hs-sports-2 On August 8, 2015, the Editorial board of the Lancaster (PA) Newspapers (LNP) printed an essay (“On stress and high school sports”) that called for a community-wide discussion of the role of sports in our high schools. In strong and direct terms, the board raised some very important, fundamental and long overdue questions regarding […]
Let’s Talk About Sports’ Role in Our High Schools Read More »
This essay was published in the July 19, 2015 edition of the Lancaster (PA) Sunday News We’re two weeks removed from the World Cup victory of the U.S. Women’s National Team, and a week past the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open in Lancaster. In both tournaments, the competition was compelling and the brilliance of these world-class
Women’s Sports Grow More Popular, But Their Real Value Isn’t Commercial Read More »
Kids playing music This essay was published in the June 23, 2015 edition of EDUCATION WEEK. In a perfect world, all high school activities would be fully funded. But to educators struggling to find the financial means to establish and pay for educational priorities, it is clear that we do not live in a perfect
Football or Music? What’s the Best K-12 Investment Read More »
In an article published in the December 6, 2015 edition of The Birmingham (AL) News, I praised the University of Alabama – Birmingham’s board and leadership team for recognizing the fact that competitive and financial realities change and for responding to those changes by discontinuing their football program. I wrote that schools that refuse to
Hip Cat playing Piano I’d never given any thought to whether pianos, like humans, are living, breathing beings with souls. That changed the morning I stopped by the Music For Everyone Keys for the City piano located in front of Lancaster’s Main Public Library early one May morning in 2010. Since 2010 MFE has been
teddy-roosevelt-1040cs022312 In the early 1900’s football was an exceedingly brutal sport. With little protective gear, players suffered horrible injuries, from wrenched spinal cords to crushed skulls and even death. The Chicago Tribune reported that in 1904 alone, there were 18 football related deaths. Amid growing calls for its abolition, President Teddy Roosevelt entered the fray
Every pro sports league does them. Those public service announcements and commercials with athletes reading to kids or teaching them sports skills. While my point is not to dismiss the genuine good many of these efforts bring to our communities, here’s a community “service” project for the NFL that will have more positive impact on
deflated football The following essay was published in the Lancaster, PA Sunday News on April 19, 2015 On March 29, LNP devoted significant space to a discussion of concussions in youth sports. While the writers presented some interesting perspectives, there is far more to the story. This is evidenced in a recent report that USA
Mosey Football Helmut Testing Without question, the single biggest development in sports over the past several years has been the increased revelations regarding concussions in the sport of football. Every day it seems there is another story, piece of research or new narrative piercing the façade of the heretofore seemingly invincible armor of King Football.
Football “Reform”: Buckle Your Chin Strap – It’s Going to be a Wild Ride Read More »
As was widely reported, after a campus-wide study, the University of Alabama – Birmingham recently decided to discontinue its football program. The driving force behind their move was the NCAA’s recent approval of a measure to give more autonomy to the five powerhouse conferences (Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12, ACC and Big 12), allowing them
UAB Football Debate: A Local Decision with National Implications Read More »
