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Wednesday, January 29. 2014

10% of UNC Athletes Read at 3rd Grade Level

Why does it matter? It's a business, and makes money for the school. This is not news. Universities have become businesses, and, often, big ones. They serve their consumers.

Posted by The Barrister in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 16:35 | Comments (13) | Trackbacks (0)

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10% of UNC Athletes Read at 3rd Grade Level
Why does it matter? It's a business, and makes money for the school. This is not news.

I am reminded of a hearing where a university spokesman defended the tutorial programs for athletes:"While they may not graduate from college and not become professional athletes, at least the education they get will enable them to do something better than being a garbage collector." [I paraphrase.]

Later in the hearing a former athlete spoke. "What do you do for a living?" "I'm a garbage collector."

My alma mater ascended into the ranks of big-time collegiate athletics. With the national recognition that came with participating in big-time collegiate athletics, the median SAT scores of incoming freshmen increased by 100 points in a decade. On the not so good side, 25% of alumni contributions were for athletics.

#1 Gringo on 2014-01-29 17:09 (Reply)

Well, we really need to know how that percentage stacks up across the NCAA to know if this is a problem.

#2 JKB on 2014-01-29 17:25 (Reply)

For too many, school is just a good place to play sports, meet friends, and get out of Mom & Dad's hair.

I went to a good boarding high school. Our rival in athletics used to be a good school, but now it is a farm team for colleges. Our school is considering ending the rivalry for the safety of its student athletes as the rival's football players are 50% lager than they are.

The highest paid person in a college is likely to be the football or basketball coach. I think the boosters probably pay all or most of that, but isn't that interesting that so many of the alums of a school think that athletics are that important?

They have to find a way to de-emphasize athletics for the good of the kids.

On the other hand, maybe they didn't spend a lot of time in indoctrination classes.

#3 mudbug on 2014-01-29 17:46 (Reply)

I think you mean the highest paid person in state government

http://deadspin.com/infographic-is-your-states-highest-paid-employee-a-co-489635228

#3.1 JKB on 2014-01-29 20:43 (Reply)

Thanks for correcting me! I guess it's good to be the coach!

#3.1.1 mudbug on 2014-01-29 22:55 (Reply)

Only 10%? Well done, UNC!

#4 random coolzip on 2014-01-29 19:08 (Reply)

10% of UNC Athletes Read at 3rd Grade Level

Having encountered a few UNC grads, I must ask if that's the top or bottom 10%.

#5 Mike M on 2014-01-29 20:59 (Reply)

At 18, 19 and 20 if they can't read past the 3rd grade level who's fault is it? Assuming they have an IQ above 90 they could achieve 8th grade level within 60 days if they made the effort. Another 6 months or so and they could be at 12th grade level. The colleges are doing them no favors allowing them start college without being able to read.

#6 GoneWithTheWind on 2014-01-29 23:29 (Reply)

they have to meet their race quota, so have different application standards based on skin colour...

And of course a lot of the "athletes" aren't students except in name (so they can take part in college sports events) but professional sporters who never spend a minute in the classroom and get paid lavish salaries from the funds that are on paper earmarked for education.

#6.1 J.T. Wenting on 2014-01-30 03:02 (Reply)

The real scandal is that people who cannot read at the third grade level are allowed to pass third grade.

#7 John on 2014-01-29 23:43 (Reply)

** Ding Ding Ding! ** We have a winner!

#7.1 Formerly known as Skeptic on 2014-01-30 15:06 (Reply)

why would I care. everyone's making choices, no one's getting his arm twisted. these players might be functionally illiterate but they provide entertaining Saturdays for anyone interested in amateur football.

no one's saying they'd be doing better somewhere else, so what's the harm of being in college?

besides, its true. the "N" on the cornhucker helmets actually does stand for "Nowledge".

#8 wirraway on 2014-01-30 01:10 (Reply)

if they brag about 10% having already reached 3rd grade level while in university, doesn't bear thinking about the rest...

As to universities being businesses catering to their customers, nothing wrong with that.
But I was under the impression that those customers were their students and those students are interested in getting a quality academic level education.
Apparently I was mistaken...

#9 J.T. Wenting on 2014-01-30 01:54 (Reply)

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Wednesday, January 29. 2014

Who really cares?