Just found out my former High School principal was layed off recently. (12/16/2009) How’s that for a Merry Christmas?
Great timing FWCS school board…
You can read about the layoffs here and here.
It is this alum’s opinion that Thomas Smith was one of the best things to happen to South Side. Obviously I haven’t Been there for the past six years so I don’t know all that has gone on. But for the four years that I was there having him as the Principal was like a breath of fresh air. Not only is he a Christian man, but he’s a Spirit filled Christian man. Which means that I know he covered that school in prayer.
Besides if you really wanted to make that school better how about getting rid of teachers like Mrs. Verdon. (Spanish) Or Mrs. Klofke. (Econ/German) Neither teacher actually taught anything, were constantly out whited by students and couldn’t get control of their own class rooms. I’m sure the issue wasn’t that they couldn’t teach, but they certainly lacked the authority to do so.
Then there’s my favorite. (Literally my favorite; at least at the time.) Physics class. We watched a ton of Home Star Runner. You got it. Hours of class-time wasted on an internet cartoon. Broadcast from his computer to the TV above his desk. Now that’s what I call productive! I can’t even remember the guy’s name, that’s how much of a “mark” he left on me.
There were amazing teachers at South also. I don’t know if he’s still there, but Hr. Holmes is possibly the best teacher I’ve ever had. He taught history, but really he taught life. He was one of those teachers who pulled you up to a higher level because he required it and had no problem getting rid of you. If you were in his class it was because you wanted to be there, not cause you had to be there.
Mr. Streeter is another great teacher. Fun to be around and a great musician. Taught me a lot of what I know on saxophone. Thank you sir!
Mrs. Waldschmidt. I will never agree with her politics, religious believes, life goals or anything else that has to do with personal life. But she taught me art. And that passion was something that is necessary for really living. She taught from a place of experience. I never once questioned if she really knew what she was talking about. So it was easy to go through the hard times of learning technique and acquiring the skills necessary to produce a piece of art worth looking at. Because I knew that her goal was for me to be a great artist. She believed in my skills and helped me realize them.
As you can see by the News Sentinel’s story FWCS won’t even talk about the layoffs. Which is a tip-off, at least to me, that they know the layoffs are bogus. And further proof that they are merely trying to please the Obamanation administration so they can get more money.
The point of all of this is clear for me. Daniel Academy for my kids. That’s all I’m saying.
