Isaiah Sublett

Dr. Wright

Freshmen Composition 2

3/24/2019

 

 

Pay the Athletes

 

What if I asked you to do a job that makes me rich, but you would not receive any money for it, how would that make you feel? Well something like this happens every year, under NCAA rules college athletes are not allowed to be paid. The NCAA is making so much money off of student athletes. “It is even to the point that student athletes are more of athlete students (Saffici).” In 2017 alone, “the NCAA made $1.1 billion in revenue (Lopez).” And the sad part about that is the players did not receive any of it. That is something that needs be further looked at as time goes on because. As the years go by, the NCAA keeps making more and more money. For example “ that reason there needs to be a dramatic change in the policy that prohibits student athletes from getting money that they are producing for the NCAA.

 

When I am talking about athletes getting paid, I am talking about how the college athletes deserve money for the amount of income they produce for the NCAA. Basketball and football produces a large amount of income as it is. In 2018 alone the march madness tournament, which is a tournament where 60 teams compete to win a national championship. “Brought in $1.29 billion just in television ad revenue (Lopez).” Also there was a “ $10.8 billion deal done between the NCAA and CBS for March Madness between 2011 and 2014 for three weekends of television per year (Wilbon).” And on top of that “there was a four-year deal with ESPN that pays the BCS $500 million (Wilbon).” Those numbers show how much the NCAA is making off of student athletes. Based on those numbers there is more then enough money to pay student athletes a fair amount without over paying them. After all, how can anyone really argue against paying the players that make basketball and football games possible to attend? Something crazy is, how the “University of Alabama reported $143.3 million in athletic revenues, which is more than 30 NHL teams and 25 of the 30 NBA teams (Edelman).” A big time University is making more than majority of the NFL and all of the NHL, and those are professional leagues where players get paid. So if they are making more than the professionals, there is more then enough money to pay the college athletes as well. Even “Coach Saban at the University of Alabama is getting $45 million over the next eight years (Gilleran, Katz, Vaughn).” And his players scholarships does not even cover basic living expenses.

 

The most common argument against college players getting paid. Is the fact that the athletes are getting a free education. “Tuition and room and board averaged $17,860 for in state students at public universities in 2012 and 2013, and $39,518 for students in private schools, according to the College Board (Vmur).” Now I am sure any person would be blessed and appreciative to have all that taken care of, but in reality the student athletes produce way more then that for the university. A former safety at the University of Auburn did the math on his scholarship and said “it doesn't quite add up (Vmur).” He found out that his scholarship was not worth the amount of hours that he put in, he said “ we were probably working for somewhere between $3 and $5 (Vmur).” He even said “I could of worked at Mcdonalds and paid my tuition with the money I got (Vmur).” This shows how hard student athletes have to work for their scholarship. They probably put in 5 hours a day practicing and other things related to their sport. And doing that probably effects some athletes performance in the classroom, which is what they are supposed to be there for. Also “Athletes are supposed to only spend 20 hours a week in their sport. (Regan).” However though “D1 football, womens and men basketball, and baseball palyers spend 40 hours a week on athletic activities (Regan).” Also College players have a harder time enjoying college life because of the time it takes up. Shawn Fagan, a former offensive lineman from Akron knew several people from poverty level families. He said “it was almost worse for them, even though they they got free education and food they had no money to live (Vmur).”

 

Allowing NCAA college athletes to have endorsement deals is the best solution to paying players in the future. Athletes like Shabazz Napier said “ when you see your jersey getting sold, you feel like you deserve something in return (Thacker).” The fact that athletes dont get paid for their own mercahndise is insane.So allowing other companies to pay certain athletes what they think they are worth would be the best solution. That would lead to women players, and other men players not getting endorsement deals not feeling entitled to be paid. And  the NCAA would not even have to give up a dime of their earnings, which would prevent the NCAA cutting funds from other athletic programs. This would be a very good thing because it would give the players not getting paid more motivation to get better. So one day they could be potentially getting endorsement deals themselves. That could even make college sports more enjoyable to watch, because every player will haev a better motor. Also, allowing college athlethes to have endorsement deals could potentially keep kids in school longer because. They would no longer have to worry about going professional as quick as possible to make money. They could just be normal college students and enjoy themselves.

 

Those are the facts and evidence on why the NCAA should allow players to get paid in some type of way. If that is them paying the athletes theirselves or allowing the players to have endorsement deals. The NCAA’s no pay to play policy really needs to be further looked at and changed immediately. They are receiving billions of dollars, and players are restricted to every single cent.

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

Work cited

 

Thacker, Thomas. “Amateurism vs. Capatilism: A Practical Approach To Paying College Athletes.” Seatle Journal for social justice, 19 Dec. 2017, https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1892&context=sjsj

 

“Is Scholarship Enough for College Athletes?” WMUR, 9 Oct. 2017, www.wmur.com/article/is-scholarship-enough-for-college-athletes/5187139.

 

Edelman, Marc. “21 Reasons Why Student-Athletes Are Employees And Should Be Allowed To Unionize.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 Jan. 2015, www.forbes.com/sites/marcedelman/2014/01/30/21-reasons-why-student-athletes-are-employees-and-should-be-allowed-to-unionize/#2dbdbcc98d05.

 

Lopez, Meghan. “Should College Athletes Be Paid?” KMGH, 12 Mar. 2019, www.thedenverchannel.com/news/360/should-college-athletes-be-paid-passions-high-on-both-sides-of-the-debate.

 

Wilbon, Michael. “College Athletes Deserve to Be Paid.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 18 July 2011, www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6778847/college-athletes-deserve-paid.

 

Saffici, Christopher.“Intercollegiate Athletics vs. Academics: The Student-Athlete or the Athlete-Student.” The Sport Journal, 12 Oct. 2016, thesportjournal.org/article/intercollegiate-athletics-vs-academics-the-student-athlete-or-the-athlete-student/.

 

Gilleran, Mike. “Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Santa Clara Law, law.scu.edu/sports-law/should-college-athletes-be-paid/.

 

Regan, Kerry. “Are College Athletes Overworked?” Athletics, 23 Oct. 2018, sites.psu.edu/cas137passionblog/2018/10/23/are-college-athletes-overworked/.

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Brooke Coffman

Dr. Wright

Eng 112

25 Feb. 2019

Fun in Education

            The “Father of Education”, or better known as John Amos Comenius, developed a philosophy in which “emphasized political unity, religious reconciliation, and cooperation in education” (“Father of Modern Education”). Comenius’ philosophy developed a universal system that opened up opportunities for women and other minorities all over to have the opportunity to receive an education. In 1837, Horace Mann developed a system for professionals who could teach students an organized curriculum of basic knowledge leading the way to the creation of public education (“Father of Modern Education”). Thanks to these two key figures in the development of education, we have education as we know it today. Now we are making learning in the classroom more fun. Making education fun is beneficial because it keeps students engaged and motivated, fun technology helps students effectively learn, and fun education creates long term benefits for the students.

            Research shows that the more engaged and motivated students are creates for a more comfortable and eager learner.

Neuroimaging studies and measurement of brain chemical transmitters reveal that students' comfort level can influence information transmission and storage in the brain (Thanos et al., 1999). When students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher levels of cognition, make connections, and experience “aha” moments (Willis 1).

In schools, there are always some students who do not want to learn and are just in the classroom because they have to be there. Creating for a more fun and engaging learning environment will allow students to feel comfortable and open up their minds in order to retain the knowledge they are being given. An example of a fun and engaging learning environment would be making lessons hands on and interactive as well as creating classroom games to play as a way of learning in the classroom lesson. Not only is it beneficial to the students when they are actively learning, but to the teachers as well. When students are wanting to learn and willing to participate in the classroom, it creates an easier job for the teachers rather than them trying to “force” the students to interact and participate during class. The more students become comfortable in the classroom, the more active they will be during class time and the better off they will be in the rest of their school careers and life.

            Over the years as schools have advanced, so have teachers’ methods of teaching. Especially in today’s classrooms, technology plays a big role as to how students are learning. Technology based learning is more appealing to students because it is more interactive on their learning level. Learning while using technology would be videos of examples of what is in the lesson and also using websites to play games that go along with the lesson so that the students can learn in a different way. This form of learning also allows for students to learn at their own pace (“Benefits of Technology in the Classroom”). Technology connects with the students in a way they better understand. Using this form of teaching in the classroom allows for students to be hands on in a way they are most likely able to relate to (Hearns, Miller, and Nelson 169 171), since they are exposed to so much technology outside of the classroom. Since students are claiming that they would prefer technology to assist them in their learning, they say that it helps them retain the information better than they would if they were to learn straight from the textbook or the teacher stand up front and lecture the whole time. The teachers that are able to provide technology in their classrooms claim that “…mixing it up with new and fun ways to increase potential is vital to the success of the next generation” (Trehearn).

            People do not go to school just for the convenience, they go for the long run. School and education are there to prepare students for long term matters. After graduating high school, some people go on into the workforce. These people need good technology skills since those skills are becoming more essential in jobs today.

Jobs that may not have had a digital component in the past, may have one now. Education isn’t just about memorizing facts and vocabulary words, it is about solving complex problems and being to collaborate with others in the workforce. Ed-tech in the classroom prepares students for their future and sets them up for this increasing digital economy (Trehearn).

The necessity of needing to have technology skills in the digital economy is key because your job might require you to have to keep up with stock markets or research and develop businesses or ideas for a business startup. After high school, there are also those who go on to college. When in the classroom, learning is fun, it promotes for better learning engagement from students which produces success in real-life implementation. When students apply their cognitive functions, it opens up a lead way for them to be successful in their future careers and real-life situations. The more hands on classroom learning is, the more enhancing the students’ achievements are (Kim, Park, and Baek 800-810).

            As research shows, the more “fun” education is in the classroom, the more that the learning is effective. Growing up, I had mixed emotions about school, but I was never gung-ho about it. The only thing that kept me somewhat interested and wanting to go back was how much the classrooms were interactive. With me being a visual and hands on learner, I feel that the hands-on part of school made learning fun and allowed me to retain my information better. I am not alone. Education that is fun benefits students and teachers not only short term, but long term as well. Teachers are able to get their job done more smoothly when the students are active during class and willing to participate. Students not only gain skills for while they are in school but for when they are out of school as well. The students are able to gain long term knowledge and actually retain what they learn as well as gain confidence for when they are not having to apply their knowledge. Fun in education is beneficial for everyone involved in the school systems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

“Benefits of Technology in the Classroom.” TeachHUB, www.teachhub.com/benefits-

technology-classroom. 25 Mar. 2019

“Father of Modern Education.” Waldorf Homeschoolers, 25 Mar. 2019

            www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/comenius

Hearns, Morna Kathleen, Barbara Kopp Miller, and David L. Nelson. "Hands-on

Learning Versus Learning by Demonstration at Three Recall Points in University

Students." OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health 30.4 (2010): 169 171. 25

Mar. 2019, www.journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3928/15394492-20090825-01.

Kim, Bokyeong, Hyungsung Park, and Youngkyun Baek. "Not just fun, but serious

strategies: Using meta-cognitive strategies in game-based learning." Computers &

 Education52.4 (2009): 800-810. 25 Mar. 2019,

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131508001954

Trehearn, C. “The Benefits of Hands-On Activities to Increase Learning

Potential.” Education News, 7 Mar. 2018, www.educationviews.org/the-benefits-

of-hands-on-activities-to-increase-learning-potential/.

Willis, Judy. "The neuroscience of joyful education." Educational Leadership 64.9

(2007): 1. 25 Mar. 2019,

http://www.district287.org/uploaded/A_Better_Way/ME_PrereadingJudyWillisEd

LeadArt.pdf