Now is the Time

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY!

School Safety- I know with the recent tragic event in Florida that school safety is on everyone's mind. We routinely  have discussion around the topic of how we may  improve the safety and security for our students and staff. One of the objectives in the Strategic Plan that is being created will address Safety and Security options.  The most important part of any safety plan we can establish is our people, staff and students, being observant,  situationally aware and reporting concerns. Please know that you can share your thoughts and ideas to improve in this area with your supervisor or me.

Lady Blues Basketball- What a great season!  We so enjoyed watching this group of young ladies compete and earn a share of the district championship!

Special Olympics Basketball- Best wishes to all of our athletes participating tomorrow morning at Graham High School. I encourage everyone to attend and support these awesome students!

Graham Steer Soccer- Good luck this evening vs Wichita Falls!

Lady Blues Softball- Good luck on the road this evening vs Clyde and at the Bowie Tournament on Saturday!

Graham Steer Baseball- Best of luck at home on Saturday vs Bowie!

Graham Steer/Lady Blues Track- Good luck at the Minerals Wells meet tomorrow!

Graham Steer Basketball Playoff Game- The Steers will face Sweetwater next Tuesday at 7:30 pm at Anson. GO STEERS!

Now is the Time… Evaluate… then Vote

Data from recent elections show that close to 98% of Texas elections are determined in the primary.  Please know that whichever primary you choose to vote in, it does not in any way limit how you can vote in the general election.

Primary elections, THE BIG ELECTIONS in Texas, have had pitiful turnout among educators and all voters.  In the 2014 March Gubernatorial elections, 9.98% of registered voters voted in the Republican primary and 4.12% of registered voters voted in the Democratic primary.

Increased voter turnout threatens the current political landscape in Texas, where about 6% of people vote in the primary elections.  These leaders are counting on you sleeping through another primary, so they could take the little money allocated to public schools and start handing it out in the form of vouchers, continue to cut funding while increasing pressure on standard test results, limit contributions to your retirement, limit your ability to organize and push a punitive A-F accountability system.  BUT, oops, the sleeping giant got stung by one too many bees and is threatening to awaken in time to vote.

When we talk about engaging the 750,000 Texas educators in creating a culture of voting, it is not uncommon for someone to say, “There are only 350, 000 teachers in Texas.  Where do you get the other 400,000 people?”  We reply that schools also depend upon administrators, other professional positions, clerical and office personnel, instructional aides, and the auxiliary staff like custodians, cafeteria workers, maintenance personnel, bus drivers, and the like to create a vibrant learning environment in our schools.  We have 1.2 million Texas educators and former educations, plus our families and plus our former students, etc.  WE have a voice that has been muted, because we have been so busy teaching kids to be good citizens, that we have NOT modeled what we teach.

Mark Twain stated, “Where every man in a state has a vote, brutal laws are impossible.”  But we will add, only if the voters cast their vote!

It will never be my role to tell anyone WHO to vote for.  The mission is to encourage individuals who love and value public education to stand up, learn about the candidates and vote for individuals who have the courage and determination to support the values/desires of most TEXANS rather than the political right or left.  Democracy is about majority rule.  QUESTION:  Does the majority of Texas support and value public education systems that serves ALL kids…then our elected officials should reflect those values.

Have a nice day!

CORNY POST-VALENTINE’S DAY JOKE

WHY SHOULDN’T YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH A PASTRY CHEF? (Scroll down for the answer.)

He’ll dessert you!