[Grovenet] It's good to see a community that does raise kids together...

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

SMITH CENTER, Kan., Nov. 7 - Their photos are on the cards traded over at
the elementary school, and their exploits are on the lips of the old men who
gather at the Second Cup Cafe each morning. They are the sons and grandsons
of this north Kansas town, and for 30 autumns now, the Smith Center Redmen
have puffed up the chests of folks here.

They are a high school football team, a superb one that has won 51 games in
a row and three consecutive state championships, and has outscored opponents
this season, 704-0. They are more than that, however, to the 1,931 people
here who all know one another's names: The Redmen are proof that hard work
and accountability still mean something.

The trading cards, for example, are not about hero worship. Each player and
cheerleader signs a contract pledging to remain alcohol-, drug- and
tobacco-free. If they break that promise, they must go to the elementary
school to explain to the children why they were kicked off their team, and
their cards are revoked. 

"What we do around here real well is raise kids," Smith Center Coach Roger
Barta said. "In fact, we do such a good job at it - and I'm talking about
the parents and community - that they go away to school and succeed, and
then pursue opportunities in the bigger cities.

"None of this is really about football," he added. "We're going to get
scored on eventually, and lose a game, and that doesn't mean anything. What
I hope we're doing is sending kids into life who know that every day means
something." 

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What? And no one has sued? And no one has written to the State about how
unfair it is that mere "children" should be accountable?? Amazing!

There's a community that works! 

Life isn't a football game, but learning to play any game well can teach a
kid how to succeed in life. 

Maybe another future world leader and great President will come from Kansas
soon. We need him or her. 

Ron D'Eau Claire 

Full story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/sports/football/09football.html?_r=1&th=&a
dxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1194737465-6xVy0+HgGyR6WjMWGYpLZQ