Commentary by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Five Cueball thoughts for Feb. 2, 2014…

1. State assessments… 

First of all, congratulations to the Wellington Christian Academy, Conway Springs High School, Argonia Elementary and Conway Springs St. Joselph Elementary for winning the Governor’s Achievement Award for high achievement given only to a select group of schools that rate in the top 5 percent for reading, math and another subject.

Unfortunately, when posting the story it immediately turned into an anti-Wellington public school discussion (see latest scores here).

The whole state assessment story bores me and is as stale as the moldy bread on my kitchen counter. The state assessment scores get released, we do a story, the readers express outrage, the USD 353 administrators and teachers promise to do better, the school board wrings their hands and go into executive session, and the next year the whole process starts over.

Why are we unable to solve this issue? 

Perhaps, instead of waiting for the next person, we should look in the mirror. Not to lecture or sound simplistic, but teachers and administrators can only go so far. If you don’t like the education your child is getting, be proactive. Join a site council, go to a board listening tour, communicate with your teacher and best of all pay close attention to what your child is doing.

It is my understanding that the state assessment testing system is going by the wayside, and I’m OK with that. A new national testing system will be replacing the current state testing. Whether the new system is better, is something only administrators can address at the moment. But as far as the old system goes, I’m sure more than a few USD 353 employees are saying “good riddance.”

2. Paying football players… 

The Northwestern University college football players are attempting to form a labor union demanding that they become paid employees. While I’m far from being a pro-union fanatic, in this case these young men have my full support. If for any other reason, a school payment system could cut back on the alumni-player corruption that infiltrates big-time athletics.

With a little spending money, these players are less likely to accept the bribes from big donor alumni.

People will argue college football players are already getting paid through full academic scholarships, free books and tuition. That is true. But these are also young men who don’t have spending money playing for university football factories making millions of dollars. The idea that the university can’t pay a penitence like a minimum wage salary for a few hours of their services during the week is ridiculous to me. How many millions have head coaches like Bob Stoops, Mike Gundy and Bill Snyder have made, yet we can’t give a football player a few extra bucks for which to live?

Non-athlete students are paid for work everyday by universities whether they work in the cafeteria, the library or the student newspaper. But not athletes.

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, was notorious for taking care of his athletes, some who were extremely impoverished. It would have put his program on probation today. But every player who went through his system were better men for it.

The sad fact is, you can provide these young football players with educational opportunities, but some of them will not take advantage of it. They will eventually leave the system with nothing to show for it and no NFL prospects.

How to implement such a athlete payment system will be difficult especially when students from non-revenue generating sports, the band, debate clubs, etc. demanding their share of the pie. But it is a proposal worthy of attention.

3. Bieber deportation…

Justin Bieber

Sumner Newscow is ahead of the curve. Two weeks ago, I told you that Bieber’s biggest problem is he is surrounded by idiots, advisors who won’t tell the punk to knock the crap off (see column here).

Four days later, Bieber was charged with drag racing while high on marijuana in a residential area in Miami.

And here’s the biggest problem. His dad was with him participating in the fun!

There is no doubt, Bieber needs deported to his native land of Canada and his entourage dismantled much like the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq.

Luckily, there is a petition online asking for his deportation back, which should receive the President’s attention. Please go online and sign this petition here. Perhaps, if we get rid of this menace, the nation can begin to heal.

4. Go Broncos… 

Today, my Broncos, are playing in the Super Bowl. I would just like to remind you of a prediction I made before the playoff began (see column here). I had a few games wrong, but my Denver over Seattle Super Bowl prediction is still intact. The weather is good in New York, as I predicted, and it could end just as I predicted with a Peyton Manning to Wes Welker touchdown in the final minute.

And my prediction that Manning might go another three to five years… well, that might materialize as well.

Then again, I could be wrong.

5. Quinn’s thoughts…

Quinn McCue

Back by popular demand, here’s Quinn….

1. Last week at school I made a song about turkey on rye…… I’m normal.

2. That same week I made a song about a cow fish… #totally normal!

3. Shout out to my buds at cross fit.

4. I think the Seahawks will win today. Sorry Dad.

5. Another shout out to Kylie Aufdengarten. If you didn’t know it her birthday is soon or already… I’m just the best friend ever, huh? (Quinn said sarcastically).