Semi OT: AP Reports that Schools Lower Admission Standards for Athletes

Artists and musicians are usually smart people. I have three kids who are both, and also my anecdotal evidence from dealing with their friends and the kids and families they take music, dance, and art lessons with is that these kids also usually seem to have one other thing: the money to get into college. Families that can support artistic endeavors by their children usually aren't hurting. Music and arts support intellectual development as well. Music is a "language" kids learn to speak as they progress through their, er, music. If they are the types of kids who do well with their, er, music (and arts)--well, generally they pretty smart in other areas and work harder in those other areas as well. Also, never discount the socio-economic factors of many athletes. If you doubt the impact of their environment on many of them, take a look at some Jonathan Kozol books. I support the standards for athletes. Are they too low? How about a gradual raising over time--but do they have the support network and will their schools improve along with expectations of performance? Interesting topic, as always. I always take a sideways view of these types of things. My viewpoint is that if so many people really care--we'd see more Harvard, Yale and Princeton games on ABC and ESPN every Saturday.