And in Dutch: Waarom?
Once again, the local school bond issue failed. Someone on Facebook blamed it on “old people” ruining the town, but that’s not the point. (Census says otherwise, anyway.) ¿Por qué? Pourquoi? Why do people reject improvements for our schools? I break it down as follows:
- People are mad about lack of school board fiscal stewardship (real or imagined)
- People are inherently selfish, and they aren’t willing to give up a nickel for something that doesn’t affect them a) in a positive manner, b) personally, and c) right dang now.
- People fear that they won’t be able to make it with any more taxes piled on (this especially applies to homeowners)
- People are ignorant of what the passage of the issue will really provide, and how the taxes will be levied
- People are ignorant, period
I mean, honestly. If the levy was going to provide a new swimming pool/workout complex for faculty….well, I’d still vote for it. 
Seriously, though: our local middle school was built in 1910. Several of our elementary schools are also over 100 years old. Talk about a money pit. The high school (1964) isn’t much better. The Ohio School Facilities Commission was willing to kick in 39% of the cost of renovating and building new schools. It would have cost me about $150 a year. That’s a deal I could live with.
Apparently, not enough voters agreed with me.
It’s fine to hate government or local leadership and its spendthrift ways. But some people don’t seem to get the fact that new schools are not built on a whim, or because the teachers and kids by-God want air conditioning. These undertakings are far more serious. In other words, this isn’t our daddy’s educational environment, or our granddaddy’s. What was “good enough for me when I was in school” doesn’t play anymore. But that statement and $3 will buy you a cappu at Bux, right?
Then there’s the other huge “pourquoi?” — Cisco Systems laid off our dear BoomR. In this economy, he lost his job. 
We’re all pulling for you, Boom Boom. Your talent supersedes this quandary; someone will notice that, and soon. Much love to you.
Things are happening on the job front with other RtB family members as well. Hugs all around.
Speaking of jobs…one of my principals wants me to call him. Off I go.
FO
Not only are people ignorant, they _like_ it that way. Their ignorance is studied and purposefully pursued. They think this exonerates them from blame and excuses them for not caring. WRONG…..
My hubby lost his job yesterday too, so we’re all scrambling.
Your principal want you to call him? What does he want you to call him? Make it something nice….
PK
Oh no, that is awful!!
So sorry to hear this news, friend. Does he have some irons in the fire anywhere? This is terrible…
Thanks for your concern – yes he does have a few irons in a few fires; still building websites and the studio is still booming, so I might just hire him myself LOL. But lighting a few candles, just in case.
I’ll keep you posted. <3
If it’s one of the principals I know, you’re probably going to be asked to clean the furnace during your conference period!
No, I want yooooooooooooooooou to do it.
Passing of a school bond, or not as was the case many times, was the topic of many dinnertime discussions as I was growing up. Both parents were in the music department so there was much hand-wringing to accompany those discussions. Fortunately their jobs were never lost but there were many a close call! I just can’t imagine why people wouldn’t want teachers and students to have a decent school to teach and learn in! But like you said, if it doesn’t affect them directly at this moment then fugget abouddit!
BoomR sorry to hear about your job loss. It’s just unbelievable! And where’s the rage with all the US government BS going on? Imagine Joe Plumber asking for a raise on HIS ceiling debt!
Waarom?
I hear ya. I often wonder if or when it will be my turn to get cut. There’s one person ahead of me in the music department (tenure-wise) and one behind me, and I wonder what the gal would do if she were handed the entire program on a shoestring budget, as they’d likely not cut everyone at once. She’d probably take early retirement, which would leave me holding the bag — not that I’d want a K-12 program!
And the US economy? We’re well on our way to heckinahandbasket, so I’ll email you from down there.
That was one of the precious few advantages to being the only person in a department. Even though there were a couple of “close calls,” I was relatively safe. But I do recall the instrumental music program suffered when the band director had to take on lower elementary music classes.
Yeah, I always envied you at department meeting time.
Thanks, luv!
You know, the real kicker that really sticks in my craw about getting let go on Tues? When I went through this “exercise” last April/May when Cisco announced the initial exit of Flip business & cutting of 550 people, I had 3 headhunters call me about 3 really good job opportunities THE WEEK my boss told me, “don’t quit on me yet – your job will be safe come Friday May 19th.”
….only to have this hit me out of the blue 3 months later. One job was with a Cisco competitor and they were offering me up to 30% increase on my current salary because I’d be coming from Cisco. I guess the take-away from that exercise (at least back then): Companies still need people with my skill-sets and are willing to meet my salary requirements. I pray that, 3 months later, this is still the case.
Can I get a hug?
{{{BoomR}}}
I am hoping and praying this is just a temporary glitch in your career, pet. I see you’ve got your resume out to the important sites; someone will bite. I can’t imagine the stress of it though! What is BV saying?
BV is always the voice of reason… the little twerp
Like you & all my loved ones, he says “things happen for a reason & something even more fabulous is about to come your way. Relax & enjoy a little, then get to the job search with gusto!”
It appears I have lots of time on my hands – are we going to do a recording of you, luv?
Well good. He’s right on everything, you know! And I would LOVE to do a recording. We have to chat about that. I’ll send you a mail over the next couple of days! I’m excited!