pay them ~$30,000 a year, restrict their alternative earning options and then make billions off them. And turn them out after 5 years at the most. Either break those sports off into minor leagues that aren't associated with the schools or fix the problem. 2. Shouldn't graduation rates for college be much higher than high school? High school is, as you state, mandatory. College is filled (mainly) with kids that have chosen to be there and needed to meet certain criteria to get into "the good schools". Why should their graduation rates mirror high school rates?
posted by yerfatma at 02:51 PM on January 13, 2005
First, the link I gave was for D-1 and all players (including football) were itemized separately. I didn't find the disparities so great as to warrant this sort of punitive action. Generally, college graduation rates are not higher, nor should they be, than high school rates. High school is free, easy and mandatory. However, some states without good educational systems are not preparing students and/or not graduating them. Florida is one of them, so this is not a problem limited to athletes. So, punishing the athletic programs isn't really the solution.
posted by bperk at 12:34 PM on January 14, 2005
Good. Not for the players, but the education system needs a little reinforcement.