Our Voices: School Board is embarrassment to parish voters
I love public schools. My whole family graduated from public high schools. When operated correctly, they can mix various racial, ethnic and socio-economic groups and create wondrous education and a social mosaic unmatched by private, homogenous institutions.
To be successful takes leadership. We didn’t see that Wednesday at the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting. The acrimony and tirades are an embarrassment to the people who voted board members into office, to the taxpayers of the parish and to the groups that give some of the members their marching orders. (They can’t be this bad all by themselves.)
They were supposed to be selecting an interim school superintendent, but good sense gave way to hooting and hollering, crying and snarling. It was more akin to watching a very bad reality show than doing what’s right for 4 to 19 year olds.
And let’s not forget the hardworking teachers and staff in the EBR system. They deserve better, too.
Choosing a school superintendant is important at anytime, but it is extremely crucial now as the EBR system witnesses more out-migration of middle-income and well-to-do parents who are taking their money and political wherewithal elsewhere.
EBR needs a leader with cutting-edge ideas, boundless energy, courage and an agenda that focuses on improving the education delivery system here.
To get there, our children do not need board members who show a lack of self-discipline, self-respect and a meanness that is becoming all too common in politics now. Remember Congressman Joe Wilson who yelled “Liar” during an address by the president of the United States. Is this the example of leadership we want to show our children?
Board member Kenyetta Nelson-Smith was quoted after last week’s meeting: “This is awful. It is a total embarrassment to sit in here and be a part of this board and be a mockery among the state and our peers.”
The audience was no better. Their churlishness only poured gasoline on the flames of discontent among various groups considering breaking away from EBR school system.
If the “School Board members and audience of Baton Rouge show” continues, it will chase many more parents out of the EBR school system and drive away those considering giving public schools a chance.
This is also a time when the board chairperson will have to exert some leadership skills. Get a grip on this group or your tenure as chairperson will be both miserable for you and a disaster for us.
The board owes East Baton Rouge an apology and its due diligence to get to work on stabilizing the pubic school system and improving the success rate of its students. Get to the business of picking a leader, no matter the race, ethnic background or address. We just want the best.
And to the audience who will attend the next board meeting, you can disagree without being disagreeable. But also read the words of English writer Lady Mary Wortley Montagu: “Civility costs nothing and buys everything.”
Edward Pratt is a former Advocate editor. He is assistant to the chancellor for media relations at Southern University. His email address is epratt1972@yahoo.com.