Scoping Out the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I was surfing the web today, and I came across the some good stories and features on the Post-Dispatch website.

First, I found out there was an education blog at their website called The Grade. The following is a description of their blog:

"An STLtoday.com blog on education in the St. Louis region, with a focus on efforts to improve student performance. Our team of reporters tackle a broad range of topics from school testing and charter schools, to discipline and bullying, while providing a forum discussion by parents, educators and readers."

Check out their most recent post on the Arne Duncan appointment.

Then it appears that the Missouri Supreme Court is letting the state keep control of the St. Louis Public School System.:

"The decision backs the appointment of a three-member governing board that has run Missouri’s largest school district since it lost accreditation in June 2007. Members of the elected school board have remained in office, but are mostly powerless."

Finally, the AP announced the 2008 All American Team in football. 1st Team picks consist of Jeremy Maclin (All Purpose Player) and Chase Cauffman (Tight End). We also have a third team player with Sean Witherspoon (Linebacker). GO TIGERS!!!

Arne Duncan: A Safe Choice

There couldn't be a better time to start writing on my blog after a week off from posting (sorry, I've been kind of busy). We now know who the next Secretary of Education is going to be: Chicago School Chief Arne Duncan.

And based on everything I have read about him so far, his choice seems to be about two things. First, he is a politically safe choice because he will most likely not upset either side of the current education reform debate. On the one hand, he is appealing to education "reformistas" because he is a big city school chancellor with a history of trying to reform schools, just like his old boss Paul Vallas (who is now in charge of New Orleans Public Schools) Also, his name isn't Linda Darling-Hammond.

On the other hand, he is at least partially appealing to the more traditional/teacher-friendly (for lack of a better term) side of the debate because he isn't as controversial as a Joel Klein or Michelle Rhee. In addition, Teacher Unions don't hate his guts. AFT head Randi Weingarten even says that Duncan "reaches out (to unions) to do things in a collaborative way."

The second thing his choice indicates is that, simply, Duncan is someone Obama can personally trust. He is from Hyde Park in Chicago, has worked with Obama over the years, and has even played basketball with him (in fact, Duncan apparently has a fairly nice basketball career). Just like other Presidents will pick people for their cabinets from back home (including our present Education Secretary), Obama has done the same thing.

I do have some concerns. While he is clearly a safe pick, is that all he is? Is the fact that he didn't pick either a Linda-Darling Hammond or a Michelle Rhee a sign that Obama wants to reach out to both sides of the education reform debate? Or is it just a sign that Obama wants a politically safe pick because education won't be that high of a priority? Plus, as good of a job as Duncan has done in Chicago, will that actually transfer over to a national level? Duncan was in charge of just one school district (even though it is a huge one), but will now be in charge of thousands of school districts in 50 states. Needles to say, it is harder to micromanage things.

Also, it would be nice to have an Education Secretary who has actually taught inside a class. Oh, well.

I personally would have preferred a Linda-Darling Hammond, but I am not opposed to Duncan as a choice. Maybe he is exactly what our education system needs. Let's give the guy a chance and see what he can do.

Picture comes from This Week in Education.

2008 Big 12 Championship Game

Well, Crap. So much for a preseason ranking of number 4. I am surprised we are even ranked in the Top 25 still. Oh well, we have the Alamo Bowl to look forward to. And as disappointed as Mizzou fans are, we would have been ecstatic to even be this far a couple of years ago.

Bad Week for Mizzou Football

First, we loose to our rivals Kansas in one hell of a football game. By the way, I had the pleasure of watching the game with my future in-laws this weekend. They are Kansas fans.

Then, we loose our outstanding Offensive Coordinator to Wyoming. Oh well, we at least have the Big 12 Championship game against Oklahoma to look forward to (where we are undoubtedly the underdog).

For Uber Cardinals Fans

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has created a Mount Rushmore of Cardinals Players. After a vote of who should be on it, they have narrowed it down to a 4 very good players: Stan Musial, Albert Pujols, Ozzie Smith, and Bob Gibson.

Some people think Pujols's selection is premature. I say nonsense. He has won 2 MVPs (so far), and has been arguably the baseball's best hitter for the past 8 years in the league (how long he has been playing). Oh yes, he can also field and run well for a 1st Basemen. You could substitute Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, or even broadcaster Jack Buck for Pujols, and I would be ok with the list. But Pujols is still the better pick.

The Picture was created by Tom Borgman of the Post-Dispatch.

A Good Week for Missouri Sports

The Tigers won the Big 12 North after defeating Iowa State, and Albert Pujols becomes the second Cardinals in history to win 2 MVP Awards (despite the fact we finished 4th this year).

The picture of Pujols accepting the MVP award comes from St. Louis Post-Dispatch