T E X A S
MetroNews DELIVERING NEWS YOU NEED
• Vol. 10 • December 23 - 29, 2021
MY TRUTH By Cheryl Smith PUBLISHER
What a wonderful year!
OK, you’re probably wondering if I am dreaming when actually for me just the mere fact that I am being seen and not viewed, is enough to say, “it’s a wonderful year!” And really mean it. Which brings me to my truth. No one wants to hear a bunch of complaining. You have issues. Yes, we all have issues. You’re in pain. I feel for you and there are so many others who are in pain. You don’t like your job. I love my job so I’m not feeling you on this one. You’ve lost a loved one. I know it’s hard. We’re living during a time when not only are we losing loved ones; sometimes the news is slow reaching destinations because of quarantines and social distancing, among other pandemic related issues or concerns. I could go on and on, BUT, as this wonderful year comes to a close and I anxiously await a wonderfully exciting 2022, I’d like to end on a positive note. We could all agree that these are the worst of times and the worst of times, still we must get through this together. Almost 20 months ago, I thought that the world would become kinder and gentler, that people would realize how valuable life is and that everyone would be more interested in sharing love than causing destruction and promoting hate. The pandemic has caused me to look at life through a different lens and to realize what’s important. And since I only have control over Cheryl Smith, believe me when I tell you; she is kinder and gentler and she is focused on living her best life while not doing anything to make anyone else’s life miserable What a novel thought!
WWW.TEXASMETRONEWS.COM
CELEBRATING the MECCA! SOUTH OAK CLIFF - THE CHAMPS
Thousands showed up Tuesday to celebrate District 5A Division II champions, South Oak Cliff; who after defeating Liberty Hill 23-14 on Saturday at the AT&T Stadium, became the first Dallas ISD school to win a Texas football state championship since 1958. As SOC head coach Jason Todd was praised, following the game, the player of the Game, Qualon Farrar, who will head to the University of North Texas next year, said simply: “We did it for the hood.” Elected officials, including Sen Royce West, DISD Trustee Maxie Johnson, Judge Amber Givens and Staci Williams, Councilmembers Casey Thomas, Carolyn King Arnold and Adam Bazaldua, State Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Toni Rose; joined DISD Supt. Michael Hinojosa, to celebrate the school’s first state championship ever. The celebration, which began at For Oak Cliff offices at 907 E. Ledbetter Drive and ended at SOC high school, featured bands, car clubs, and residents came out of their homes along the route to cheer on the team of scholar athletes that have a cumulative grade point average of 3.26.
Photo Credit: Stewart Curet, Sen. Royce West, Facebook
See highlights on page 12 and at www.texasmetronews.com
Teachers “Cain’t get no respect!” – Part I I WAS JUST THINKING... By Norma Adams-Wade Yes, grammar and pronunciation are wrong. Please ignore them. But let’s do talk about teachers during this holiday season. Why are teachers paid so poorly? Ignored by legislators? And treated as though they are second-class citizens? During the Christmas, New Year’s, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa season, may we turn our atten-
tion to teachers and consider how to make life better for them in the coming year? For starters, here are some target priorities: higher pay, more respect, improved working conditions, better scheduling, better retirement plans, safer and more disciplined classrooms, reduce pressure to “teach to the test,” and more support from parents and community. Reading some national reports recently about what teachers endure day-to-day was heart-wrenching. One blog drew tons of web comments from teachers sharing their personal career horror stories. Such reports hit hard enough
Teachers face challenges at school.
Photo Credit: The Dallas Morning News. Ben Torres/Special Contributor
to make you want to rally – or bribe – lawmakers to seriously advocate for the nation’s roughly 3.5 million teachers. More teacher-friendly laws would demonstrate that parents and
citizens realize and appreciate the valuable impacts that teachers have and have had on all our lives Here are just a few revealing See TEACHERS PART-1, page 6