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CAT Tracks for August 29, 2010
POWERFUL WOMEN'S MOTTO |
On a slow news day...
...a "Point of Personal Privelege".
Actually, make that two...
Following the official "Welcome Back" at the August 20th Teacher Institute, I climbed into my car and ventured north to the IEA Region 1/Region 2 Headquarters in Carterville. My self-imposed mission...to pick up membership materials for the 2010-2011 School Year (skimpy, indeed...as IEA cut expenses to avoid an even higher membership dues increase. For instance, the little calendars that you were always provided - but, NOT this year - saved like over $100,000. And, if you were like me, you never used it anyway!)
Anyway, while waiting for the secretary to finish a telephone call, a nosy, uh, curious old CAT couldn't help but let his eyes wander. That's when I noticed a piece of paper thumb-tacked to the bulletin board over the desk.
The piece of paper contained one of those motivational sayings that people post to get them through the trying times that often arrive uninvited in the work place.
Guys (of the male persuasion)...
As you may have noted from the subject line above, this one ain't for you (although you might want to read between the lines...might keep you outta trouble!)
Anyway..
When I saw it, I had to have it (and as I was hand-copying it, the secretary finished her call and offered to photocopy it for me.)
Most of you have already guessed where I am
Yep, my dearly departed wife, Julie, certainly lived this motto to the fullest...much to the chagrin of former Cairo School District Number One Superintendents and Board of Education Members. (I would dare say that the expletive muttered by the offending officials was of the nature to be deleted, the four-lettered sort that begin with "S" or "F". Julie paid a heavy price for her efforts on behalf of others, but she wouldn't have had it any other way. Thus (sister) Rachel's song selection to be played at Julie's funeral service..."You could stand me up at the gates of hell but I won't back down." (Present and former employees of CSD #1 know well - all too well - that the analogy of hell is NOT a stretch!)
And, Julie was/is not alone...by any means.
They number in the millions...
And their reward for their "assertiveness" - a quality admired in men - was/is to be called the "B" word.
I would be remiss if I did not recognize one other strong woman...none other than "CAT Woman".
President De De O'Shea (with a little arm-twisting on my part) stepped up, stepped in and took over the position when I finally called it quits two years ago. And, folks, she has had hell to deal with...negotiations in her first year, a new Superintendent to "break in", and, now, the consolidation of the two elementary schools into one.
De De added a new dimension to the CAT presidency...an in-your-face style.
Me? I would get mad about the treatment of District employees and storm off to my writer's garret...documenting the travesty of justice for future legal proceedings. Face-to-face confrontations simply did not come easily to my introvert personality.
Oh, the letters still get done; we'll have our "exhibits" ready for hearing/trial. But, now...when the "powers that be" decide to yank on the CAT's tail, they can expect some very vocal, immediate feedback!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
Well done, Madam President!
