Does this woman look dangerous?
Normally she's not. But somebody made her angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry.
Actually, you would; she's pretty wonderful (and beautiful), even when she's pissed.
This is my wife. She spends her days doing angels' work: She teaches disadvantaged kids to read. The space I occupy in the world is insignificant in comparison.
She recently discovered that there was a plan to close her small neighborhood school.
Shady Dell Elementary
Consistent with our contemporary ethos, small is synonymous with failure. Clearly, if we can just consolidate schools into large impersonal warehouses, we can do away with all this silly talk of community-building, and get about the business of Leaving No Child A Dime...er, I mean Behind. Besides, it's a poor neighborhood; no one will speak up in opposition.
Not so fast, mister. I guess somebody forgot to consider the reading teacher with the ice-cold can of whoop-ass in her hand. She is a reluctant hero. She doesn't fancy herself a speaker or an activist, but tonight she is going before the school board to stand and deliver. They have awakened the dragon. Woe unto them.
I laid down some close air support to soften the target, but she will lead the ground assault.
Bring it, girlfriend.
11 comments:
Mandatory education is the backbone of education, a property right guaranteed under the Constitution as I understand it. The notion that two plus two equals anything other than four doesn't fit into the statistical yardstick used by our Government anywhere but school accountability. I think it would be interesting to ask the school board members how many of them went to a school where community was taught and encouraged and part of a neighborhood as opposed to one which painted everything gray and having students learn that their fate is decided for them long before they have an opportunity to learn differently. It makes me sick to hear about Betsy's' school. The school boards, not only hers, should visit planet Earth and wake up. The coffee is brewing and they have a chance to smell it. I hope that your wife's school remains open, not only because she teaches there but because once community school are deemed obsolete, soon follow the youth. If our government would choose to devote monies to solutions the accountability would take cake of itself.
Her father was only offering a small dowry.
Consequently, she was stuck with this bucket-faced hump, who brings nothing to the table except rhetorical skeels...oh, and tenure.
Bravo, Anon. Bravo and amen.
Every time you refer to someone as Anon, I think of the balcony scene in R&J.
Anon, good Brett! Anon!
So Betsy, I imagine, with a gleam in her eye, will be just now startin' the ride from Division down to Central on her fiery Tobiano paint mare, side-saddle, 'course. I imagine right about 4:30 the shopkeepers along Jefferson will be slammin' their shutters and dousin' the gas lights while anxious mothers shoo the children in off the street where they been playin' hoops and rollers, and tauntin' the neighborhood drunk, I don't doubt, who will finally catch wind of trouble and stumble into the doorway of the Springfield Saloon, in which the piano, formerly playin' that sweet old lonesome waltz, "Buckle-nosed Sally Done Et the Goat," will now emit one last bang of a polytoned nonsense chord as the player slams down the lid and dives behind the bar. There's a new schoolmarm in town.
My favorite part of this post is "Consistent with our contemporary ethos, small is synonymous with failure."
I wish we had a better discussion of that. Does a school or any sort of operation have to grow in order to be successful? Is a little dip in size/attendance a sign of poor performance if all other indicators are positive?
BL
So, when we do come up and meet you guys, no big arm movements in front of the wife? Smiling is taken as a sign of aggression and met with violence? ;)
I too have a scrapper of a wife. Does the heart good. She is, coincidentally, primarily an education reporter down here.
Best of luck with your battle. And be a good boy and rub her feet when she gets home.
Also, coincidentally, formerly an education reporter in Springfield. The school-size debate's been going on a long time there...I always hoped they could keep those small elementary schools open, because not many cities even have a choice anymore.
Unfortunately what it often comes down to is money, and voters who aren't willing to support small schools if they're the ones who have to pay for them.
Hope your wife gave 'em hell.
The Reacher is often prudent in deciding what to blog and what not to blog.
I bet any comments he has on the School Board's actions might be profanity-laced.
And as they say, discretion is the better part of valor.
The school will be closed at the end of teh 2005-2006 school year.
Here's the link to our local newspaper's coverage of the board meeting last night:
http://springfield.news-leader.com/news/education/20050413-ShadyDelltoclos.html
BL
Being raised in a small community which had few schools, dividing students and moving them from their neighbor didn't occur until high school. The split then was the 9th graders who went to the high school where we were reluctant freshmen. I was the first class when that happened.
I learned to party earlier, by a year. My earlier experience with schools restructuring was when Wetumkpa Alabama desegregated school. It was a long time ago, so it seems. And at the time it wasn't a overwhelming popular idea.
BL sounds like he/she relates or has feelings concerning the dilemma at Shady Dell. I appreciate the link provided to the newspaper and the coverage they provided. Was anything left out? Feel free to use that Freedom of speech Constitution thing. I won't be offended by profanity and I have an onoff switch if I am. Discretion is over-rated and valor is a concept I am still working on. My prayers are with your community and the country where it is sited.
Thanks for the soapbox, or in my case, a five gallon bucket.
How can I find a cute, smart, supportive husband like The Reacher? Sheesh, some fierce activist wives have all the luck...!
(sorry to hear about the idiocy with the school! And I really like your blog!)
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