Arkansas Blog

Football is a total waste of education money. What does a kid's game have to do with teaching young people a skill?
Pulaski Tech thought about it and wisely declined. This type of activity should come under a "Y" program or the Boys Club. Tax money for it? NEVER !

The link doesn't work. Also, football most definitely a waste of education money.

ARK. BLOG Sorry about that. Link is fixed.

well, it's getting guys into school, what's the big deal?

"Shenandoah was playing in Division III, in which athletic scholarships are prohibited. Six years later, Shenandoah still has a football roster of roughly 100, most of them paying nearly full tuition of more than $26,000 a year, including room and board."
* * *
"We're keeping the dream alive for a lot of these kids," said Paul Barnes, the Shenandoah coach.
* * *
"Look how great things have turned out," [football player and now assistant Shenandoah coach] Mr. Bosworth said with a broad smile. "I get to pursue my passion for football. I'm going to marry a wonderful woman. She's getting her doctorate in physical therapy. I guess she'll bring home the bacon in our family."

Let's hope the bacon is enough to cover more than $100,000 in undergraduate loans for him -- NO scholarships -- and who knows how much for her, unless, of course, both sets of parents were well enough fixed to foot some of the bills.

While I do agree that education is largely under-funded, the notion that extra-curricular activities should not receive tax dollars is absurd. In The South, football is king--always has been, always will be. How many kids would be getting in trouble or dropping out of school if not for sports, band, choir, theater, etc? Would you prefer they not have an outlet and just study?

Sports create an identity for all students. Granted, many students are resentful and bitter towards athletes, and those students often choose not to associate with those programs. That's fine. You have that choice.

However, powerful alumni who bestow lavish financial gifts upon their alma matters are often prompted to do so because of their love of athletics. It is a vital part of college life, and for me it will be a lasting image of my time on The Hill.

Not with my tax dollars it doesn't...My tax money is thrown away on unless programs like sports in public schools...Asst. coaches at UA making over 100k for 4 months work? ! What the hell do they do the rest of the year? Wash Mrs. Broyles' car...go to the store for her.!geeze...makes me sick to think about the waste of the money I worked hard to make.

Woudl I prefer that they not have an outlet and just study? yes. Why not?

That works for me.

That's what school is for, isnt it? Sure, it's nice to have the extras, but if we can't afford a decent academic program and a new stadium, the choice should be clear. Well actually I guess at least in the south the choice IS clear, but I think the priorities are wrong.

I dont think sports, band, theater, or anything else can replace the lack of a decent home life and guidance. Maybe for a few kids, sure, and Im all for that, but not at the rate we're spending money now. We just don't have it to spend.

A good teacher can still provide a vast influence on a child's life without a giant megastadium, can't he?

i have one son in law school and one headed for medical school. The older one never played high school sports (Infidel!) and the younger one played baseball one year. no band, no theater. They seem to have done just fine.

I just don't see how we can continue to spend all this money on athletics with education in such a sad state. Im sure we will, but I wish it could be different.

I'm a grad student on The Hill, and I've been pursuing collegiate studies in some way over the past 6 years at various institutions across Arkansas. I was always involved in band in high school and college, and though that's not sports, it is certainly ancillary to it. Sports (and their associated vast stadiums and publicity machines) may serve no academic purpose at a university community, but they are one of the primary components that makes a college environment what it is -- a community. One can support and be proud of their respective school's academic program, but there is something a little more concrete about getting behind your team. It's about being at the game, playing your part (athlete, cheerleader, bandmember, fan) and being part of the cohesive unit that gives all us students a chance to belong and be proud of ourselves, our classmates, and our friends. We may not win the game, and we may not learn anything academic from the competition, but we take away some less concrete lessons -- fellowship, competition, respect and then general feeling of BELIEVEING in something.

I will always cherish the memories I made while being a band member. No offense to tina's sons, who I'm sure will be very successful, but I personally cannot imagine having gone through life thus far without at least some extracirricular experiences like band, theater or sports. I believe my education is comprised of more than what I have read in a book or been lectured to about.

Spending vast amounts of taxpayer money on university sports programs isn't always finanically sound, and maybe there should be some review of exactly what we spend in Arkansas. But to do away with sports at the collegiate level entirely (by killing its funding) would absolutely destroy what is special about college for the vast majority of students. To say otherwise is ignorant.

The lessons I learn in class will help me survive and be profitable in life, but the lessons and experiences I gleam outside of class will carry my spirit on for many years, beyond what and any amount of money or power can do.

I'm a student, and I'm a taxpayer. Sometimes when you're looking for answers, it helps to ask those closest to the source.

For what it's worth, the coaches receive a large portion of their salaries from private foundations associated w/ the schools. They also receive payments for conducting camps. There is not one coach on any campus that simply works four months of the year.

I understand some level of frustration, but sports teams create a lasting image on the vast majority of students' lives. And, contrary to what you may want to hear, they do produce tons of revenue for the school aside from ticket sales.

no offense taken. both my sons did other things throughout high school and college, just not sports or band. my older son did a lot with the political science dept in college. younger son works a lot and honestly does study quite a bit. I've seen him do it. ;)

I suggested this question once before on the blog and it seems pertinent again. What if all athletics were stopped in schools and PE/fitness classes were instituted instead?

Here's my theory: in less than three years, each town would develop (probably school-related) teams and leagues, with sponsorship and rules similar to those we have today (NCAA, state school athletic associations). Why three years? No sports-loving parent would let more than his or her child's high school term pass before starting these programs. Teams would travel, stadiums, gyms and practice facilities would be built. Fans would attend. The more talented students would advance to higher levels of professional sports.

Meanwhile, back at school, students would be healthier and perhaps all students would experience a bit of time playing all sports in a less pressured environment. Perhaps they'd exercise or play some kind of sport for fun and for life.

When would sports teams practice, you ask? After. School.

This will never happen. It does work, however, almost all over the world.

By the way, before I am flamed mercilessly - I spent my time calling the Hogs. I marched in the high school and junior high bands. We have had one daughter enjoy 6 years of band and a second daughter who will be a junior high band drum major. We attend, we raise funds, we are proud. But the schools they have attended could have benefitted more if all the monies donated for these athletics-related programs had been spent to raise the quality of education. Their schools, in a highly-ranked district in Arkansas, have lame and ailing technology resources, dated and dwindling libraries, lackluster honors and G.A.T.E. programs and teacher who work very, very hard to make up the deficits of material with extra effort. Every 10 years or so, each public school in our district receives some great infrastructure improvement such as a new science lab, band room or extra classrooms. But no department appears to receive the amount of new equipment as the athletics-related programs.

Yes, mag, that is the problem with the sports. They suck the money from other more important educational needs, into something that will not benefit the vast majority of the students when they get out of school.

Not to mention the superiority complexes the sports stars get.

Maybe they should start competitions in academics that would replace the sports, like battle bots for engineers, that would make the students think more. It would fit in better and would put the money toward something that would translate to the real world after school.

tina: I can respect anyone who works a lot while going to college, having been there myself. Sometimes a student just doesn't have time for the "extra" stuff, when you need $$$!!

rablib: there are some good academic competitions out there for students at all levels; we just don't hear enough about them. If the news had an 8 minute segment each night about quiz bowl, odyessey of the mind, AEGIS (now-defunct), band and other arts and all that...... well, maybe kids would be more interested in those things. So would their parents, and maybe even the community.

I think one of the underlying problems is not a lack of options to sports but the amount of focus we all put on being a sports star. Kids crave attention, achievement, prestige and acceptance. Mitch Mustain gets these things, but can anyone name the captain of the Springdale HS Quiz Bowl team? Why not? I believe therein lies the answer to the problem.

The exaulted importance of sports (and the monetary value we place in them) is merely a symptom of deeper problems and prevailing opinions in our society. We're going to have to dig deeper and address more serious issue in order to see any real advancement here.

go arkansas