Texsox

My top girl tied for 1st. We lost the sudden victory playoff. But she advances to regional. My nerves are shot.

I was liking Bubba.

What a season for my boys team. District Champs - first in school’s history Individual champ. First in schools history 18, 36, and 54 hole team scoring record. 18, 36, and 54 individual scoring records Advancing to regional for the first time in school history. Me in the middle of the 18th fairway chocking back tears as my #1 sticks a 8 iron to 6” from 145 yards to finish with a “walk off” birdie in front of 35 people. The kid is easily the best teammate I’ve ever been around. The other coaches were so happy for this kid. Getting into coaching is so damn rewarding, even if it takes all my time.

Every time I hear about arming teachers I picture a third grade teacher with a holster hugging a kid. To be useful a gun needs to be ready to shoot and available quickly. Do we put gun safes in schools? Holsters for teachers? Easy access for the teacher is also easy access for kids.

Like every industry you can’t pay workers too much or you will go out of business and everyone loses their jobs. Let’s start a list of major professional sports teams which went bankrupt. 1. Who here is going to walk into their employer and demand a lower salary so the company can lower costs and “win” market share? If I was a player I’d have Boras as an agent. I want someone getting me every last penny. Pro athletes are competitive, at everything. That includes whose got the biggest check.

Trying to add something that hasn’t already been mentioned, and admittedly a most minor of factors. Will signing him sell tickets to the casual fan? Will it grab a few headlines? Chalk up some of the cash in the advertising column and add him. You don’t always get your first choice but you might find you get what you need.

Hindsite articles are so easy. And drive traffic.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 27, 2018 -> 09:12 AM) Even if you talk with the administration and counselors, make sure you talk directly with his teachers as well. The appropriate information doesn't always get passed down to them even if legally it has to. Absolutely. A friendly email to get the ball rolling is really helpful. I especially like knowing the things that might not be noticable and any strategies that have worked and any that have not. Any competent teacher wants the same thing that parents want. What is best for the child. The very best parens that I have worked with would jot regular, short emails, alerting me to and problems and also alerting me to what has been positive. Actually, I appreciate that for all my students. Also, if appropriate allow the teacher an occasional opportunity to correct any mistakes that may have been made. I have 125 students and do make mistakes. Once I know about them I will correct them quickly to the best of my ability. I know other teachers would appreciate the same opportunity. I do stress occasional and when appropriate.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 25, 2018 -> 09:11 PM) Tex, This is great to know. I appreciate your valuable perspective here. To be clear, I'm not saying those issues don’t happen but going in and demanding the minimum the law requires will get you the minimum. Get the school on your side and you get the maximum. I’m thinking of a player on the golf team last year that we would do anything for. The parents were wonderful to work with and we appreciated all of their support.

Teaching and attending school in a prison environment is a huge step back.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 22, 2018 -> 09:07 AM) I dont think that would be possible, there would need to be a standardized training program as well as a standard issue weapon and weapon container. Not to mention the increased insurance premiums. At least here in Texas there are already conceal carry classes that could be used as the training.

Don't necessarily assume you will be in a fight. At least in the two schools I have taught at it is far from a fight. Be aware that due to state mandate testing requirements accomodations do have to be backed with proper paperwork. Too many schools have tried to hide underperforming kids in categories that are inappropriate for them. Because these are covered by law it isn't as easy as saying hey we have to do this for him because mom or dad say we should. The law calls for proper diagnosis and documentation. I am aware of all of the accommodations that my students have and strive each day to meet those. My admin and the people whose job it is to make certain those accommodations are followed communicate the importance on a very regular basis. I have chosen to basically give all my students extended time to complete assignments, preferential seating, and alternate assignments as necessary. I believe at last count on my campus of over 3,000 students over 500 students had accommodations that needed to be met. So we have an extensive quality control system in place. Communication with the classroom teacher can also be a big help. I love receiving information from parents on what works for their child and what doesn't.

I am pulling as hard for Tiger 3.0 as I was for everyone who was competing against Tiger 1.0

I’m doing more coaching than playing. My team is flat out good. My #1 has been -5 (70-73-68) and -6 (71-67) in winning his last two tournaments. My #2 is struggling but keeping it in the mid 70s. We’ve broken almost every school record. Best of all they are really great kids. This past weekend we were staying at a cool resort for the tournament and when it was time to leave their condo was clean and neat.

For a gun to be useful for protection it needs to be readily accessible and ready to shoot. That is not a combination I am comfortable with in my classroom. Basically if I can get it fast, so can a student. Plus, most schools struggle to buy supplies, where is the money coming from? Increased school funding? We accept that an arms race wins wars. From rifled barrels during the Revolutionary War to the "Mother of all Bombs" in WW2. But with the rising numbers of gun deaths we believe it is the individual that changed, that the individual has become more deadly. I certainly agree we have, but to not address the fact that we are legally providing more deadly weapons to people who wish to harm us is a disservice to the next people who get murdered. It is a complex problem that required a complex solution.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 11, 2018 -> 03:48 PM) Duncan is 72. He's 10 years older than Coop. I guess I never realized how young Coop is. In my mind I had their ages reversed.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 10:22 AM) Literally the only time I turn on AM radio is to find a Blackhawks or White Sox game, or to listen to 780 AM for news. I refuse to listen to sports radio in general, it is almost as bad as political talk radio. X2 Any show that has callers is an automatic turn off for me.

Heir apparent or he’s not interested in leaving the couch?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Feb 10, 2018 -> 11:58 PM) We should do a poll of who wants greg to voluntarily leave Soxtalk and who wants him to stay. I still say I have a silent majority that would vote for Greg to stay. Since you brought it up, (I wouldn’t have otherwise) the messages that I’ve received as a mod and admin is exactly the opposite. The lesson here soxtalkers is we do accept contrarians who follow the rules. I’m probably your biggest defender and honestly I believe you are a class A troll based on some of your work away from Soxtalk. At your best you create and propel meaningful discussions on important topics, at your worse, well Balta may have best summed your *image* here. I’m not going to label anyone based on their online persona on a message board and hope no one would label me without meeting me.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Feb 8, 2018 -> 11:08 AM) Had you not started this thread, I'd bet that 85% of the people on this board would've never even heard about this story. I haven't run across a single news article, Facebook post or interacted with another person IRL that has brought this story up. Not an issue in Texas. And I work in education.

At my age I could live on the winnings from a scratch off ticket.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 7, 2018 -> 07:22 PM) It's even easier to say "Alexa...fart" The joys of life with toddlers. And yes, she farts. Thank you! I love adding Alexa skills.

Schools aren’t social matchmaking companies.

Having school events and stopping half the students is a bad plan. Fathers and daughters can go on "dates" during their own time.

I'm trying to wrap my head around the Sox as WGN's flagship baseball team. I get the games on sat radio.