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Malatesta: Texas Educators, This is your ultimate test

Matt Malatesta
Jul 14, 2020

Here's my take.

COVID-19 is here to stay. It's a way of life. It's not going away on September 1st or October 1st or next March 1st. There is not going to be a vaccine any time soon.

So, it's time to draw a line in the sand – to play or not to play. To do in-person school versus online.

Stop with this bleed-out of information. The Big 10 is not playing non-conference games; the NBA bubble; Major League Baseball playing in front of no one; school districts are going online learning and not playing sports.

Blah, blah, blah.

Make a DECISION! Have some courage. That goes for public and private schools and universities.

The Ivy League cancelled all fall sports. Bad decision, but at least they had the guts to MAKE A DECISION. The State of Louisiana has said they will not play football until they reach Phase 4 of re-opening, which is likely to not happen. Why? The state simply doesn't have the infrastructure or money to set up protocols to deal with COVID-19. This is coming from an LSU graduate, I know.

This is Texas, where high schools are woven into the fabric of the culture. The school binds communities from Houston to El Paso. And don't forget, participating in extra-curricular activities is a choice. If the risk is too great for a student and their family, don't participate. It's that simple.

So, rip off the Band-Aid and succumb to the fear of liability or get creative and get students back to school and participating in extra-curricular activities.

The reasons why sports and students should go back to school range from mental health to learning life-lessons on the field of play, in the classroom or in the band hall. I could literally give you 100 reasons why kids should go back.

Let's just take IN THE CLASSROOM.



Do educators understand the amount of cheating going on with online schooling from elementary school to college? Kids aren't learning anything. They are just finding away AROUND learning to get an A.

People, this is just the beginning. Before you know it, this online schooling is going to become the way of life. Let's just disconnect our kids some more. Great idea (sarcasm).

Ask any educator in any time period, because I have. Teens thrive with structure. They need discipline. They need positive role models like teachers and coaches. They need motivation. Are kids passionate about athletics, theater, ROTC and band or math? Extra-curricular activities are the juice that quenches the thirst for fun while at school.

Come on people, you remember.

…

So, here's why we shouldn't play…

We don't know how this virus works and affects people – young and old. We believe, over 138,000 Americans have died. With that uncertainty, there are 100 arguments against returning to universities or pre-schools.

So, our lives are paralyzed due to the fear of the unknown. To the fear of liability. No one wants a death of a student with an undiagnosed health condition or a grandparent on their hands. To the fear of getting a Virus – that by today's numbers has killed less than one-percent of those who have gotten the COVID-19 in the US.

…

So, let's circle back to the beginning. The numbers of cases are GOING to go UP. Students are GOING to get COVID-19. It's okay. We have to live with the new normal. It's not a death-sentence to 99-percent of the population.

These are tough decisions to be made – make one and don't look back.

I'm not a doctor, but my vote is to let the kids participate in school and extra-curricular activities. There will be another virus, trust me on that. Kids are looking for you to be BRAVE.

Here's the deal. Would you rather take a young person's motivation and dreams away while being mentored by some of the COUNTRY'S TOP EDUCATORS because of the fear of the potential unknown? Kids need teachers, coaches and ROLE MODELS more than ever. Like, EVER.

Ya'll are the educators. Ya'll have the doctorates. Come up with a plan and protocols, give students and parents a CHOICE and let's go, either way.

The future of this generation is depending on it. Or just let them TikTok the rest of 2020.

You think I'm joking.

texas high school education texas high school sports matt malatesta vype media covid-19

Six Outstanding Student-Athletes Honored as Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Year

VYPE
01 Feb, 2021

PLANO, Texas – January 28, 2021 – The 2020 Texas high school football season had a few challenges because of the global pandemic. However, the performances of six remarkable players managed to get everyone's attention. These high school football stars have been selected as Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Year. For fifteen years, Ford Motor Company has recognized the best players of each high school football season. Without fail, many of those players go on to prestigious collegiate and professional careers.

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VYPE Live Lineup - Monday 1/25/21

VYPE Live
25 Jan, 2021

Enjoy the games from Monday January 25, 2021.

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INSTANT REACTION: Katy Dominant to Claim No. 9

Stephen Peters
16 Jan, 2021

ARLINGTON - Last week, Katy just completely ran away with things in the first half over Buda Hays, using a dominating defense and a strong ground-and-pound offense with timely passes sprinkled in.

Once again, Katy, which has looked like vintage Katy this year, made things miserable on both sides of the ball for Cedar Hill on the way to an emphatic 51-14 win - Katy's ninth state championship and the first since 2015.

The game unfolded exactly as Katy would have liked: slow; low-scoring. But once the dam broke on Cedar Hill's defense, Katy just poured it on.

No matter what Cedar Hill tried to throw at Katy in the first half, nothing worked, and nearly everything worked for Katy on the way to a 24-0 halftime lead.

💥TOUCHDOWN TIGERS💥

Isaiah Smith takes off on the right side of the field for six to give Katy another score before the end of the half. The Tigers lead Cedar Hill 24-0 with :36 seconds left in the second quarter.@tommy_yarrish | @VYPEDFW | #UILState pic.twitter.com/5DZ3xrAHJw
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) January 16, 2021

Cedar Hill finally found some life after a fake punt brought the ball all the way down to the Katy 4. Cedar Hill scored a few plays later but it was too little, too late.

Seth Davis took home the offensive MVP with 124 yards and a touchdown with his brother netting 104 yards on the ground with a score of his own.

As was thought to be the case before the game, Katy's rushing attack and tough defense was just way too much for Cedar Hill to handle, with Kaidon Salter unable to do much.

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