Columns & Editorials

According to the news the COVID-19 is mutating, growing stronger, and may become immune to the vaccine. Although we don’t need a picture of doom and gloom we can become more aware and ready for what is to come. I think we should start by giving thanks and praise to GOD for our own health then protect ourselves the best we can and be ready to help others when they need it. Humans’ needs are everywhere and as Christians we should be available to help.

Aqueducts, concrete, elaborate roadways & bridges, bathhouses: Ancient Rome was a very sophisticated place. Experts may disagree on the order of importance in the factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire, but they agree that things like an army that grew ineffective, a failing economy, an incompetent emperor, and invading barbarians all played crucial roles. Regardless, the ruination of Rome inevitably led to the loss of these tremendous engineering feats. Indeed, in the case of concrete, that knowledge would fade away by 476 AD (those darn Goths), and not be rediscovered until 1824. But, we are here neither to bury Caesar nor to praise him. We’re here to talk about another black American you must know, but probably don’t. But this Roman thing, tuck it into your back pocket for me, please?

I’m including background that someone reading my column for the first time might not know. If you read it regularly feel free to skip down a couple of paragraphs.

In this climate of uncertainty that is becoming our new sense of normal, I have found myself increasingly hopeful we will emerge a better, cohesive more caring America; especially as it relates to education. I have seen so many creative approaches to teaching children, some of these methods should remain long after COVID19 is a distant memory. This predicament has forced us to look at education, health and life differently and with hopefully, a new appreciation for each.

Dear Aunt B,

It’s all our fault: the participation trophies, the “everyone’s a winner” mentality, the “no awards” movement. We, the latchkey kids of the 70s and 80s, are sorry. It’s out of control in a way we never envisioned. It’s just, we got all in our feelings. After all, it was a rough life. And, it all started with Valentine’s Day. Play the Gilligan’s Island dream sequence music, cause we’re going back in time.

Let me get the important information in this article out of the way up front before I tell the story. Dr. Wilson at Texas Health Family Care is receiving 70 doses of COVID-19 Vaccine per day.

Many parents are discovering the current options for education may not be suiting their children well. While many students have returned to regular, in class instruction, some are still receiving instruction virtually. For students who receive special education services, virtual learning can be very difficult and ineffective.

Each year, millions of Americans get sick from “seasonal influenza” (“the flu”). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 38 million people got sick with the flu during the 2019-2020 flu season. The flu is more dangerous than the common cold and children are at higher risk for developing serious complications. More than 12 million children under the age of 18 were diagnosed with flu last year, and of those children diagnosed, more than 52,000 were hospitalized. However, there are preventive steps parents can take to protect their children and family from the flu.

It was 1965 and our family had moved from Hondo, Texas to Floresville. I was a new kid in a new school. I didn’t know very many people, but what I did know is that whatever the pecking order was, I was starting out on the bottom of it.

Parents are paying closer attention to education options for their children. The pandemic has forced communities to not reinvent the wheel, but rather invent different types of wheels to meet the academic needs of a socially and academically diverse student body. This is one of the few positive outcomes of COVID19. Regardless of the academic option one chooses, information and data are necessary to make informed decisions for one’s children.

Opening new buildings for students’ extracurricular activities is always an exciting event. And this school year, Forney ISD has enhanced the school experience for students involved in Agriculture, Culinary Arts, and Welding and Fabrication. The CTE students have been doing great things with FISD’s resources, proving that talent and skill will bring rewards in the form of a business that brings profits back to the welding program enabling even better learning and future career prospects.

I may say that I am ready for Jesus to come for His Church of which I am a member, but deep down I sure enjoy my comfort zone. I am not so sure I am ready to face my judgment before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. I know it will be far better after my judgment is over. I heard this story once and it started me to thinking. We have a natural fear of death but GOD gives us the grace to die.