I jokingly tell people that a domestic women's shelter is my mistress to KCMSD. At times I hate to think of it like that, because domestic violence is an important issue we need to address...yet my time is overindulged in education. Over the last month, I have watched the new school year begin with many bottlenecks and promises to come. Were we perfect in every effort? No but we tried our best and we are continuing it.
So what does infidelity have to do with KCMSD?
In a marriage, two wholes are taken and made into one. They both bring their individuality and come together as a union for love or procreation. Why would a mistress play a factor in a marriage? They do not! As long as both individuals are fervently working towards a matrimonial union, then I believe mistresses and lovers are not a factor. Instances that make a partner leave is disrespect, being shut out, physical abuse…which are bottom-line ways of saying they feel unwanted.
If I send my child to school, I want to feel wanted and cooperatively work with the school to better my child’s experience. This is what a majority of our parents feel and still gets disrespected and ignored…parents would rather leave KCMSD for the mistress. Community members would rather live oblivious to the politics and antics from the parents to the school board .
KCMSD makes parents and community members file for divorce daily. How can I stay committed to my marriage with KCMSD when we are continuously being ignored, shut out or divided?
HOW CAN I CHANGE THIS?
I chose to take the high road.
ReplyDeleteReaching out to individuals who are higher than the school board, higher than the administration - who ignore those who are trying to make the marriage a really
great, functioning, powerful partnership.
Higher leaders, higher powers, whatever it takes.
Very interesting analogy.
I understand the high road, but isn't that what we always do? Run to our therapists or girlfriends or the experts instead of dealing with our own mate? Isn't that what marriage is, dealing with the individual no matter how long it takes for them to come around? No marriage is perfect, yet as Stormy O’Martin (The Power of a Praying Wife) advises, I can’t expect a husband to change until his wife does. She must change her own mindset (not to his) order to get a change from him. My grandparents have been married for 65 years and one thing my grandmother said...you will never really know a person fully. They change, you change. She is different than she was at 25, 45, 65 and now 84. So I believe I will never really know KCMSD, but I am still willing to stick out with him/her as long as my residence is 64...anything!
ReplyDeleteSo what do I need to change before I can expect KCMSD to change:
*Quit complaining that it won’t change and step up and do something,
*Start attending board meetings w/o the expectation of those 9 to do the entire decision making.
*Continuously speak out about the underlying racism in this city (both black and white).
*Actually effectively use the systems that everyone seems to say “don’t work” but haven’t been implemented since the idea spoofed in someone’s head.
When Covington arrived at KCMSD, he faced 30 years of corruption and neglect. Throughout the district there was incompetence, laziness and chaos -- from principals who couldn't even manage a school budget or knowledgeably discuss academic achievement -to teachers who hadn't worked in years and resisted any idea that would connect their performance to their paycheck -- to staff who spent more time with friends and family on the phone or internet to be bothered with a functioning school - to leeches who sold "programs" that did nothing except line the pockets of the contractor --to students who were non-readers and in high school -- everything was broken -- make that smashed to smitherines!
ReplyDeleteI too would like to see the admin pay more than lipservice to parent and community participation. Covington's priorities are right: begin with the principals, then the teachers, then community/parents. However, I think that simultaneous implementation is possible WITH experienced and effective personnel.
To continue with your analagy of marriage -- I would say Covington hastily forced an "arranged marriage" between his staff and the parents/community. It's not working. Divorce is inevitable. And, remember this, sometimes divorce is the only way to save the kids.