Published: August 01, 2009 11:27 pm      

Don't live in denial

When I read “No elephant in the room” (The Meridian Star, Sunday 26, 2009 Edition), I quickly checked the date to make sure that this was 2009 and not 1969. When reading Mr. Mitchell’s clichés or implied clichés it was difficult to tell the difference. Some examples: (1) “Growing up, I had friends from all over town…”(2009), ( My translation 1969: Some of my best friends were black); (2) “You may have an elephant, Mr. Kent, but you brought him with you…”(2009), (My translation 1969: Everything is fine, it is those outside agitators that keep stirring up trouble); (3) …we never felt the need for forums and summits before 2008-09…(2009), (My translation 1969: It was those people’s house on fire and not mine so therefore I didn’t feel any need to call the fire department). The problems that exist in our schools have to be shared by all, but the larger share should be allocated to those that stood on the sidelines and “never felt the need for forums and summits…”

I agree with Mr. Mitchell’s assertion that attention has been diverted from the real issues plaguing Meridian Public School District. However, the issues have been present for some time. But as long as previous superintendents were simply contented with pleasing the status quo, the issues were not even acknowledged let alone confronted. Mr. Mitchell states that “our problems did not happen overnight…Problems with accreditation, testing violations, gang activity, school violence, lower teacher morale, and low test scores have been allowed to snowball over this school year under his watch.” Please indulge me with one other translation: I have known for some time that we were on a collision course with an iceberg, but I had confidence in the previous captain so therefore I did not get involved. Mr. Kent became Captain of the Titanic (MPSD) on July 1, 2008 when the iceberg was only inches away.

I encourage Mr. Mitchell and all concerned citizens to read page 3, paragraph 4 of Framing the Future: Emerging Opportunities for the Meridian Public School District, prepared by Robert A. Kronley, September 2005.

As long as we choose to live in a state of denial instead of the state of Mississippi, the elephant will continue to be our houseguest.



William Heidelberg

Meridian