Essay On Sports And Education

For many, the concept of athletics and education seem to be a flawless pairing, a coupling that has seemed to simply be the way things were for as long as anyone can remember. In today’s society, it is so relevant, that certain colleges are immediately recognized because of their outstanding achievements in either athletics or academics, much like the way Harvard is known to be a tough, academically driven law school, whereas Pennsylvania State University is vastly well known for its football program. Realistically, however, the partnership of sports programs and education in a college setting has only been around for a little less than two hundred years. “One fact is clear to all: however one feels about them, intercollegiate athletic programs …show more content…
Many schools have built their names off of their sports programs, leading that to become the biggest factor for them. This is an issue, because instead of focusing on learning and then sports, athletes are forced to pay more attention to the athletic part because of the pressure put on them. The more the team wins, the more press, television time, advertising, and recognition the winning school receives. If they focus on the athletic part more than their learning, then they miss out on some great opportunities. Many professors at these larger and more well-known sports schools have critiqued the overall programs, and “As many faculty critics have pointed out, there is no direct connection between organized athletes and the pursuit of learning for its own sake (Shulman).” This shows the frustration that these professors are facing, because student athletes have become so focused on their sport, that education comes second. Not only does this hinder the ability to learn, but it also causes problems because the students who are there to learn can become distracted by the unwillingness of others. In some cases, these students are actually helping to pay the bills for their athletic counter-parts.