SUPERINTENDENT'S CHAT
Richard J. McClements,
Choices. Life is filled with them, and the decisions we make for the good or the bad remain with us -- for the good or the bad.
Several years ago, the television show "48 Hours," had a theme on the dwindling lack of responsibility in our country. The reporter said that more and more of us are unwilling to accept the responsibility for what we do. Someone else is always blamed for our shortcomings and mistakes. Even those who commit heinous crimes, such as child molestation, can rationalize why they do what they do. Passing the blame onto others justifies and cushions.
If we look at reality with our eyes wide open, why would anyone choose to begin experimenting with drugs? Look at the lives, careers, and families that have been ruined by those who made the wrong decision about accepting that first "friendly gift" and thinking that they could control it. The seller laughs all the way to the bank. But even he is mistaken. Sooner or later, he will spend some time in prison or end up in the cemetery. His mistake began when he first decided to play a role in ruining lives.
The student who disrespects and attempts to humiliate the classroom teacher is responsible for these actions. That decision to misbehave is a conscience decision and should bear the consequences. Nevertheless, in an upcoming article, I will write about how some parents refuse to believe that Johnny can say and do what Johnny says and does. Inevitably, we will hear from those parents about how it is the school's blame.
The decision to be a good student or a mediocre one rests
with each pupil attending the
Choices, the one thing that life doesn't give us is the opportunity to go back and undo what we have done. That's why at the moment of decision, we need to make those choices we'll never regret.