Should colleges or high schools drop some of the money-losing sports?

[tornado]

I really have no horse in this race but today a letter to the editor of the Peoria Journal Star contributed by a current Bradley student...

It seems to hint that Bradley as well as most high schools & colleges should de-emphasize sports and possibly should drop some sports (maybe all sports) and funnel all resources into academics...
See what you think.......I have heard his point of view before...but oddly most schools are adding sports as fast as any schools are dropping sports.

http://www.pjstar.com/opinions/forum/x1293263519/In-the-Spotlight-Schools-should-shift-focus-from-athletics-to-academics

[molar50]

I do agree that spending for some sports is out of control. But I believe more emphasis should be placed on improving our health by exercising and having a healthy diet. Our society has too many people with unhealthy lifestyles which costs all of us in increased insurance premiums and taxes. I think sports are important and have value, but I see too much corruption from the money in sports. I think it is important that we have discussions on the value that sports provide. Personally, I would prefer that taxpayers stop funding professional teams and that more money should go to parks and programs where the general public can engage in sports to encourage health.

[Buesch N Chips]

Sports/activities in high school are part of the learning experience.

[tornado]

Sports/activities in high school are part of the learning experience.

and have been without much controversy for over 100 years - I agree it's a loser argument that when your academics fall so far that they are failing - take it out on the athletic endeavors

[bradleyfan124]

One learns so much out of being on a sports team that can be carried over into life itself. Going to practice with the right equipment and being there on time, mentally learn how to handle winning and losing, learning how to handle pressure, Learning what it takes to be better at something. Those kinds of things can not be learned out of a text book

[it's boogie time]

"Athletic participation in high schools has increased for the past 23 years, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations"

I thought it had gone down drastically over the years.

[Da Coach]

One learns so much out of being on a sports team that can be carried over into life itself. Going to practice with the right equipment and being there on time, mentally learn how to handle winning and losing, learning how to handle pressure, Learning what it takes to be better at something. Those kinds of things can not be learned out of a text book

While I agree with you that some valuable lessons can be learned from participating in athletics, I do not believe athletics are the only way to learn those lessons, and athletics are not absolutely essential to a good educational experience. The majority of people get through high school and college without participating in athletics, and they are just as likely to be successful in life, maybe moreso. In fact, the great majority of the successful people I know were not involved in intercollegiate athletics in college.

[bradleyfan124]

Da Coach,
I agree. I did not mean to imply that was the only place they learned those qualities. I wanted to say that was what sports helped to teach you. I also should add that our country strives to excel, be the best, compete, our individuality calls for that. Athletics is an outlet that gives us that opportunity

[Da Coach]

Yes, I agree. And I love following and supporting college sports. I hope colleges and states (and high schools) can find ways to keep them funded.

[BUFanatic]

If people are sick of athletics fork over the cash to send their kids to boarding school. It's part of the American culture and way of life. I personally love it (and I didn't even play sports in High School except tennis), adds to the social experience of High School and gives the spectators some entertainment to forget whatever happened during the day and builds a strong sense of community. I couldn't have told you that in high school but now that I'm a few years removed I look back on all that quite fondly!

Also:
"Winning on the court or field has no bearing on who remains the superpower of the 21st century, but academic knowledge does."

Tell that to the inspiration of the 1980 US Hockey team, or any American team for that matter. We may not directly maintain superpower status through the Olympic Games but there is no denying that athletic prowess has cemented the image of a fit and strong American population (and has done the same for many a nation).
Also, try to tell an international banker (particularly a Chinese one backed by their military) that he or she is manipulating their country's currency and then force that person to adjust their currency to properly reflect its true value. All the intellectuals in the world can make all the noise they want but without the backing of a strong, healthy population (developed in no small part through the discipline of sport) they are weak. Yin and Yang and all that jazz.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while and that this is what I posted on, this topic just makes my blood boil.

[Garland 22]

I worked in HR for a large company a few years ago and they did a study regarding employees who participated in collegiate athletics. Based on the total number of employees the percentage of collegiate athletes that worked for the company was low, probably around 4% of the employee population, but that 4% had an amazing success within the company.

I think colleges should be looking to create more intercollegiate athletic programs rather than reducing them.

[Da Coach]

Also, college students who participate in intercollegiate athletics are more likely to graduate, and more likely to get better GPA's than the average student who does not participate in athletics. Some of that is due to a percentage of athletes that receive scholarship money and are thus more likely to stay in school, but that is only a small part of the reason. We are used to hearing stories about academic disasters connected to high profile sports like D1 football and basketball, but the large majority of college athletes play other sports and many receive little or no athletic scholarships.

[AZ BU Fan]

I really have no horse in this race but today a letter to the editor of the Peoria Journal Star contributed by a current Bradley student...

It seems to hint that Bradley as well as most high schools & colleges should de-emphasize sports and possibly should drop some sports (maybe all sports) and funnel all resources into academics...
See what you think.......I have heard his point of view before...but oddly most schools are adding sports as fast as any schools are dropping sports.
http://www.pjstar.com/opinions/forum...s-to-academics

If money losing sports were dropped, 90% of high schools and colleges wouldn't have athletic departments...

[algotrader]

The point of a public high school is to create an environment that facilitates personal growth and learning. So no, we shouldn't shut down athletic programs because they're "not profitable". But we also shouldn't cut art and music programs for the same reason.

Too many "I got mine, forget you" people whining about the cost of schools and their taxes. Short changing our children on the very same things we got growing up just because you're selfish is disgusting.

Private schools however, can do whatever they want, however they want, so long as they're not beating children. I'm a little torn for public university though.

[Chico]

The point of a public high school is to create an environment that facilitates personal growth and learning. So no, we shouldn't shut down athletic programs because they're "not profitable". But we also shouldn't cut art and music programs for the same reason.

Too many "I got mine, forget you" people whining about the cost of schools and their taxes. Short changing our children on the very same things we got growing up just because you're selfish is disgusting.

Private schools however, can do whatever they want, however they want, so long as they're not beating children. I'm a little torn for public university though.

Don't know of a private school that has to have security guards manning the hallways. I hate paying taxes nowadays for schools where the patients run the asylum.