Texas Monthly article

I had to writing something for my english class and post it on our group blog so I figured why not just post it here too. Enjoy!


I was reading an article in Texas Monthly called "Size Matters." The article was about how high school students usually do better in smaller schools. They get more attention and encouragement and are more likely to succeed. However, Texas schools are not getting smaller. In fact, most communities are in favor of big school for one reason: better athletic teams. Texas has 24 high schools with more than 3,000 students and that number will only grow. The communities of schools like Austin Westlake and Converse Judson voted down proposals for a second high school in favor of one high school with a bigger talent pool. Duncanville even chose to expand its current campus instead of building a new high school. The campus is now 863,137 square feet and home to almost 3,800 students. This is sad truth in Texas (and California, which has 25 campuses with more than 4,000 students). Sports are not everything. I won a State Championship in soccer while I was in high school but lucky for me I knew that there was more. Some of my friends didn't, and all the know how to do is play soccer. I think that sports are important, but not so important that compromising the quality of education is an option. The Dell and Gates Foundations are making headway and some campuses, including Austin's Johnston High School, are adopting a "school within a school" policy where the same teachers work with the same student for their entire high school career. This is a start. Education is the point of high school. Not sports, not band, not ______(fill in the blank). Extracurricular activities are important, and can be very helpful in the development of a student, but they cannot be the point.

I also thought it was interesting that on the cover of this issue of Texas Monthly was Vince Young with the title "The Best. Ever." In the same magazine where an article is written about how Texans glorify high school sports, especailly football, is the glorification of a collegiate athlete who will never finish college. What message does this send?

Generally I'm not one for cheesey song lyrics, but I don't think these are chessy. Check them out.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

This is Interesting...

So I'm here just chillin, reading a really good article in Texas Monthly about the size of Texas's schools and how students benefit from small schools. The dropout rate is less, and kids get more personal attention, but many people like larger schools because their football teams are better. True. Very true. Such is the case with places like Austin Westlake. But then I noticed something. What was on the cover on the very issue I was reading? Vince Young. With a football.

Interesting...

Very Interesting....