Well, 2009 is off to an inauspicious start! It seems every time I turn on the radio or TV there’s another report of budget cuts in Education!
Now, I am fully aware that it’s not just Education that is facing budget cuts, but let’s do a refresher course for those of you who don’t recall how we got in this situation.
Two years ago, our esteemed legislature in Columbia saw fit to change the way local school districts are funded. They went away from property tax based funding to sales tax based funding.
With the down turn in the economy, people are obviously shopping and spending less resulting in less revenue coming into the states coffers.
When the change was first proposed I don’t recall a single member of the state school districts that supported the idea since they knew that they were not going to have a steady stream of funding.
Fast-forward two years; Abbeville County had to vote to close Calhoun Falls High School, which has since been reopened as a charter school.
Laurens 55 and 56 districts have had to cut, and cut, and freeze spending and hiring of new employees.
Anderson District 5, which houses Westside and T.L. Hanna High Schools, has had to go to furloughing employees.
I would also think that there is no measure of satisfaction for educators to be able to tell the state legislature and Governor Sanford “I told you so.”
At the same time that the legislature voted to go to sales tax based funding they also voted to do away with the sales tax on groceries. Say what you will, but when you cut, and cut, and cut taxes that funding HAS to come from somewhere or, well, you see how the state ends up!
This year is very crucial for our state It’s time to be innovative in our leadership.
We certainly don’t need any of the SCRG apologists doing the “locked in failing schools” rhetoric!
So, do all of us a favor, call, write, go see your local state senators and representatives and tell them it’s time to reevaluate school funding.
For those of you who want to give me the argument that it’s not your problem because all your kids are grown and out of school, let me remind you that one day, you yourself will need medical care, homes repaired, the list could go on and on. If we don’t do the job of educating our children CORRECTLY who’s going to be there to help YOU…PROPERLY?????
That’s my rant! What’s yours?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What’s Really Important??????
I’ve spent a lot of time the last few months speaking to kids in several area middle schools.
It’s been pretty cool meeting some incredible children. At the same time, it’s definitely been a ye-opening experience.
You have to realize that I have been speaking to students for many years. I always try to relate my personal experiences along with tying it back to their always going after their dreams but at the same time having a back up plan.
Every time I speak to a class, there always seems to be a few kids who’s only plan is becoming a pro athlete. While that is ad admirable dream it also is a dream with very long odds.
Statistics show that in 2004 only 1 our of every 1200 kids who played a varsity sport in high school would ever go to college on an athletic scholarship.
OF those, statistics showed that only 1 of 662 regardless of sport would sign a professional contract.
There was new information just received from the NCAA on football players.
3,000 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players eligible for pro football in
2004. Of those, 252 were drafted into the NFL. Of those drafted, about 60
made NFL rosters. Beyond that, only a quarter of the first-year players played3.3 seasons, the average length of an NFL career.
Let’s put that in perspective, only ½ of a percent of players at the 1A level (Clemson and South Carolina) made an NFL roster. Of those only 1 in 4 will survive to play 3.3 seasons.
Now, take the story of Myron Rolle. The Florida State safety will study at Oxford instead of entering this year's NFL draft.
Rolle won a Rhodes scholarship in November and plans to seek a one-year master's degree in medical anthropology, The New York Times reported Monday in an entry on its college football blog.
Rolle, projected to be an early round pick, said he plans to enter the 2010 NFL draft.
A native of Galloway, N.J., Rolle got his undergraduate degree in pre-med after two and a half years, and has been taking graduate courses at Florida State this year.
After his NFL career, Rolle has said he plans to attend medical school and then open a clinic for the needy in the Bahamas.
Rolle made waves this season when he risked missing one of Florida State's conference games to have his final interview for the Rhodes Scholarship. Rolle had the interview in Birmingham, Ala., then found out he got the scholarship. The safety then received a police escort and took a private plane back to the stadium for the Seminoles' game against Maryland. He entered the game in the second quarter, as Florida State rolled to a 37-3 win.
My point to every parent, grand parent, aunt and uncle as well as student is that while it is perfectly fine to aspire to be a professional athlete, just like the NCAA commercials say…just about all of them go on to the pros in something OTHER than sports!
The one thing a kid should never do is get to a point in their lives that they say, “if only I had…” and regret their choices.
It’s a brand new year, and the last thing I always tell kids is you have absolutely no control over what happened in the past but you have ABSOLUTE control over this moment forward.
Don’t let the opportunity at bettering yourself slip away.
It’s been pretty cool meeting some incredible children. At the same time, it’s definitely been a ye-opening experience.
You have to realize that I have been speaking to students for many years. I always try to relate my personal experiences along with tying it back to their always going after their dreams but at the same time having a back up plan.
Every time I speak to a class, there always seems to be a few kids who’s only plan is becoming a pro athlete. While that is ad admirable dream it also is a dream with very long odds.
Statistics show that in 2004 only 1 our of every 1200 kids who played a varsity sport in high school would ever go to college on an athletic scholarship.
OF those, statistics showed that only 1 of 662 regardless of sport would sign a professional contract.
There was new information just received from the NCAA on football players.
3,000 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players eligible for pro football in
2004. Of those, 252 were drafted into the NFL. Of those drafted, about 60
made NFL rosters. Beyond that, only a quarter of the first-year players played3.3 seasons, the average length of an NFL career.
Let’s put that in perspective, only ½ of a percent of players at the 1A level (Clemson and South Carolina) made an NFL roster. Of those only 1 in 4 will survive to play 3.3 seasons.
Now, take the story of Myron Rolle. The Florida State safety will study at Oxford instead of entering this year's NFL draft.
Rolle won a Rhodes scholarship in November and plans to seek a one-year master's degree in medical anthropology, The New York Times reported Monday in an entry on its college football blog.
Rolle, projected to be an early round pick, said he plans to enter the 2010 NFL draft.
A native of Galloway, N.J., Rolle got his undergraduate degree in pre-med after two and a half years, and has been taking graduate courses at Florida State this year.
After his NFL career, Rolle has said he plans to attend medical school and then open a clinic for the needy in the Bahamas.
Rolle made waves this season when he risked missing one of Florida State's conference games to have his final interview for the Rhodes Scholarship. Rolle had the interview in Birmingham, Ala., then found out he got the scholarship. The safety then received a police escort and took a private plane back to the stadium for the Seminoles' game against Maryland. He entered the game in the second quarter, as Florida State rolled to a 37-3 win.
My point to every parent, grand parent, aunt and uncle as well as student is that while it is perfectly fine to aspire to be a professional athlete, just like the NCAA commercials say…just about all of them go on to the pros in something OTHER than sports!
The one thing a kid should never do is get to a point in their lives that they say, “if only I had…” and regret their choices.
It’s a brand new year, and the last thing I always tell kids is you have absolutely no control over what happened in the past but you have ABSOLUTE control over this moment forward.
Don’t let the opportunity at bettering yourself slip away.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
2009, when things REALLY CHANGE!
The New Year is only a week old, but we’re already off to some wild changes!
No, I am not talking about our soon to be president. That in itself is a huge change but the sports landscape is changing rapidly.
In the first week of January we have already seen:
1. Boston College fires their football coach for interviewing for the vacant head coaching position with the New York jets.
2. Bobby Bentley resigns at Presbyterian College to go back to Spartanburg District 5.
3. John Smoltz apparently agree to terms with the BOSTON RED SOX!
That last one has my head spinning! Smoltz, who has spent his entire 21-year career with the Braves apparently has come to terms on a one year, $5.5 million guaranteed contract that could pay him an additional $5 million in incentives.
While I am keenly aware that Smoltz is 41 and coming off a major shoulder surgery to me, there comes with 21 years of service with one organization a certain amount of loyalty to the same employee.
Smoltz on more than one occasion turned down significantly more money to resign with the Braves.
The Braves have had a less than stellar off-season so far. They failed to come to terms on a trade for Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Diego Padres. They then identified A.J. Burnett as their fall back target and lost out to the Yankees for him.
They still have not acquired that power hitting corner outfielder they publicly stated was a priority and now, will have to deal with the fall-out from no signing Smoltz.
Let’s be clear, signing Smoltz baseball wise is a risk. NOT signing Smoltz is a BUSINESS disaster! Sources say that less than $3 million was the amount that Smoltz and the Braves were apart.
Smoltz has been the face of the franchise, their best pitcher in the post season, EVER and a main stay in working in the community.
Not signing Smoltz sends the wrong message to the fans. IT is a typical example f short term gain is long term foolish.
The powers at be with the Braves evidently got caught up in saving some money now but will see the consequences for their decision for years to come.
Fans make emotional investments in their teams regardless of sports. Fans get crushed when their players leave for another franchise and more often than not blame the player.
This time, the fans can squarely level their fury in the direction of the Braves.
Smoltz gave 21 years of service to the Braves and that should have earned him the right to get a fair market offer.
This should be a good lesson for everyone that the body of a persons work should far and away mean more than one event you’re trying to work through in the present.
Again, short-term gain will be long term foolish!
There's a petition out calling for Frank Wren's firing:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?FireWren
We’re only a week into the new year, if it’s been this hectic to start, buckle up cause the rest of the year should be very, very interesting!
No, I am not talking about our soon to be president. That in itself is a huge change but the sports landscape is changing rapidly.
In the first week of January we have already seen:
1. Boston College fires their football coach for interviewing for the vacant head coaching position with the New York jets.
2. Bobby Bentley resigns at Presbyterian College to go back to Spartanburg District 5.
3. John Smoltz apparently agree to terms with the BOSTON RED SOX!
That last one has my head spinning! Smoltz, who has spent his entire 21-year career with the Braves apparently has come to terms on a one year, $5.5 million guaranteed contract that could pay him an additional $5 million in incentives.
While I am keenly aware that Smoltz is 41 and coming off a major shoulder surgery to me, there comes with 21 years of service with one organization a certain amount of loyalty to the same employee.
Smoltz on more than one occasion turned down significantly more money to resign with the Braves.
The Braves have had a less than stellar off-season so far. They failed to come to terms on a trade for Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Diego Padres. They then identified A.J. Burnett as their fall back target and lost out to the Yankees for him.
They still have not acquired that power hitting corner outfielder they publicly stated was a priority and now, will have to deal with the fall-out from no signing Smoltz.
Let’s be clear, signing Smoltz baseball wise is a risk. NOT signing Smoltz is a BUSINESS disaster! Sources say that less than $3 million was the amount that Smoltz and the Braves were apart.
Smoltz has been the face of the franchise, their best pitcher in the post season, EVER and a main stay in working in the community.
Not signing Smoltz sends the wrong message to the fans. IT is a typical example f short term gain is long term foolish.
The powers at be with the Braves evidently got caught up in saving some money now but will see the consequences for their decision for years to come.
Fans make emotional investments in their teams regardless of sports. Fans get crushed when their players leave for another franchise and more often than not blame the player.
This time, the fans can squarely level their fury in the direction of the Braves.
Smoltz gave 21 years of service to the Braves and that should have earned him the right to get a fair market offer.
This should be a good lesson for everyone that the body of a persons work should far and away mean more than one event you’re trying to work through in the present.
Again, short-term gain will be long term foolish!
There's a petition out calling for Frank Wren's firing:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?FireWren
We’re only a week into the new year, if it’s been this hectic to start, buckle up cause the rest of the year should be very, very interesting!
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