Over the years that I’ve been writing for the Tyler Directory I’ve written about a lot of area schools and educational issues. In fact I think I’ve written about nearly every private school in our area. I want to reach a little beyond our immediate region however and talk about a school in Longview. If Christian Heritage School of Longview were located in Tyler a couple of things would be true. First off it would have a different name due to the fact that there is already a Christian Heritage (not affiliated) located in Tyler. But secondly, I think that given the larger market it would be one of the bigger private schools in Tyler. As it is, it may well be the largest in Longview.

Christian Heritage School of Longview is officially twenty years old this school year. It is a fully accredited classical school, whose grade levels run from 4K to 12th grade. Classical schools place the greatest emphasis on Greco- Roman logic, rhetoric and oratory. Classical culture is highlighted in literature, history, and language study. All this is not to say that math and the sciences take a back seat however. Class size averages about ten to twelve students per classroom, which allows for great individual attention, but also an active social component. The staff at CHS is composed of well educated, veteran teachers who are devoted to their faith and active in a variety of churches and parishes. And this point cannot be over emphasized. “CHS is committed to providing a Christ centered education,” without requiring membership in a particular church or denomination.

In addition to Physical Education, the athletic department currently offers Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Tennis and Archery. The School won the State Archery tournament in 2014 and the state soccer title in 2012. Christian Heritage is a really terrific school with a close- knit community of staff, parents and students. The atmosphere is very familial, but the institution is also highly academic. The student body numbers approximately 280- 300 enrolled and growing. Nearly any precollege student would find it a challenge.

For more information on Classical education, check out my previous article at: http://www.tylertxdirectory.com/7358/classical-christian-schools/ . For more information on Christian Heritage, visit the schools web page at: http://www.chslongview.com/ .

I am a Dallas Cowboys fan. I have been all my life, unapologetically. In my family changing team affiliation is like changing church denominations… actually as someone who has done just that, it may be bigger. But I was raised to understand that the name on the helmet was (or should be), more important than the one on the jersey. I remained a Cowboys fan when Tony Dorsett went to the Broncos, and Emmitt Smith to the Cardinals. I still loved Tony and Emmitt, but when they came to Dallas, I cheered for the defense. Likewise, I was crushed when Terrell Owens came to Dallas and I cheered when he left, but I also cheered when he caught four touchdowns against the Washington Redskins in 2007.

Now all this is not to say I’m allowed no other football interests. Given their name I feel obligated to pull for the Texans despite the one way rivalry some Houston fans feel compelled to create. And I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the New Orleans Saints, due to the fact that they were so bad for so long, (also due to my many fond remembrances of that great city). But at the end of the day, when the conflicts arise, there is no conflict for me. I am a Cowboys partisan through and through, in good years and bad. And while there has been more of the later in recent years, I will continue to pull for my team no matter who is at the helm, and who is backing up Brian Hoyer in Cleveland.

As my readers may have guessed I’m responding to a series of billboards that have gone up in Tyler recently declaring that our town is now “Cleveland Browns Country,” and urging Tylerites to begin supporting this out of state team based solely on the name sown on the second string quarterback’s jersey. I hate to break it to the young man’s supporters but the quarterback’s road to the Pro Football Hall of Fame doesn’t exactly run through Cleveland. The Browns have left a trail of potentially productive QBs, broken in their wake in recent years and while I’m not a close follower of that organization, I see no reason for that to change. Make no mistake; I’ve nothing against the Browns per se. I just find the suggestion that Tyler should now support them over the Cowboys because of one player, who has yet to take a single snap, and who may not all season, to be a ridiculous notion.

So fine, go for the Browns as a back plan or a second team. I doubt we’ll see great things from the Cowboys this year, (please Lord let me be mistaken). There’s nothing wrong with diversifying interests, provided they’re not conflicting interests. My honest advice to Manziel fans is this: think of the Browns as his first NFL team. And to the rest of us, don’t worry Tyler will always be Cowboys country, regardless of what some billboard says.