I was off battling the school board last night, speaking out against the proposal to lower the graduation standards. And in typical fashion, all the parents who said they were coming to speak out against the plan didn't bother to show. And when the big moment came in the agenda to voice your concerns, no hands went up. Well, unless you count mine.
So, there I was, in front of the crowd, giving my name and address to the school board secretary readying myself to give my dissertation on why we need to raise the standards and expectations of kids and not lower them. I must have done well, for I spoke slowly and clearly and made my points and then received a bunch of encouraging thank you's and back-pats afterward. Chickens.
I'm good at that, you know--saying everything I want to say and not regretting a thing. It's my talent.....and my downfall. You don't ever want to be on the bad side of me for that very same reason.
Well, I'm going to catch up on all my blog reading on Wednesday, hopefully. I'm gonna have that ultra-fun colonoscopy on Thursday, so I'll be busy cleaning the pipes on Wednesday. The nurse says me and the potty are gonna be close friends, so I'm taking the day off work to stick close to my white porcelain pally. Sounds like fun, eh??Sigh. Yeah, so.....who wants to be me?
23 comments:
My buttons are popping. I am so proud of any parent who will stand up for higher standards and greater expectations.
(Pssst. Sidebar: Once you get past Wednesday, Thursday will be a breeze.)
Don't you hate when it's only one or two people that 'speak their mind'? It's like that at work with meetings as well. No one says anything and then everyone sits around and complains afterwards.
I'm usually the vocal one at work as well ~ it's sometimes gotten me into a bit of trouble. Ha! Oh well...at least I have said what I feel ~ right?
Good for you for speaking out.
Good luck with the test.
Good for you - having the courage of your convictions. Rock that boat, honey, rock that boat!
As to your test on Thursday - I hope they gave you the prep stuff in pill form, I hear the liquid stuff is not very pleasant - gagging and pooping - so not a pleasant way to spend the day.
Is there really a way to wish someone a Happy Colonoscopy???!!!
Good for you for speaking out, Lin! You are right for doing that...ya done good girl, and hopefully the other parents will appreciate your effort and time in going to the school meeting. Uh...as for the colonoscopy, NO I do not want to be you....I have heard stories..............
Good luck with that!
On speaking to the BOE--WTG!
On the router rooter. King Ralph had his this year, drank blue gatorade and said he was shitting a liquidified Smurf for a day. Have fun ;-)
Good for you! It's funny how some people get all fired up, but when it comes to stepping up to the plate, they're all chickens.
As far as the colonoscopy goes, the worst part is the prep. I hope all goes well for you.
Yes, they all ARE chickens, aren't they? I admire you for speaking up. And for recognizing that this is a talent (more than a downfall, I think). Good luck with your colonoscopy and prep. Buy that toilet paper with the lotion!
WTG! Speaking out on issues like that is important. It was a good thing that you did -- and you probably were better at it than others would have been.
As Vanilla says, Wednesday (prep) is the hard part. Thursday (procedure) is easy. You'll have plenty of time on Wednesday to practice your next speech to the school board.
Why in heaven's name would they want to LOWER their standards?!
*sigh*
So they can higher a new crop of crappy teachers. No offense to the good teachers out there....
Good luck with your test.
Good for you Lin! Bunch of chickens is right. At least they could have been there for moral support.
Good luck with the colonoscopy. Not much fun for you.
Vanilla--School board members are far too often on those boards for personal agendas that have nothing to do with the kids, which drives me crazy. It's frightening what power they yield and hardly anyone goes to the meetings or questions them. At least I know that I voiced my opinions, whether or not they listened.
Catherine--You and I are two peas in a pod! I'm forever getting into trouble. :) I went last night with no intention on saying anything, but I couldn't let the moment pass without anyone saying that what they were doing was wrong. At least I know I tried.
DG--Public speaking is not something that I am afraid of, thank goodness. At least I know I tried. Thanks for the good wishes for my test.
Grace--I am not afraid of public speaking, so I have that in my favor. Although I do get tired of being the person who stands up for everyone else. Sigh. Tomorrow, I won't be standing up at all. ;) I've got some pills AND the liquid. Ick.
Melodie--Happy Poopin'! ;) I gotta laugh or I'm gonna cry.
Hot Rocks--Aw, it's gonna come out all right! ;) Hee! Hee! A few teachers were there to see what was going to happen and they were glad I spoke. They can't say anything because these are their bosses. Scary as that is.
Jodi--Everyone is warning about my day on the crapper. Oh well, at least I'll get some of my magazine pile whittled down. School boards are scary--wayyyyy too much power for some idiots. I'm glad I said my peace.
Lola --Thanks pally. I'm not looking forward to my day on the pot. Ugh. Yeah, I'm not a chicken. Public speaking in no way frightens me. And I have this really loud voice so everybody can hear me in the room. ;)
JD--So, did you do the colonoscopy too?? Criminy, I can't do anything that you haven't done already. Sheesh. It's typical that folks don't step up. My pally, Wendy, was all set to go, but they caught her off guard. It all happens so fast! You gotta be quick thinking in that situation.
Chuck--I'm done with the speeches--it is someone else's turn. I have no problems public speaking, so I said everything I wanted to say and stood up for myself when one of the board members tried ripping on me. Board members typically have an agenda other than the students and you have to watch them very carefully. This group had 2 very scary (and dumb) members who think this is a great idea. Ugh.
Pricilla--I think so that they can fire teachers in the end. If they shorten the requirements, they shorten the day and programs like band, art, and music fall by the wayside and you can cancel them for lack of interest. There are some fools on this board. There are good, smart members too, but there aren't enough to win on this issue. Scary.
Buggys--And this is why this is such a bad idea--the kids who have no support are doomed to failure. People don't take time with their kids or their education--they can't be bothered. I didn't want to sit in that meeting either last night, but I care--not only for my kids, but theirs too. It's scary how they think this is a great idea.
Don't you hate it when everyone is all fired up until it comes to putting your money where your mouth is. Well at least you were there to stand up for what's right. Are they nuts? Lowering the standard?
Good luck with your test on Thursday, I've done the pals with the potty thing before, not fun
You go girl. It's annoying when it is up to us to say what everyone else is thinking. I'm one of those people myself most of the time and it's gotten me in trouble a few times but normally I'm glad after I've done it.
I agree that the hard part is the "cleansing". The actual procedure is a breeze, you won't remember a thing. I do remember yelling at the McDonalds drive through girl when she told me they were out of apple pies but that's about all I remember from the day I had one. Which was obvously afterwards when I was jonesing for some fast food.
Good for you for speaking your mind. My sister is the same way. She's the youngest in the family, and probably the strongest willed.
I've been missing on the blogfront too, lately... So busy with BlogPaws and all that -- but had a GREAT time!
Enjoy the, um, procedure. :)
Ann--I'm ready to find out why my bottom hurts so much already, that I don't care about the day on the pot actually. Let's be done with it, I say!! I'm glad that I stood up and said my concerns--but I know that lots of folks are intimidated to do such a thing. It is hard, you know. I'm just a big show-off, so public speaking doesn't bother me.
Lenox--LOL on yelling at the McDonald's chicky!! I'm ready to be done with all of this already. Hey, maybe I'll lose a pound or two in the meantime. As for the meeting--yeah, it felt good to unload, but that is just me. I was professional and unemotional, so I was glad for that. I have to remember that not everyone can get up the nerve to stand in front of a crowd and speak. I'm sure it scares the death out of some--but not me. :)
Ratty--I'm the youngest too--maybe we needed to be more vocal growing up. :) Either way, I'm glad I did it too.
Cute--Whew! I thought it was just me. I feel guilty about it and I miss it a ton, but I'm going to really make the rounds in the next day or two to make up for it. Glad you are back and had fun! LOVE the pictures!!
I'm so glad you spoke your mind! Kids are being dumbed-down enough. It's about time to reverse this awful trend. (And I am like you, I speak up and speak my mind. More people should be that way.)
As for the colonoscopy, my fiance just had that done a couple of weeks ago. It was not fun for him (although he felt very nicely cleaned out afterwords!). If they offer you drugs for the procedure, take them. Seriously.
God bless ya, Lin! I hope this test shows what's going on and you get better soon.
I also have been busy, have missed blog hopping this week. We're trying to get the garden in soon. Early this year! wahoooo!
I love your pond. Beautiful!
Good for you and you're right about people being willing to bitch but not back it up... As to making friends with the toilet, yeah been there done that.
oy. But certainly worse than the procedure with is not so bad actually... better than the reverse :)
Horray for you and the school board. Don't get me started on standards.
Janiss--I think it is going to pass that they'll need less classes to graduate unfortunately. They couldn't say why this was a great idea, but I'm going down fighting! I am having the "twilight" tomorrow, which will help me zone out of the procedure. I'm just starving today!!
Rebecca--I'm done with this, whatever it is. I don't show any serious symptoms, so the doctor isn't really concerned. I still want to have it checked out though. Fun times. Today is a blast--not.
Tracy--I'm just starving today, which is the bad part. I can deal with the toilet. I hear the actual procedure isn't too bad--thank goodness!! Let's hope for good news!
Sharky--Odds are, this is going to pass in spite of me and my big mouth. I'm gonna go down fighting though.
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