"In Texas, children still out of school; Ike brought early vacation" by Monica Rhor and April Castro, Associated Press | September 27, 2008
HOUSTON - Since Hurricane Ike knocked out power at their elementary school two weeks ago, Jakin and Jared Cordova have been playing a lot of video games.
For the 9- and 6-year-old brothers, it's awesome. For their mother, not so much. "We try to give them stuff to do readingwise, do outside stuff, make them go to the park," a frustrated Natalie Cordova said. "They're still just playing video games a lot."
Like more than half a million children in the nation's fourth-largest city and on the Texas Gulf Coast, the boys have been out of school since the Sept. 13 hurricane brought life to a standstill.
In a state whose passion for high-school football was made famous by "Friday Night Lights," hundreds of games have been canceled as a result of the hurricane and the damage it wrought, shortening the season for many teams.
You know, the IMPORTANT PART of EDUCATION -- the SPORTS!!!!
Officials have been drying soggy carpets and wall maps and airing out moldy library books. Fallen trees are being removed and the fences around schoolyards are being repaired. While a few Galveston schools will open next week, many are serving as shelters for people made homeless by the storm; others are too damaged to use any time soon.
Children are being allowed to enroll in other districts around the state, far from their old homes and friends. Once school is back in session, educators will have another problem: How to make up for lost class time. Administrators are considering extending school hours or holding classes on holidays or days normally set aside for staff training.
Kids? Booooooooo!!!!
Debbie Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the state education department, said there is a small possibility that some schools could be closed for a month or more.
As long as they get the football in!
Sandra Guerrero, a spokeswoman for the district: "They needed to see a more stable environment. School gave them security."
Sig Heil!
--more--"
Also see: Mass. Schools Really Are Prisons
