Shade Tree Wisdom 3/24/10

Warmer today and sunny, though they do predict some showers, and that we can accept at this time of the year for growth and moisture for the starting plants and gardens. Though I do very little work outside, let the yard man take care of it.

The market we use is only two miles away, mostly local driving. I had to run there this morning and on my way I passed four – count ‘em – four white Cadillacs. Is that some kind of an omen, or am I reading too much into this as a sign of recovery?

Now here’s a story that always disturbs me. Seems this lad has been disruptive, a trouble-maker, and is hitting little girls in the face, causing bloody noses and other harm. The teacher has spoken to the principal, she has met with the mother numerous times, she has even approached the school board, no avail. So finally, when another child hit this kid, she allowed it. Storm of protest, led by the mother, of course.

And the end result is that the Board of Education did what such spineless boards, threatened by a lawsuit, always does – the right thing, they fired the teacher. Never mind that this teacher has been patient. Never mind that she has a Masters degree from Rice University, never mind that her lasses are always well prepared and learn the subjects, never mind that she has never taken the easy way out and used the Texas Law that allows a teacher to simply say she does not want this child in her class. (When she mentioned this to the mother, the mother said this might appear on the record and hurt, so she, softhearted person, did not use that law).

Let me play this out a bit. A the end of the school year a number of the better teachers at this school did not sign a new contract, and left for other positions. The new staff hired was not as competent or experienced , the Principal remained, the end result is that the school rating deteriorated, people moved to different districts, and the mother with her disruptive son soon left this school “Because he isn’t learning anything here.” And of course the lad grew into a sort of troubled teen because he had never been properly taught.

Long years ago Moses had laid down a directive that parents do well to remember and follow.

This is what He said. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God is One Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words shall be in thine heart. . .and thou shalt teach them, diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6, 4-7.

Simple, but hard to do, and so often neglected. God is simply asking parents to teach their children while they have them at home. This work God blesses.

GPD 3/24/10