Week 8

This week of Sociology of Education was both depressing and empowering. We spent the week looking at what makes the collegiate student-athlete who they are - high school.

Many high school student across the country are denied the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities. Often those that take part in sports do so with extremely limited resources. The PBS special “The Story of American Public Education” was particularly shocking. While it may have been slightly out of date it was nevertheless a vivid reminder of the state of out public school system. For those student-athletes that make it to the collegiate level, we as athletic administrators, have an obligation help them to the highest levels of success. By making school a place that students want to be we can help them toward a more productive future.

This week was very discouraging to me, but it also made me want to become a part of college athletics even more to perhaps help bring about change. Collegiate athletics are an opportunity for many to get an education. It is critical that we as leaders articulate the goal is the education and not the sport. Collegiate athletics are loosing site of the opportunity they are providing student-athletes - the scholarships are for an education not simply a chance to compete.