Re: Prospective from a Granite City teacher about the upcoming changes. Archived Message
Posted by elcooksta on January 20, 2016, 6:27 am, in reply to "Re: Prospective from a Granite City teacher about the upcoming changes."
"Since you mentioned people with an "agenda", let us not over look yours. It is crystal clear and as obvious as it gets that your attitude, and approach, then delivery when speaking about this topic, that you are entertaining the idea of tossing your hat into the political ring. " I have entertained that thought for a few years, correct. "You have mentioned it before within this forum. I'm not sure if your are leaning toward a township position, or being on the council or simply wanting to occupy a seat on the school board. If you think the shortest path to achieving any of these goals are to buddy-up with these school board members in attempts to make the concerned parents feel foolish for having questions and concerns and opinions, you may want to reconsider that path." I 'buddy up' with no one. As you said you have observed postings on the board, you will know that is not my jelly-roll. Let me be "cleah", I do not find parent concerns or opinions foolish, until I do. A lot of these 'concerned parents' voted against the tax increase (despite overwhelming warning that something like this was coming), and now that the reality stick has come down, "they want answers." To quote the great philosopher Sweet Brown, "Ain't nobody got time for that!" The answers were given when the vote was taken, and the people responded with a (if I remember correctly) RESOUNDING 'N-O'. You reap what you sow. I do not expect our school board, who spent a ton of time (as well as some hard working parents) trying to explain that the tax increase would negate the necessity for this.....But, some of the same parents who have "concerns" now, were the same ones against it. Plus, the school board for years has been pretty open about budget woes, a concerned parent (not a "it now inconveniences me so I am concerned" parent) would have did a little digging (I just kept an eye on the Census) to see that our population was declining, and saw this one coming. But, I suspect the majority of the loudest parents are of the "it now inconveniences me, so I am concerned" crowd. Just my view based on observing over the years. So, while I would listen to all opinions and concerns (even the head-scratching ones, or my favorite the "they have a secret agenda" ones), you can only say the same things so much until its becomes like the Charlie Brown phone conversations. Plus, it takes away time from parents who need their questions answered. I would take the effect on the children very, very seriously. But I would also not try to over-dramatize it (best way to give your kid more anxiety than they should have is to get them ramped up about changes instead of working them through it like a good parent should), because (and the science is pretty solid) children are much more resilient than we give them credit for, and as long as the adult plays the part....they will be ok.
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