Survey says big issues loom for state school leaders
This afternoon, the Tennessee State Board of Education will meet in a special "virtual" meeting. You know, social distancing and all requires the meeting to be held via teleconference.
The board's agenda is full of issues related to the coronavirus pandemic and the statewide upheaval the virus has created in public education. Among the topics is approval of emergency rules governing K-12 graduation requirements for high school seniors.
For seniors, the coronavirus has unleashed a wrecking ball to their anticipated graduation celebrations.
For all other students, the pandemic has forced them home to tackle their schoolwork like the rest of us are tackling our jobs, and most are doing the best they can.
It's increasingly difficult to think that school will reconvene before August. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the most televised doctor since Hawkeye Pierce or Doogie Howser, is cautiously predicting that the 2020-21 school year could happen.
But he wisely added the tempered caveat we should all remember whether we're talking about our return to everyday activities, be them school or sports or anything else.
"My optimistic side tells me that we'll be able to renew," he told reporters Tuesday at a White House news conference, "to a certain extent - but it's going to be different, remember now, because this is not going to disappear."
The critical word in that sentence is "different." The critical question moving forward, though, is more how than when.
How could school be different? The options are limitless, be them virtual and/or practical. To their credit, state school leaders offered a survey for everyone connected to local school systems.
The survey is open until Monday. The current version has three questions and a space for comments. That's great. I hope every parent who is alerted to the survey fills it out. Let the state folks know where you stand.
But the survey now in the field is a bit different from an earlier version, according to multiple folks who saw it and were so surprised that they took screen shots of the questions.
This particular version asked respondents if they wanted to see direction from the state related to how we should make up missed learning; another question whether respondents would like to see state support on how we could make up missed learning, including, for example, technical assistance or guidance documents.
The last question was the doozy. It asked responders to check "all that apply. I would like to see districts implement the following to make up missed learning time:"
> Summer school in 2020
> Summer school in 2021,
> Longer school days in 2020-2021
> Longer school calendar in 2020-2021.
Thankfully, there was an "Other" box that allowed write-in answers on that question. Be it backlash or better judgement, a different version of the survey appeared.
Hopefully, since all of those above options are less-than-appealing, the state folks putting their meeting together today in Nashville will have some better solutions to a very difficult problem. (Side note: Surely the state board is going to talk about what to do about two-and-a-half months of missed classroom learning?)
Before any decision about how to make up that time is reached, state and local education leaders need to assess the necessity of requiring students to do so. Certainly a sizable portion of our public school kids are keeping pace academically.
But there are going to be students who have not, and concessions must be made for those adversely affected by the unprecedented impact of the pandemic.
Meeting the needs of all students who missed two-and-a-half months of classroom instruction will be challenging, no matter what surveys - and their varying versions - reveal.
A tradition not liked by anyone for the tradition unlike any other
Today should have been the day when we marvel at Freddie Couples continuing to contend with the flat-bellys. Today should have been the day when a sneaky run from someone no one expected. Today should have been the day that you wonder where HE is and if HE can make a move this weekend. Today should have been the day that we figured out how to dart in and out of Press Row this afternoon to catch glimpses and scan the leaderboard.
Today should have been the first day of the Masters.
Tear.
Sigh.
This one hurts. (Side question: Has anyone checked on Jim Nantz? If you take away the folks that actually have caught the Corona or have a family member who have had the Corona, Nantz has had the worst week of anyone right? This is normally the eight-day sprint in which he goes from giving a necktie to a college hoops senior to saying "Hello Friends" from the Butler Cabin and making us all mumble, "Man, he has the best job in sports media.")
No Masters. No Tiger on the tee, and yes he's the HE in the intro paragraph. No old-school warm and fuzzies when a beloved past champ makes his move. No side stories about a Rickie or a Jon Rahm or Tommy Fleetwood trying to shed the "Best player without a major" label. No pimento cheese or azalea blooms or wonder what the weather will be Saturday. No long lines at the merchandise store.
(Side point: Yes, those lines are long, but there is no place that patience is wantonly accepted than waiting to make someone's year with a gift with that iconic Masters logo. Side question about the side point: The Masters logo is the best logo right? Rushmore of non-team logos in sports starts with the Masters, moves to the Olympic rings and then goes where? Discuss.)
Hopefully - for us as fans and the city of Augusta financially - the November reboot of the Masters will work and be fun.
But this one certainly stings.
Dang you, Corona. Now and forever.
Draft details
We are two weeks from the NFL draft. I love the draft; you know this.
There are a slew of mock drafts out there and more than just about anyone else, I think Todd McShay's insight is as good as anyone's.
(Side question: What would be considered a 'successful' mock draft? If you get eight of the 32 picks right - player and team - is that good? Is it great? I'm not sure.)
We know the moving pieces will center around teams looking for QB solutions. That's how the top third and the bottom third of the draft works in the modern world.
For example, there will be six (or more) WRs drafted in round 1 and likely as many offensive tackles in round 1 as well. But the top 10 picks will be all about positioning for Tua or Justin Herbert or even Jordan Love. Then the last 10 picks will be teams - looking at you Tampa Bay - making moves back into round 1 (and securing that team-controlled fifth year on the rookie deal) for a QB of the future, like a Jacob Eason or a Jake Fromm.
The most-discussed topic this week has not been mocks or trades as much as it's been modems and technology. The concerns about hacking or tech issues with draft being done virtually for social distancing purposes are everywhere.
Sure, some of it is a natural by-product of the by-nature worrisome tendencies of football coaches. Some of it also is a pre-emptive excuse for the decision makers in case they make a mistake.
(Side note: The lack of scouting time and in-person meetings with prospects give more credence to the plea from some teams to extend the draft by a few rounds. And let's be real clear, if you do round 1 on Thursday, rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday, you can add a couple more rounds on Sunday and we're still going to watch. I love the draft. You know this.)
As for the tech concerns and newness of this process, the NFL is going to have a mock draft in the coming days as a dry run. And it begs a few questions.
First, which team is most likely to have interweb issues during the draft? I'll go with Detroit because a) it's Detroit and b) have you seen Matt Patricia? (Side note: In the LeBatard Show "Looks like game" I really enjoyed "Matt Patricia looks like the guy that goes to your neighborhood steakhouse and order the 'Turf andTurf.')
Second, man, doesn't this feel like a scenario that Bill Belichick and the Patriots are going to exploit? Maybe they crash the server and BOOM next thing you know the Pats have drafted Tua. (Side question about the second side question: How great would it be if they did pull a fast one, and since they likely are using Microsoft gear, would the investigation into the Patriots' computer chicanery be called GatesGate? Discuss.)
And in the NFL practice draft, what should the teams be picking when the mock draft goes round and round? Draft movies? Draft famous people from that team's state? Draft the most underrated player in your franchise's history? Thoughts?
This and that
- In addition to this being the first day of the Masters in most years, it also would be spring break and the 5-at-10 clan was planning on heading to the beach. For those of you clamoring for more photos from the Mrs. 5-at-10 photos, well, here is a shot from where our clan was this time last year for spring break - a little place called Hawaii.
Spring break in Hawaii / photo courtesy of Mrs. 5-at-10
- Speaking of the Masters, Tiger Woods and his caddie Joe LaCava are being sued for more than $30,000 by a fan who claims LaCava shoved him to the ground and caused permanent injuries after the fan tried to take a selfie with Woods in the background. (Side question: Not for nothing, and I have frequently said a huge push in the downturn in our society is our overly litigious nature, but if you are going to sue Tiger, shouldn't there be an extra 0 at least in that number?)
- We linked our interview with Lookouts co-owner Jason Freier on Press Row earlier this week. Well, here are some excellent details from TFP all-around ace and Press Row co-host David Paschall on the painful impacts of the Corona on the Lookouts.
- There are going to be a lot business forever changed by the new (and unknown) normal post-Corona. One that likely may go the way of full-service gas stations is the movie theater. Here's another round of Disney movies headed straight to Disney+ according to Bob Iger. (Side note: Just as a reminder, Iger announced last month that he will not take any salary in 2020 in an effort to avoid as many layoffs or furloughs as can be avoid. Kudos, Bob.)
- Speaking of the Corona, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey (Leg) was on the Paul Finebaum Show on Wednesday.
- Four of Hamilton County's high schools ranked in the top 35 public schools in the state of Tennessee, according to this story from TFP education beat ace Meghan Mangrum.
- OK, if you taped the Modern Family finale and are not caught up, skip to the questions. OK, part of the Modern Family crew all going their separate ways was Cam and Mitch going to Missouri because Cam got a college football head football coaching gig. I ask this earnestly: Could/would a college football program hire a gay football coach? Discuss, and while we encourage the silliness normally, let's be respectful on this one.
Today's questions
OK, last night was another reboot of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" with Jimmy Kimmel running point.
This got me thinking (Shut it Spy) about the phone a friend option.
So today's opening questions center on that. First, what category would you be that friend someone would phone, and b) who would be the friend that would be the absolute no-doubter you're calling if you are in need?
One more, Lou Gehrig's game-used bat sold for more than $1 million. If you had Gates-level money, what piece of sports memorabilia would you break the bank for? Go.
As for today, April 9, let's review.
On this day 155 years ago, Robert E. Lee and the Confederates surrendered at Appomattox Court House.
Hugh Hefner would have been 94 today.
On this day in 1976, "All the Presidents Men" was released. Rushmore of movies set in a newsroom. Go.
And if you have a question for the mailbag, fire away.