Ryan Robbins Writes:
 
>In article <[log in to unmask]>, larry latour
><[log in to unmask]> says:
>>
>>Has anyone considered the fact that these "kids" are playing in
>>THE OLYMPICS, and that such an experience is worth 1000 times as
>>much "academically" as classroom time.  I should think that
>>Institutions should not only encourage such experiences, but
>>find a way to give academic credit for participation in such
>>activities.
 
(Some of Ryan's post deleted...)
 
>Colleges should NOT give credit to students for taking part in
>the Olympics or for sailing around the world. Pretty soon students
>will be lining up to get credit for the vacations they took to
>Aruba during Semester Break.
>
     I agree with Ryan.  In fact, I find the suggestion of giving college
credit for the privilege of Olympic participation (something which used to
be considered, and still is by thousands of kids, worthy of great sacrifice)
absurd.  One can argue about the education to be gleaned from such an
experience (to which I can attest, having traveled abroad as an undergrad),
but this is hardly "academic" learning, much less "1000 times" more
valuable academically than coursework.  Do universities give course credit
to students who take a year off for something like the Peace Corps (arguably
more educational than going to the Olympics)?  Maybe some do, but I'm not
aware of it.  Clarkson doesn't.
 
>
>
>Ryan Robbins
>Stodder Hall
>University of Maine
 
>[log in to unmask]
 
-Glenn