JON GLOVER
Contributing Columnist
Help!
Oh, how I wish many would come together and help reshape the lives of our boys and girls academically here in Caddo Parish.
Sitting in the last two sessions of the Caddo Parish School Board meetings -- work session and regular meeting -- were parents as far as the eyes could see. Parents coming into a setting to voice their position about an issue near and dear to them: unmasking their children. Awesome.
No matter tempers flared because it appeared their voices were falling on deaf ears, but their persistence in coming back to achieve an effort would remind members of the board and the superintendent that your voice has power.
On last evening, Tuesday, Nov. 16, a semblance of their efforts were voiced. "On Dec. 3, at the end of business day, parents will have the option to mask or unmask their children." No matter the stipulations, a feat was achieved. This is what happens when parents step forth and say, "No, you will not, but I will." The action wasn't a coup. It was only parents saying, "It is my personal choice, and it is my freedom to choose the path for my child medically." Awesome.
Now, I said all of that to say this: For as long as I have taken a stake in the performance of our public school system, I have never seen a rallying of parents come together and say, "No longer will my son, my daughter, be denied true resources that can lift them from the darkness of academic inferiority. Never.” Wonder why not?
Am I my brother's keeper? Are you? Do you care for none other than "you" or "yours"? If you do care about the state of boys and girls academically, then I implore all to come together to help each other stand up for what is right. No more practices that ensured division and divisiveness but that one "elusive noun" being exercised that Mr. Clark shared in his article to appear in Focus SB, “Unity -- that elusive noun."
Until we all come to the table, assess what and why too many children aren't achieving academic success, then there's never to be anything new under the sun. That "same old soup warmed over" mentality will ever reign. Hasn’t that soup harmed enough boys and girls academically?
If we are to rise above those trappings of yesterday, planted root deep, we have to dig out of those vices that bind. We are better than that old four-letter word that Satan uses that overwhelm -- "race" -- because none can say it has been a factor that has helped our city, our parish, our state, even our nation rise above ever-smoldering ashes.
That old adage "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired" stands front and center for me. It's time for a true change that demonstrates bearing one another’s burden and helping our boys and girls rise above the trappings that await if no true academic success is a part of their life's journey.
Win for students, win for parents, and win for freedom!