|
Hmmm.
I think I’ll just sit
here on the fence.
I wish I
could stop there. I wish I could just turn that in as this week’s column
and be done with the issue and go home.
Why?
Because it’s ugly.
Because I keep jumping from one side of the fence to the other. Because
I have to believe in second chances, in people’s ability to change and
learn and grow from mistakes.
Because I don’t have
children.
Who then, am I to say?
After the
board meeting last Monday, I felt good. I felt relieved, and I felt some
satisfaction for the parents, the board, the school system, and
Dr.
Gene
Rizzo.
After the
public meeting on Thursday, I was angry, furious, disgusted. In fact, I
walked out before Rizzo did.
After the
meeting this past Tuesday, I . . .
I just don’t
know.
I can sit,
as a rational adult, and say that I believe Rizzo is a fine educator. I
can say that he has made mistakes, as have we all, and that I still
feel, as a community, we are lucky to have him in our schools.
I believe
that.
But I’m not
a parent.
I have also
believed, thinking in the back of my mind, that if I did have a child, I
would never, ever send that child to public school--no matter who the
principal, teachers or board members were.
Thus, here I
sit, two hours after my deadline, thinking, “What on earth do I say?”
I am left to
say only two things.
If you
believe Dr.
Rizzo
is a good man, with abilities and skills to lead at
Arnoldsburg
School--send
your child to school.
If you feel
there is a risk to your child’s safety, innocence, or development--then
arrange to have your child educated in a different place.
Preferably at home.
I think all
parents are responsible for their child’s education--more so than any
school. I believe lessons learned at home are more important than those
taught in any school. I believe schools, especially public schools,
offer some lessons (through peer pressure, internal politics, a demand
to conform, etc.) that shouldn’t be taught.
I can’t tell
any parent what to do with their child. I can only tell them what I
think I would do with mine.
Do what you think is
best for your child.
|