NEW HOME, Texas – Get ready to gawk at the bright yellow uprights that tower over what was once a sea of cotton fields in Texas. This is not a golden gate to a treasure trove; rather, it’s the entrance to a new football turf! Yes, they have spent a considerable amount of time, effort, and money flattening their fields and building the most glamorous football turf you’ll ever set your eyes on. And if you’re not in the mood to cheer on the school’s team, don’t worry; nearby cranes are busy erecting walls for a much-needed elementary school.
Not so long ago, the New Home Independent School District suffered because of having a measly number of annual graduates. But now, the community is thriving as families flock to this windy patch of West Texas, engulfed in the conservative farming community’s warm embrace. But what’s keeping this place together, you ask? School! And let’s be real; it’s not just any school; it’s the promise of a good public school that’s drawn families like flies to honey.
Ramon Benitez, the 39-year-old agriculture science teacher at New Home, said it best, “What’s keeping this place together is the school.” In case you’re wondering, no, he was not bribed to say that. No, he didn’t draw the short straw with his colleagues to say something positive about the school district. He’s genuinely proud of what they’ve achieved!
So, amidst a growing national movement to give parents public money to spend on private schools, it is in places like New Home that the conservative campaign meets its nemesis. In this little farming community, life is uncomplicated. Their football coach is a local superstar, and their students learn to read while also learning how to judge the quality of their meat cuts. Talk about multitasking skills!
To sum up, it’s safe to say that New Home is not just any school district; it’s a hub of entertainment and education! And if you’re not convinced by the yellow uprights towering over the football turf and the cranes busy building schools, take a trip down to Texas and see for yourself!
Serious News: nytimes
