The Final Season
The heading of this column leaves an impression that this will be a sports column. The thoughts and reflections here are based on a sports story and will contain some elements of that story. Application will then be made to various aspects of all our lives.
Just last week, a movie appeared on television that I had not seen; I had never heard of it. The movie was based on the story (legendary story, in fact) of little Norway, Iowa and the remarkable story of their high school baseball history.
Norway, Iowa: The story of many small towns and schools
After watching the movie “The Final Season,” I began to research. May I suggest that each reader consider carefully the first sentence of one of the reports read: “The Norway High School baseball team was legendary?” Also it was reported, “Norway is a small town of 586 people.” Let me insert here that various numbers were assigned by different reports to the population ranging from the 586 to a little less than 1,000.
The Norway team won 20 State Championships with the first coming in 1965 and the last in 1991. It is that last date leading to the next point.
Why did the run of championships end?
It is that question that really applies to people all over America, and especially Gordon County. The Norway High School was closed at the end of the 1991 school year and merged with a larger high school in their county. That story is one familiar to many in Gordon County. The 12 high schools in Gordon County when I graduated in 1952 have been mentioned often over my 47 years of writing a column. This story is one with emotional impact whoever it touches and wherever it has taken place. Students and graduates have seen their schools close and their athletic programs disappear from the ongoing scene. Whatever feelings assign to me about schools let me hasten to state that I recognize to the highest degree the pride students, parents and administrators feel toward their schools and their accomplishments.
About the two school systems in Gordon County
Incidentally, as most people know, there are two public school systems in Gordon County – Calhoun City and the Gordon County School System. All citizens can rightfully be proud of the educational and athletic opportunities afforded to our young.
Here is a fact all should be aware of and consider: There aren’t as many city or independent systems in Georgia as there were just a few years ago. The number has steadily decreased over the years and city systems closed their doors and merged with their county systems.
Let us consider a fact not often discussed (or need be) in a public forum. The county unit of government in Georgia is responsible for the education of all their young people. A town or city is not required to provide the educational opportunities. So the question arises why is there a Calhoun City School System? There is one because the citizens of Calhoun want their school system. Since 1902 Calhoun City has been an institution of quality. The 100th Anniversary to Calhoun City Schools was publicized and celebrated in a wonderful way in 2002.
A point stated before but needs refreshment from time to time: After World War II ended, it became expedient for Calhoun and Gordon County to enter into an agreement of cooperation. The 30-year contract was agreed upon in 1955. At that time Calhoun City absorbed the Gordon County students on the West Side of the county. Without relating the details just let it be said that the agreement was beneficial to everyone involved. That last fact is not stated without realizing there was great debate from the beginning about the issue from the beginning. That leads to another issue of importance.
The votes for merger of the two systems
The laws of Georgia do not permit the creation of a new city or independent school system. A city can cease being in the school business but a city cannot create a new system.
In the earlier years, the idea of a merger of the Calhoun and Gordon County Systems was promoted. It was necessary for the citizens of both systems to agree on a referendum to that effect for the merger to take place. There were three votes over the years and several years apart on the merger issue. Let me relate a surprising and little-known result of those votes. In the first vote, the citizens in Calhoun voted yes and the county voted no. A few years later, the city again voted yes and the county voted no. In the final vote, the citizens of both city and county voted no. Therefore, there was never a merger. A personal conviction: It has long been a conviction here that as long as I lived I would personally fight for the existence of Calhoun City Schools. It is not my lot in the later years to be a public or prominent figure in the functions of Calhoun City Schools. At the same time, it is with pride I observe the progress and accomplishments of our schools and athletic teams. I realize the same can be said for most county citizens as they express their pride and support for their schools. That is the way it is supposed to be.
I title this column “The Final Season.” I have not made application to our local and personal situations. That will follow. But as in the case of Norway, Iowa, there will be a “last season” in all aspects of our lives.
Incidentally, the larger school with which Norway High merged has not won a championship since the merger in 1991. Norway had played their final season.