In this world, everything revolves around sports and education. People are always talking about sports and attempting to include them everything, even education. Luke Cyphers wrote “A Different World: How One Small College is Quitting Sports and Might Lead a Revolution,” and Alfie Kohn wrote “What Does it Mean to Be Well Educated” discussing this issue. Cypher gives strong evidence of why every school should follow Spelman’s lead in eliminating sports from school and Kohn explains that being well educated means you must have the desire to learn.
“Going to college is neither necessary nor sufficient to be well educated,” (Alex Tabarrok). Many Americans just believe that you should go to college with no “ifs, ands, or buts.” You were told that if you go to college, then you have a better chance at being successful and being considered “well-educated.” Yes, in a sense; you have a better chance at success because many job opportunities require higher education in that field or even in general, but does higher education truly make you “well educated?”
In Kohn’s article, he starts off by introducing his ex-wife. After 29 years of schooling, not including medical residency, she still cannot do basic arithmetic or properly use good grammar. Yet, what she is lacking is not preventing her from her professional success. Kohn’s ex-wife's situation begs the question: is our school system flawed? If someone can go through such extensive schooling and still have trouble with the fundamental subjects does that mean the teachers have failed as educators? Kohn would say no and he gives great examples to back that up:
Kohn states that he has realized how many truly brilliant people cannot spell or punctuate properly. Does this diminish their value as a professional? No. Kohn says “[His ex-wife] offers an invitation to rethink what it means to be well-educated since what she lacks didn’t prevent her from becoming a high-functioning, multiply credentialed, professionally successful individual,” (Kohn, p. 1). Who cares if they can’t use an apostrophe correctly to save their lives? We can pick up a dictionary to check our spelling and use a calculator to correct our math (Kohn, p. 1). Does that mean that we are dumb or just using our minds to focus on more meaningful things than the basics?
I know I am often seen as smart because I know a lot of people and can give references to composers and musical pieces. However, I am only knowledgeable when it comes to music. I still have the desire to learn more about other subjects. One of my favorite quotes from this article states that familiarity with a list of words, names, books, and ideas is a uniquely poor way to judge who is well-educated. Instead, those who are well educated “have the desire as well as the means to make sure that learning never ends,” (Kohn, p. 5). We have the desire to keep learning in any context and to have the means or ability to do so. I concur with Kohn; a person isn’t well educated in something simply because they have knowledge of the subject. In fact, in order to be considered well educated, one must actually have an interest and genuine passion to learn.
In Cypher’s article he explains that Spelman dismissed all intercollegiate sports so that the money could be used for academic purposes. By cutting sports, he was left with $1 million to put towards a “‘Wellness Revolution’ for all students - pouring resources into exercise classes and nutrition counseling and intramurals,” (Cyphers, p.1-2). Cypher seemed pleased that “Spelman College [was] doing something remarkable. Instead of spending seven figures a year on a few dozen varsity athletes, Spelman will expand its wellness program, funding fitness for everyone on campus,” (Cyphers, p. 3). He mentions how sports - specifically the NCAA - have a negative effect on students. He talks about how so many students are caught in crazy scandals, citing Ohio State, North Carolina, Miami and Penn State as examples. He mentions the incident where “Ohio, high school football team, two of whom were convicted of raping an incoherent 16-year-old girl last summer-while friends took pictures and video,” (Cyphers, p. 4). Cyphers then begins to explain how the students who are involved in sports are treated differently from other students. A woman by the name of Nnemkadi Ogwumike who was an “outstanding high-school student and basketball player,” (Cyphers, p. 5) attended Stanford and told Cyphers that since the school had a high demand in women's basketball at the time, this forced her to have to switch from human biology to psychology making more time for her to play basketball. This was Stanford, a place reputed for teaching its students to do things “the right way,” (Cyphers, p. 5) but it was discovered that many of the athletes there were selecting their classes from an “easy list” that was unavailable to other students.
Cypher did not agree that students should be focused more on athletics than their academics and believes that all schools that offer a District III sports program should eliminate it from their school. It will help save money and the money that once was put towards the athletics can be used for academics, instead. Kohn believes that students should want to learn and never let learning stop. Both of these authors would agree that students should have the desire to learn and not have things handed to them. Athletes should not approach learning in school as an obligation simply because they're there for sports. Kohn would not appreciate this mindsight and would want to see all students enjoy the pursuit of knowledge.
References:
Cyphers, Luke. “Sparking the Anti-NCAA Revolution.” SBNation.com N.p., 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
“What Does it Mean to be Well Educated? - (Book) - Alfie Kohn. Boston: Beacon Press, Sept. 2004. Web. 12 Feb. 2016.
Kohn, Alfie. “What Does It Mean to Be Well-Educated? (**) - Alfie Kohn.” Alfie Kohn. Boston: Beacon Press, 02 Mar. 2003. Web. 12 Feb. 2016.
