Disappointed...

I have made a recent discovery that more or less makes me very angry and disappointed. In one of my classes the professor was randomly selecting students to read sections of material. I read and don't mind reading. She called on another person...who happened to be a student athlete. He sat there in silence. She asked him why he was reading, he said, "I don't read very well." She asked him how he could be college student and not be able to read? Well for him, he is attending college on a football scholarship. I noticed that other students were having trouble reading very easy words...at least to me, words such as: subtle, indictment, and retaliating (these are just to name a few). I'm sitting there shaking my head in complete confusion because the readings aren't that difficult and seriously by now you should be able to pronounce most words. So what gives? I don't care if you're a freaking student athlete and you are here solely on scholarship and you can't even read...there are some flaws in the system. I don't know how much this happens across the nation in all campuses, but I'd imagine it happens more than I think. It's disappointing because so many of these athletes can do so much better, but because they get a free ride, they don't. Unfortunately, I'm guessing he won't be in the NFL once he graduates from college...so then what does he plan on doing? It irritates me that colleges are so focused on making sure there football or basketball teams are top notch, they don't care about academics when they are recruiting. How about all of these other students who aren't athletes but yet still struggle to pronounce words? Is it just that they struggle when reading in front of a group of people? Or do they really not know the word and don't care, because mommy and daddy are paying for their education anyways, so as long as they show up to class it doesnt matter.

I really am disappointed in my generation. I honestly think we are going backwards and not forwards. As much as people like to think technology is growing and will be useful and benefit students, it's making people stupider. Don't get me wrong there is lots of useful information on the internet and its nice to have a cell phone, but I still take time to read a book and research in the library. What is happening with our students and the way college's recruit student athletes? What's more important: finding an athelete who will win a championship for your team and sucks in the classroom or finding a student who excels in the classroom and on the field? (apparently you can't have both qualities...if you're great at a sport it doesn't matter how you do in the classroom.)