Since when do elected officials, representatives of the people (allegedly), ignore constituents? When I served in office, my goal was more communication with the public, not less (or in this case, none).
Even in the late 90’s when websites were just getting started, I created one for our town, complete with email access for the public. I started a township newsletter. I started “Mayor’s Open Office Hours” once a week in the evenings to meet with anyone who wanted to come in and chat. Whether the comments were positive or negative, I responded. That’s what elected representatives are supposed to do.
Why, then, when I emailed every member of the Bastrop ISD Board of Trustees, did I only hear back from the Superintendent of Schools? Someone obviously forwarded my email to her since I didn’t include her in the original email.
Not one elected school board member responded to my first email sent before the day of the protest! Not one elected school board member or the superintendent responded to my email the day of the protest either.
Let’s say I own a manufacturing business. I pay for the physical plant and equipment plus the salaries and benefits of the employees. Then, one day a bunch of them decide to take to the streets to protest some issue. They don’t protest at lunch time. They protest mid-morning. My business cannot continue as usual. I’ll limp along with fewer employees so I don’t have to shut down, but output won’t be the same.
This is exactly what these students did. And, now, without severe repercussions, they have learned the lesson that they can just walk out, ignore their responsibilities, and have little to no repercussion for doing so. The penalty is some checkbox that they were absent that day.
When my employees walk out, I still have to pay for the building, the equipment, the heat, the lights, the staff at all levels. When students walk out, taxpayers still have to pay for the school buildings, the heat, the lights and the staff at all levels.
The educational output is not the same because these students aren’t participating in classes. Class isn’t a one way street with the teacher having a megaphone. Class involves interaction and that is lost not only for those who protested but for those who remained behind.
Perhaps our elected school board representatives think they can hide behind their silence on this issue. To me, their silence screams loudly that they approve of this walkout.
The next Bastrop ISD meeting is Tuesday February 17 at 5:30. I encourage y’all who are furious about these protests to attend and speak out.
“The Board of Trustees holds Regular Board Meetings the third Tuesday of every month beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts, 1401 Cedar Street, unless otherwise posted. Meetings of the Board of Trustees are by law open meetings, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.”
This is not a first amendment rights issue. These students could have exercised their first amendment rights after school, on a Saturday or Sunday.
This is a lesson in responsibility. Every participant, be they students, teachers, administrative staff or elected school board members, have failed. Sadly, this is just another “F” in the grading of Bastrop ISD.