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Former NFL QB Jon Kitna finds ‘gold mine’ at a school where other teachers only saw problems
Yahoo ^
| 12/19/12
| Les Carpenter
Posted on 12/19/2012 1:30:40 PM PST by DFG
Before he left the Dallas Cowboys to come home again, Jon Kitna had one request of the two principals who run Lincoln High School:
Give me your worst students.
The other teachers told him to stop. This was last February and it was going to be hard enough to teach three algebra classes in the middle of a semester. He was two months gone from an NFL career that went for 16 years, after all. Yes, this was his old high school, the one where he was a star quarterback in the early 1990s, but didnt the new football coach understand what he was getting into?
Didnt he see the numbers? Didnt he know that four of every five of the students were on free or reduced lunches? That finding a meal was more important than understanding negative integers? Inspiring the best students was going to be difficult enough. Save himself, they advised. Start slow. Make it easy.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: algebra; kitna; lincoln; nfl
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1
posted on
12/19/2012 1:30:46 PM PST
by
DFG
To: DFG
Well done Kitna. He was a class act when on the Cowboys.
2
posted on
12/19/2012 1:36:17 PM PST
by
VA_Gentleman
("Poor Al Gore. Global warming completely debunked via the very internet you invented." -Jon Stewart)
To: VA_Gentleman; DFG
It’s nice to hear some good news for a change. Good on Kitna.
3
posted on
12/19/2012 1:40:27 PM PST
by
EEGator
To: DFG
Something worth reading on Yahoo. Thank you for posting this!
4
posted on
12/19/2012 1:43:56 PM PST
by
machogirl
(First they came for my tagline, (it's back). 2008, the Decline of America)
To: DFG
I’m sure this was less of a challenge than standing behind the Dallas offensive line.
5
posted on
12/19/2012 1:46:22 PM PST
by
Nachoman
(Wisdom is learned, cynicism is earned.)
To: DFG
What a great human story!!! Thank you for posting it. It was long but worth reading every word. Kitna is a class act.
6
posted on
12/19/2012 1:53:10 PM PST
by
MestaMachine
(It's the !!!!TREASON!!!!, stupid!)
To: DFG
Well good for Kitna, but the idea that students on free or reduced lunches are having problems finding food to eat is ludicrous. I seriously doubt the problems these students have learning is due to having difficulties finding food to eat.
To: DFG
Leadership. How refreshing.
8
posted on
12/19/2012 1:56:49 PM PST
by
Hoodat
("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)
To: DFG
Great guy. However, not a village in the sense of so many liberals think; but one person who can lead in the right direction.
9
posted on
12/19/2012 2:03:16 PM PST
by
freekitty
(Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
To: DFG
To: driftless2
I seriously doubt...Just curious: are you speaking from extensive experience in being exposed to such environments, or are you merely exercising your considerable cynicism?
11
posted on
12/19/2012 2:29:10 PM PST
by
Hebrews 11:6
(Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)
To: driftless2
. . . but the idea that students on free or reduced lunches are having problems finding food to eat is ludicrous.
If you think this, then you've never been to someplace like St. Vincent de Paul or other place where meals are served up. It's more than a little unnerving to understand that some of the kids are living in family homeless shelters, and this is the one or two meals they get every day during the weekend or school holidays. Have you ever stood in front of 7-11 and realized that the kid hanging out on the curb is there to do his homework because the family doesn't have electricity, and he's there for the light? And he's having to swat away the gangbangers and the dealers who want his business? Some people need to open their eyes and see what's going on around them.
12
posted on
12/19/2012 2:52:24 PM PST
by
righttackle44
(Take scalps. Leave the bodies as a warning.)
To: DFG
Classy guy, John Kitna is!!1
13
posted on
12/19/2012 3:00:53 PM PST
by
ExCTCitizen
(More Republicans stayed home then the margin of victory of O's Win...)
To: righttackle44
The question is how many of these kids aren't learning because of lack of proper nutrition? Sure, you're going to have some like the kids in your story, but the thrust of most stories about inner city schools in that these kids aren't learning because they're hungry. The fact is: the poorest third of the country is the most overweight. I seriously doubt the problems with the great majority of kids in the inner city is related to not having enough food. If you believe that it is, you're being blind to lib propaganda.
You mentioned gangbangers and drug addicts. That and parents who are either totally unequipped mentally or just don't give a rats behind about their children are much bigger problems than lack of food.
To: DFG
He always had a reputation of having nervous feet while with the Bengals et al but now I realize it was just his wings working under the uniform. Great story.
15
posted on
12/19/2012 3:25:37 PM PST
by
Cyman
To: driftless2
I seriously doubt the problems these students have learning is due to having difficulties finding food to eat.
You may be right but personally, I wouldn't know since I never grew up in an environment that they have.....
Can you tell us what it is like?
16
posted on
12/19/2012 3:28:15 PM PST
by
Hot Tabasco
(Jab her with a harpoon.....)
To: driftless2
The question is how many of these kids aren't learning because of lack of proper nutrition?
No it's not, this thread is about John Kitna and the students he has to deal with.
It's you who are now hijacking this thread and turning it into a food vs. learning thread..........
I ain't falling for it so get back on subject, ok?
17
posted on
12/19/2012 3:32:11 PM PST
by
Hot Tabasco
(Jab her with a harpoon.....)
To: DFG
Who would have thought that such results could be gotten by having a teacher who knows the material and has enough force of personality to make the students respectfully pay attention?
I wonder whether it could be duplicated by grabbing a number of Marine officers and NCOs?
18
posted on
12/19/2012 3:44:26 PM PST
by
PapaBear3625
(You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
To: Nachoman
That does put it into perspective, does it not? :)
19
posted on
12/19/2012 3:54:34 PM PST
by
Delta Dawn
(The whole truth.)
To: PapaBear3625
Kitna shows how public education can work. It starts with caring. Setting high standards. He did spend some money on gym equipment, but it wasn’t money that made the difference. The self esteem expressed by those kids in the story? Wasn’t lavished on them. They earned it. And they know the difference.
What a great story on how to make schools work.
20
posted on
12/19/2012 4:00:45 PM PST
by
StAntKnee
(Add your own danged sarc tag)
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