A few weeks ago, our superintendent offered some remarks at the opening of a local conference, including a story about her conversation with some 6th graders. She asked about their favorite parts of school, expecting to hear things like lunch, recess or football.1
Football? 6th grade? Really?
It struck me as a very Texas thing to say.
Not surprising, I suppose, since she came to us a little over a year ago after spending her entire educational career in that state. And, between friends who teach in Texas and the memorable book Friday Night Lights,2 I know they start organized sports very early in their schools, evidentially including 6th grade.
However, around here resource wastes like large football programs are still limited to high schools. I hope changing that is not on her long, still largely private, list of revisions she wants to bring to our overly-large school district.