v Defend or critique the claim that athletics is just as valuable in a liberal arts education as artistic endeavors such as art or music.
v Comment on the claim that athletic participation is a good, helpful source of self-knowledge (helps folks learn their limits, their capacities, “learn to think critically about their own performance and that of teammates and opponents, to learn from the criticism of others, to focus on the task before them in the contest and avoid distraction, and to appreciate standards of excellence even when the standards are met better by opponents than by themselves. These skills are similar and arguably may reinforce similar critical skills and the ability to appreciate achievement in the classroom” (Simon, p. 155).
v Continuing on the same point, Simon writes “In calling for the best that is within each participant, a good athletic program can provide educational experiences that are unusually intense and unusually valuable and that reinforce and help develop many of the same traits that promote learning elsewhere” (p. 155). Are academics and intercollegiate athletics mutually reinforcing? Please discuss.
v Comment on the idea that sports can serve as a focal point for building community. Do you agree and if so, is this particularly true at college? Do sports bring us together in ways similar or not to other kinds of shared experiences like arts performances or religious rituals? The philosophers Dreyfus and Kelly in a book called All Things Shining make the point about sports and the sacred using the example of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech at Yankee Stadium:
“In part this association between sport and religion derives from the importance of community in each. The sense that one is joined with one’s fellow human beings in the celebration of something great reinforces the sense that what one is celebrating is really great.”
I thought it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteI believe that sports, highschool especially. In highschool, the community revolves around their local team. I know when i was in highschool, our football team imparticular was very good. On friday nights, it was almost like a movie where the town is almost dead because everyone goes to the games. On the weekends and throughout the week, the talk of the town was how we performed on Friday night and what it was looking like for the next week and our opponent. It seemed to bring everyone together in a way that allowed not only the guys on the team and coaches, but the people within the community to unite as one and help get a victory. For college, i believe that with smaller schools such as TMC that it brings the school together but i wouldnt go as far to say the community, but at a much larger school such as Ohio State then the sports would bring the community together in a much larger fashion
ReplyDeleteI think that athletics is just as important in a liberal arts college as art or music. Playing sport is how some people express themselves, just like an artist or musician would. It's a passion that people live for and I think it keeps student involved. Here at TMC the sports team pick a night and go bowling with the Special Olympics. It's one of my favorite things to do. Also, athletics helps students be more successful in the classroom. You have to maintain a certain GPA to be able to play so it encourages good grades. So athletics is as important in a liberal arts school as art and music.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erica, but on the other hand when it comes to a person's passion for a sport, they only get 4 year to do so and the average player who has the same passion as a Pro prospect usually quit their passion to work or it becomes less and less important.
DeleteAthletics are most definitely as important in a liberal arts college as art or music. Playing a sport is a way that students can become well rounded. The same thing goes for art and music. I think athletics are a good way to build character traits such as time management, leadership, competitive nature, etc. Art and music are also designed to build other traits and helps students to be creative and think critically. Both together, help build well rounded students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David and Erica. A liberal arts education does not mandate participation in sports, but does encourage a student to learn beyond the classroom. Sports do not necessarily enhance learning in the classroom in all cases. However, a liberal arts education helps us to think critically; this kind of thinking helps us excel in sports and other parts of life as well. Thinking critically encourages students to learn in a new way that involves self-discipline and questioning assumption. These can apply to the way athletes learn and implement skills in the game.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why people cant play sports outside of college and achieve everything that people believe they earn playing for a "school". It is not as if we separate school and sports that people will not play sports or support each other or not go to each other games. The event will just be held by a different organization whose ONLY job is that of athletics. Pro scouts can still recruit players from these "clubs". School will be ONLY about education. Other countries do not have college sports and seem to do just fine. Is it just our "American Way" of being different?
ReplyDeleteI believe that participation is sports in one of the best things you can do through life. With playing sports my entire life, i have been pushed to my max and then tested to see how far i could actually go. This is a fine line between physically done and mentally done. My highschool football coach always preached that your body will physically tell you to stop before your mind will tell you to. With saying that, i learned that you always have to push yourself until you absolutely cant go anymore. This was taught to me through athletics and participation in sports, but it has been something i have carried with me through my entire life. This can be used in all aspects of life, such as school, obtaining your college degree, getting a job and showing your boss your mentally strong as well as brilliant. I believe that participating in sports does more for you and helps shape you as person than just just playing sports.
ReplyDeleteI do like some of the comments made by Dexter he has a good point. I believe though taking sports out of a school or college is taking away the atmosphere that sports bring to that school. It takes away tradition, passion, and support. Many schools have a strong history in athletics and people do choose those schools for the atmosphere and common liking/ support that the sport brings to the school.
ReplyDeletei can only speak for soccer really but i would say that the kids that play high school are mostly scrubs, at least in Kentucky. There are few good teams, but there are some. Colleges recruit heavily on club soccer these days anyway. It wouldnt be that big of a stretch to see this happen before too long. If soccer can do it im sure most sports can do it after a couple of years.
ReplyDeleteRegarding sports as a focal point for a community: People bond by sharing common experiences. And this is what sports do, they provide a common experience to many people giving the community something to discuss and argue about. I play on a sand volleyball league. After the games we go out to eat and the topic of discussion is a breakdown of who did what and what should have happened in the games. So yes sports are a building block of a community because they draw people together.
ReplyDeleteAthletics in a liberal arts institution is just as valuable as the arts and forms of music to the students that engage in those extracurricular activities. In both instances, this participation helps develop discipline and other attributes that will be beneficial for taking the next step after graduation. Both of these types of activities, at least at the liberal arts level, traditionally offer an opportunity to extend the careers of athletes, artists and musicians past the high school level without the heavy demand and competition that exists at the bigger universities and colleges.
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