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DC Education Blog links to an article about NBA star Gilbert Arenas pledging to donate $100 for every point he scores at Washington Wizards home games this season.

According to the NBA’s Web site: “The money will help schools pay for computers, athletic uniforms, and equipment, and fund after-school programs. According to the Washington Wizards’ website, team chairmen Abe and Irene Pollin will be doing the same for every Wizards road game. For every point Arenas scores in away games, the Pollins will give $100 to an area school.”

Arenas, who averaged 30.4 points per game at home games last year, would give local schools $124,640 if he scored at that pace this year. If Arenas really gets on a roll and averages the NBA full season record average of 50.4, set by Wilt Chamberlain, Arenas could end up giving schools $206,640. The schools can track his performance and see how much money they will get. Wizards chairman Abe Pollin and his wife Irene will match Arenas’ offer by giving $100 for each point he scores in road games.

What I’m about to say in no way is meant to discourage Arenas from doing what he wants with his money. After all, if I had any influence over how he allocated his money, I would tell him to give it to me. This is for the next philanthropist, in an NBA uniform or not, who is looking to contribute–or for Arenas, just in case he might be seeking an opinion from someone who has a differing view.

A few problems with the generous offer from Arenas:

• A positive trend in the field of education is to have the money follow the child. Arenas would be giving his money to schools rather than directly to children. Why give the money directly to children in the form of scholarships? One reason is that there are serious questions about the amount of money that actually makes it to the classroom for the education process. Despite the DC public school system spending almost $1 billion on 58,000 kids, there are constant reports about insufficient supplies and dilapidated buildings. There are proposals to spend more than $2 billion repairing public schools.
• A second reason to give the money directly to children in the form of scholarships: It increases the choices that those children and their families have to find the model of education that works best for them. A great thing about D.C. is that, even though city leaders and educators have had to be dragged kicking and screaming, the city now has a number of education options for children. There is now more competition among schools for children, but still, the money, power, and decision-making are in the hands of adults, to dole out as empire-building at best and cronyism at worst. Donors putting their money directly in children rather than systems will increase the power for those children to be able to pick and choose among schools, rather than taking what’s available in to avoid the worst of the worst schools. If they choose to remain in public school, then they could use that money for college later down the line.
• In hoping that Arenas scores like himself ($124K) or like Wilt the Stilt ($206K) this year, he could fund scholarships for a number of kids that could have a direct connection with him. “Scores for Schools” has the wrong focus, with the emphasis being on the schools, for the reasons I outlined above. But Scores for Students? Or, as Arenas said, in a slip of the tongue on his blog: “Scores for Kids.” That is where the focus and money truly need to be. Arenas is still a youngster, it could be a pledge over the next dozen years to provide for the education of low-income youngsters now entering kindergarten to attend the public, private, or charter school of their choice. It could literally be a team, with 12 youngsters on the “Arenas Team.” Those youngsters would be touched directly by him for life in ways that just aren’t possible with the plan he has now, as outlined on the Wizards Web site.

Arenas is already establishing himself, through his actions, as a superstar who is looking to make an impact beyond the court. For those who haven’t followed his career, he was a 2nd round choice out of Arizona in 2001. He was a very good college player, but was passed over for other players who may not even be in the league now. His number is “0” in recognition of his doubters who said that’s what he would amount to–his Web site is Zero to Hero.  Of course, it is unlikely that Arenas would alter the deal. It has already been announced, and the list of schools picked. Still, I like what he is doing and he is one of my favorite players.

This originally appeared on Casey Lartigue’s new blog, Education Choice.