This week I purchased a tent. To many readers, that might sound
like a completely ordinary purchase. Many people in Gilroy own
tents, and most of these tent owners have slept in their tents.
Until this week, I had never even thought about buying a tent, the
notion seemed as unnecessary to me as buying a Rascal. Tents, like
motorized scooters, are very useful. I have never felt the need to
own a Rascal (although my kids would love it if I came home with
one next week.) Maybe it’s the New Yorker in me, but I am not a
camper.
This week I purchased a tent. To many readers, that might sound like a completely ordinary purchase. Many people in Gilroy own tents, and most of these tent owners have slept in their tents. Until this week, I had never even thought about buying a tent, the notion seemed as unnecessary to me as buying a Rascal. Tents, like motorized scooters, are very useful. I have never felt the need to own a Rascal (although my kids would love it if I came home with one next week.) Maybe it’s the New Yorker in me, but I am not a camper.
As far as vacations go, I don’t see the appeal of sleeping in a tent when there are perfectly good hotel rooms available everywhere on the planet. I love nature; I just don’t want to sleep in it.
So you know there had to be a really good reason for me to buy a tent. The reason is that this weekend is the annual Relay for Life overnight event at Christmas Hill Park. This American Cancer Society event is held at various locations across the nation. While I have always supported the Relay, I have never participated. This year, instead of being in New York when school is done, I will be in Christmas Hill Park.
Gilroy Relay for Life is a huge event, and it is not too late to participate or make a donation. There are thousands of team members, volunteers and supporters who will be on hand as the event gets underway at 10am Saturday with the Opening Ceremony and survivor’s lap. I am looking forward to the luminaria ceremony at nightfall on Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing many friends and neighbors at the Relay for Life. I am looking forward to helping raise money to fight cancer. I am looking forward to everything but the tent. I am looking forward to helping raise money to fight cancer. I am looking forward to everything but the tent.
That euphoria that I am feeling this week has nothing to do with the fact that I now own a tent. That feeling comes from the fact that this is the end of the school year. I made it! I am so proud of me!
I have successfully gotten three children to school almost every day since last August. I have made sure that they were dressed, fed and had all the materials necessary to be successful in school.
I ask each of my children to do their best in school. For the most part, they do not disappoint me. I only have the right to expect the best from them if I do my job as a parent. This year, I went to all the parent meetings, the fundraisers and the teacher appreciation events. I congratulated each child at the honor roll social. I drove to and from sporting events, plays, concerts and dances. I read the bulletins and the newspaper. I attended school board meetings and joined advisory groups. I stayed involved against my better judgment.
I also realized this school year that nothing changes if you wait around for it to change. GUSD has many problems, most of which require the kind of fixes that money can’t buy. Unlike some “true believers,” I know that the problem is not our “population” – it’s not our kids. Our kids are just like kids everywhere. They are eminently malleable, completely teachable. It is not our teachers; most of our teachers are very good. The problem we have is a leadership problem.
Good leaders do not reward problem teachers. Good leaders make those problem teachers want to look elsewhere for employment. Good leaders lead by example, which is why John Perales is recognized by the Gilroy community as an outstanding leader. We have a leadership problem in GUSD, and only a strong school board can fix that problem.
