There's no place like Kansas

In the small Kansas town of Smith Center, high school atheletes are giving gradeschoolers someone to look up to. The New York Times reported that all of the student atheletes and cheerleaders must sign a school contract to remain alcohol and drug free, and are given trading cards with their picture on it in return. These cards are traded and passed around by the elementary students of this small community. If any of these students break their contracts, then they are kicked off of their team, and required to speak at the elementary school to explain why they were dismissed. If that wasn't enough, their trading card is also discontinued.

In an ge of coddling, helicopter parenting, and the astonishing ability of many in this nation to sweep sucess under the rug, this town is awe inspiring. The students of Smith Center are learning how to be sucessful, and ambitious, which are two great qualities. This is a far cry from many other school trends of the time. Many schools decide that posting honor roll lists or giving out academic awards canbe damaging to those who do not win these awards. But, Smith Center is doing just the opposite, they are rewarding sucess, and teaching a younger generation how to recognize and appeciate it. It is just great to know that in a society that would prefer to sweep achievment under the rug, at least Kansas still appreciates it, which is why there's no place like home, literally, if you live in Smith Center, Kansas.