As a parent and a taxpayer, I know it is time to rid Morgan Hill
School Board meetings of the presence of the twin sisters named
gossip and innuendo. They
’ve traveled, hand in hand, throughout the district, sprouting
up on an athletic field here, a street corner there.
As a parent and a taxpayer, I know it is time to rid Morgan Hill School Board meetings of the presence of the twin sisters named gossip and innuendo. They’ve traveled, hand in hand, throughout the district, sprouting up on an athletic field here, a street corner there.
Cries of get rid of this teacher, fire that principal, sack the superintendent, recall the trustees, echo along with half-truths from school yard walls. It sure keeps the editorial pages of The Times full.
But what how does it benefit student achievement? How does it build a good music program? How does it win football games? More importantly, how does it win converts to public education? The microphone at the public comment podium is the eighth trustee – it is you. Anyone can get his or her three-minute exposure, together with cable broadcast and print media exposure, twice a month. The only thing that separates me as a board member from you the public is three years of public service. We should not be separated from wanting the same strong educational opportunities for all children in this district. However, we can agree to disagree on how best to get there.
It is healthy for the body politic to get feedback about items, no matter how unflattering it can be to a board member or an administrator. It’s the American way and I wouldn’t have it any other way. However, please keep in mind that a point can be made, a statement nuanced, with a sense of decorum and decency.
When addressing the Board and public, ask yourself – would you exhibit unbecoming behavior at your job, where you work, during a business meeting in front of your boss, or your children? I’ve said it before many times – our parents, administrators and teachers – are terrific when it comes to supporting our students, in this terrible economic climate. The band and sports boosters are great examples.
But in all of this, some are blind to how people have pulled together. Instead, they continually focus on things which are negative, where, instead of experiencing a communion cup, they see a glass half empty. You see, gossip and innuendo are ugly partners and can creep up anywhere at any time. Personal attacks beget personal attacks. I admire the speakers who are firm in tone and later work behind the scenes to right a wrong, whether perceived or real – because that’s when the real work begins.
The eighth trustee cannot only share in the laurels earned from constructive criticism, but must also bear the responsibility for blame when things go bad. It is time for all parties to stop perfecting their grandstanding skills and focus on our core responsibility of teaching – to understand that teachable moments are not restricted to the classroom or to the athletic playing field.
That respect earned from students can come from elsewhere – from the behavior of their teachers, coaches and elected representatives. That for the student athletes to excel in life – is not just about getting better physically, but about how we’re getting better as people – in terms of courtesy, respect and how they treat themselves and others in a public setting.
Let’s shift the spotlight onto what is important, the current focus of our district: To open Sobrato High School and work on the curriculum and boundaries so we can place the right number, the right mix of teachers, before the new students. We know the discussion and discourse will be spirited. Although many share the principle of equal educational opportunities for children of all socio-economic backgrounds, it may become more difficult when it applies to putting it in practice.
Is it comfortable? Not really. Some of us are here for the greater good – better achievement by and for all of our students – no matter what language they speak, no matter what color they are, no matter if their limbs are weak or their minds not as nimble, no matter how much dad and mom earn per year, no matter if they have one or two parents at home and no matter what neighborhood they live in – this board member will do the best he can, by law and by choice, to do the right thing for our children.
If you’re up to the challenge, come to a Board meeting – because, like life, this is work in progress. Rudeness is out, cheap shots and crippling rhetoric are best left at the door. You see, during the opening Pledge of Allegiance, I again silently acknowledged my loyalty to the children and the students of parents within our district. We have meetings twice a month on Monday nights – a living and breathing testament to our republic and to our district. And there is always a seat at this table for the eighth trustee.
Let’s make the best of our time together. Thank you.
George Panos is a first-term member of the Morgan Hill School District Board of Trustees. Readers interested in writing a guest column should contact editor Walt Glines at ed******@*************es.com or 779-4106.
