‘Best in Class’ Magazine Highlights Impact of UIL
By Julianne Coyne, Intern | Thursday, September 01, 2011 3:15 PM
When Texas School Business Magazine decided to publish a special summer issue, Editor-in-Chief Jim Walsh knew the issue needed to emphasize the importance of extracurricular activities in students’ lives.
“We wanted to illustrate how artistic expression and athletic achievement often bring out the very best in students — and educators,” editor Katie Ford said.
And the editors knew who to tap to write the articles — Bobby Hawthorne, freelance writer and former UIL academic director.
Hawthorne said his focus for the 50-page special summer issue was finding “good stories.”
“I didn’t just want dry data,” he said. “I didn’t want it to be about the UIL. I wanted to write about the people who compose the League. I wanted to write a good narrative.”
The issue, called “Best in Class,” includes 12 stories of students and faculty overcoming obstacles to triumph in UIL athletics, academics and music contests, all written by Hawthorne.
“There was something really fun about every one of those stories,” he said. “I learned a lot from every one of them.”
Ford said it was rewarding to publish this issue because “each story touched my heart for a different reason. I’d be hard-pressed to choose one that stands out among the others. All of them illustrated for me the small miracles happening in Texas public schools every day.”
One of Hawthorne’s favorite stories came from White Oak High School, where the principal works tirelessly to support UIL competition at his school. Hawthorne said that kind of passion is typically the case with great UIL programs.
“All of the people I spoke to have a great passion for what they’re doing,” he said. “You cannot do UIL unless you love it, unless it’s something you really, really enjoy doing. It just takes too much time and focus.”
The skills students learn from UIL competitions prepare them to be future leaders, Hawthorne said.
“When you think about who are the kids who are going to graduate, go to college, come back and be successful — be your school board members and community leaders — it’s these kids, the ones who participate in UIL music, academics and athletics,” he said.
Even though school districts are facing a budget crisis, Hawthorne said extracurricular programs should remain a priority.
“I know these are tough financial times, but you can’t just say ‘These are tough times, so we’re not going to offer UIL activities,’ because the kids need them,” Hawthorne said. “These kids are still there, and they still need our help of going above and beyond the bare minimum curriculum, so we have to figure out how to do more with less. The implications of not doing so are too frightening to contemplate.”
To view "Best in Class," go to: http://www.texasschoolbusiness.com/www/docs/223/