Participation in Perspective

March 4, 2016

In school sports, we promote playing more than winning.

We know that kids would rather play on a losing team than only sit and watch on a winning team.
We know that, more than winning, kids play for fun, friendships and fitness ... for the “Fs” more than the “Ws.”

But participation alone is not our goal in school sports. The goal is high participation with high standards.

Our mission is to increase participation and to raise standards, including standards of eligibility, conduct and care.

We know that as we raise such standards for participation, we tend to raise the value of participation for students, schools and society.

Long Days

September 20, 2016

When I read, I prefer three types of literature:

Fun, fast fiction – so I can read more than one page before I fall asleep at night.
Well written, lively biographies of historical figures, especially in American history.
Articles and essays about space.

The pieces about space almost always have the effect of putting my world in humble perspective.

For example, this summer astronomers in Chile discovered Planet HD 131399Ab. It’s 320 light years from Earth, in the constellation Centaurus.

This planet is unlike any other in the known world. It has three suns. And the planet takes 600 of our Earth years to orbit its main sun once.

One day on Planet HD 131399Ab is like 600 years on Earth.

So, if you think you’ve had some long days recently, think again. Ponder Planet HD 131399Ab and its nearly 5 million-hour day.