Education and Basketball

It all comes down to this!  Tomorrow, the Men's NCAA College Basketball Championship begins and on Friday, the Women's.  The tournaments are a big deal.  In almost every place I've worked, we have had office "pools" on the men's tournament.  Even all my fly fishing buddies run a pool (very cool prizes, lots of dry flies!).  

As President Obama begins his campaign on education reforms, it's interesting that our First Basketball Fan and Recreation Player, hasn't mentioned some interesting facts as we begin our orgy of watching basketball.  Graduation rates.  

The men's graduation rates, according to the NCAA, averages at 59%.  The women's of course is much higher, with at least fourteen teams in the women's tournament having 100% graduation rates.  

Given that a majority of teams in both tournaments are public schools and most if not all the players are on scholarships, isn't it outrageous that we are not doing enough to keep the kids in school?  The problem is, of course, that for the men, the lure of huge monetary rewards of playing in the NBA far outweigh a college degree.  The women don't have that problem.

So while President Obama is telling high school students they don't have an option about dropping out, maybe he should also tell men's college basketball players that they have a privileged place in our society.  A scholarship to study at some of the best schools in the country: Duke, University of Connecticut, Michigan State, Louisville, University of Washington.  And that indeed, a college degree is worth something.  Just look at Obama's aide and Duke football and basketball star, Reggie Love.  He graduated.

While you're enjoying the games think about how we can encourage higher graduation rates, lower attrition to the NBA, and of course, less corruption because of all the big money.

Now, go fill out your bracket.