Odds 'n' Ends
From the desk today, there were a few items that caught my eye:
High School Student Athlete Standards: This morning's Des Moines Register reported on yesterday's meeting of the State School Board
and the 5-4 rejection of a proposal to require that students pass all
classes in order to remain eligible to play sports.
Board
Member Gregory McClain had this to say in regards to the current
standard that allows athletes to be eligible: “All D minuses and
two F's is not a high standard by any stretch.”
He's
right. While athletics can be an important component of
education, we'd all do a little better to remember that it's only a
small part of the total picture. It doesn't do any good to excuse
poor academic performance just to make the school football team better.
The Punditry Class In America: There was a link to a conservative blogger
on Daily Kos that took exception with the attack on Cindy Sheehan's
protest in Crawford, TX. The blogger made a rather profound
observation that is rather obvious when you tune into any of the news
media these days:
The growing
division between the professional class of spinning punditry and the
vast expanse of Middle America that actually does the working, the
fighting and the dying so the pundits can spend their time chattering
has never been more clear than with this story.
It's Fair Time:
The Iowa State Fair started yesterday and continues through next
Sunday. I have to admit that the State Fair is still something I
look forward to, even though it's not for the nearly-make-myself-vomit
rides that I used to look forward to!
There's plenty happening – be sure to stop by the Agricultural Building and show your support for Iowa's Family Farmers!
Plus, the old saying that “Fair Food Has No Calories” is in full effect this week. We promise we won't tell….
Blog For Iowa 