Common Schools for Common People regardles of Common Sense

Where does it all end. If we start offering vouchers for people who choose to send their children to private schools where will it all end. If you want to send your child to a private school great, but it doesn't mean you get to take out your money from the fund balance that has built this great nation we live in. Let's seriously think about this.


There are roads in the state of NC that I will never drive on. Should I get a voucher for this? Thank God I have never been unemployed, should I ask for a voucher for my tax dollars that go to that? I'm lucky enough to have a job that gives me good medical benefits, should I get a voucher for my tax dollars that go to people who are medicaid or medicare, what a travesty that would be. Most of you that know me know I haven't missed many meals. My income allows me to put food on the table for my family, should I ask my government for a voucher because I don't use food stamps? I'll probably never see social security, should I ask for my voucher now? How about those disabled veterans, shouldn't I get my money back from them? I never served in the armed forces. Oh yeah and those people that are fighting that war overseas, protecting the very freedom that allows me some very important civil rights formed from our U.S. constitution, I don't think it's necessary for you to be there, I'll be waiting on my voucher. My house has a mortgage and I could use some of those tax dollars that go to public housing to help me out with that, can someone please get on this soon.


Why do some people now think because they don't go to public school they should get their tax money back! Seriously people, we have to get heads on straight, where does it all end?


The American System of schooling is the greatest system in the entire world. No where else on the face of this planet is there a system that can boast of what we do. We take every child, yes EVERY child. Regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or disability. If your homeless you go to school, your parents incarcerated come on in. You think you might drop out, let's see how we can get you to graduate. Severe learning disability, we'll find a way to help you make it. Sensory impairment, we have a teacher for you too. For those that are severely and profoundly disabled, guess what, not only will we admit you in our schools here in America, but we'll let you start at age three, and hang around until your 22nd birthday. Not only that, but if you qualify, we'll give you free lunch a breakfast as well. There's another secret, schools are full of these wonderful people called teachers. Most of them are legacies in the schools and communities they work in. No not all are perfect, but there are grown men and women around this world that tell stories about how their lives have been changed by these people. Oh wait one more thing, in most states they do it for very little money and very little gratitude from many stakeholders. Play sports, yeah we have them too. Like to work on cars, we can teach you a few things about that as well. Maybe you think you're not college bound, well after we try to talk you out of that for 13 years, we'll still find a way for you to be successful when you leave our free system of schools.


Several years ago a great man named Horace Mann had a great idea about how we could make this nation great. Providing a common school for common people. He believed proving this public system of school would unify our nation and make us stronger, this was in the 1830's. Interestingly enough Mann was a Republican. Look how far we've come!


We've gone from a belief of unification to one of separation. School vouchers weaken our nation. It creates a cast system. It further divides relationships between racial and socio-economic groups. It allows some schools to play by one set of rules and other schools to play by the real set of rules, similar to the way that Charter schools are functioning right now.


Some argue they want their children to go to a Christian school, well if we look at what the latest survey says 80% of people say they are Christian, so let's just put God back in schools, pray for the other 20% and be on with it. Sooner or later our kids will be exposed to people that don't have the same spiritual beliefs. isn't it ironic that Jesus walked the earth with the people that needed him the most, not the ones that felt they were righteous.


I love the fact that Horace Mann thought to use the word common schools for common people, and now here we are with no common sense!


Thank you and Good Night!

Dinner Guests

In Mathew, Mark and Luke there is a story of how Jesus walked up to Mathew and said two words, "Follow Me". Mathew reacted as any of us would if Jesus said "Follow Me" he got up and followed him. What he did next is what is most exciting, yet also what many of us fail to do. Mathew took the next step.

In many of these stories the next verse goes on to say that Mathew invited Jesus to dinner with other "tax collectors" some Bibles may say "other scum", or "other sinners." Mathew was a sinner, he associated with sinners, just like all of us. We are all sinners and we associate with other sinners. Mathew had the courage to follow Jesus like many of us have when he called us. But more importantly Mathew had the courage to invite him to dinner with his non-believing friends.

To put it into modern day terms ... Jesus walks up to a drug dealer on the street and says follow me. The drug dealer does, but that night the drug dealer brings Jesus to dinner with all his other drug dealing friends. He wants to share what he has just received with other sinners.

Mathew didn't wait until he got to know Jesus a little better, he didn't study his bible a little harder, he wasn't afraid of being made fun of by his friends, he didn't care if he was called a Jesus freak. He stepped to the front of the room, and introduced his honored guest. I pray that I would have this same boldness, and I pray that all of you will as well!

Who are you inviting to dinner?

Obama's Team Visits BHESA

REALLY? I'm still flabbergasted that President Obama selected a committee to study the status of the arts in education and the committee chose our school as one of the schools to visit. I don't pretend to think that this means we have arrived, but I have allowed myself, as you should too, to reflect on the journey we have had.

5 short years ago we set out on a journey to make our school rich with the arts. From the minute people stepped into our building I wanted them to know that there are exciting, enriching and engaging activities happening at our school. I believed that these three E's would lead us to our fourth E - Excellence! We are so close to that designation. I can feel it at the end of my finger tips and with just a little more stretching we will be able to hold it in the palm of our hands.

Yesterday's visit by Mrs. Goslins and her committee reaffirmed the great job our teachers, students, parents and leadership teams at all levels have been working very hard for. We have said that the arts will provide our students with an attitude about school that will change their outlook about themselves as a student throughout their young lives. We were right, listening to our students respond to the questions asked by White House Representatives we all have so very much to be proud of. Their answers could not be measured on bubble sheets or as a number printed on the front page of our newspaper. No... our success is in the attitude and belief that each of these children have a sense of pride, and ownership of their education, they love our school, they love their teachers, and they love each other. The arts culture has replaced the inept feelings our students used to have in the old fashion way school was being done.

Although not all of us had the opportunity to visit with Mrs. Goslins and her committee, I want you all to know that she was thoroughly impressed by our school, our students, our teachers, our community partners, and our central office team. She remarked to the students that she would loved to have gone to a school like ours when she was a child. Delayed flight scheduled prevented us from getting to all the rooms, and the script we had written was totally abandoned. Despite these circumstances the visit was a huge success and another jewel was added to the crown we all share!

Great Job BHESA and thank you for all you do!