Abstract

The paper discusses the role of college athletics in the American schools and the many reasons why college athletes should be paid. It also talks of the shortcomings in the system and the need for changes in the policy framework.

Paying College Athletes

Introduction

Competitive sports teams have long been a part of educational institutions and, more specifically, the American nation is addicted to sports. Students and athletes are better at football than they are at college. The college sports provide life lessons like ethics, morals and values. The matter as to whether sports should make part of college education, whether or not should be given importance to the extent it has gotten in the past and whether the college athletes should be paid or not has been a long debate in the past. Schools justify the development of college athletic teams as they help develop positive attitudes in students that remain with them for the rest of their life. It is a source of academic values in that it promotes school spirit (Hoch, p. 39).

Background of the study

The topic of the research paper is important in the history of college education as this has been the topic of debate for a very long time. We need to come to a consensus as this will determine the budget spending and creation of sports facilities and time table for students at the college level. Some people are in favor of paying college athletes whereas others argue that academic achievement should get priority over success in sports and this would not be possible if college athletes get paid. The opponents of paying college athletes point out the negatives associated with college athletics such as excessive injuries, intrusive recruiters, abusive coaches, parent fanaticism, and grade manipulation on the basis of "no pass/no play" etc (Uehling, p. 4).

Proponents of college athletics who feel that college athletes should be paid argue that academic and research missions of college institutions can be maintained parallel to college athletics. College athletics have many benefits in store for children and paying the athletes will only motivate them and encourage them and reward for them for all the time and energy they spend in college sports. Competition, display of physical endurance in the early stage like college makes the citizens stronger. A point to be noted here is the fact that paying college athletes will not only help in building a physically strong youth but also contribute in their intellectual development. The tricks of the game and the situations posed in each match prepare the youth for real life situations. The team work helps them in working as efficient team members when they go to work in their practical life. They even say that the high spending towards building of athletic infrastructure can be offset by implementation of ticket policy. This will lead to an increase in revenue earned from sports and enable colleges to pay these students (Steele, p. 43). This will in turn help students in funding their own ...