S.O.S. = Save Our Schools

Due to recent events that alarmed me at my son's Catholic school regarding the "education" school board and its gate keepers, I had to change the course of prescribed education for my youngest son, Daniel. I was, to say the least, shocked and appalled at the 'school board's' behavior.

The 'principal' is defined as a separate entity from the 'school board', and is supposed to have judiciary powers over the principal. In this case, 'practice' was not even close to what is being preached in their handbook. I witnessed the principal forcibly remove my children from school and drop them off at the curb in front of my house. I saw the principal denigrate and mock my son with special needs to the point of tears. He then refused to acknowledge that my son was special needs. The principal went on to file false truancy charges against my sons and my self. And he got away with all this behavior; with the 'education school board's' approval and blessings.

These tragic events took place at this Catholic school over the course of the '07-'08 school year. I wrote and spoke with the 'school board' many months; as well as the pastor and priest of the parish. I never heard a single word of dialogue or any address to the myriad of problems I was experiencing with this new principal. Until the latter part of July, '08. Then I received a small paragraph announcing that my youngest son would no longer be going to Catholic school as long as I had an "ongoing problems with the leadership" at Catholic school. Huh. Imagine that.

This late news left me in a bit of a pickle, considering it was less than a month before school was to start in the middle of August. But I managed to get my son enrolled else where asap.

Since these awful occurrences have occurred, and (I even went to the superintendent of Catholic schools with these problems with the new principal to no avail) I talked with some other parents about my experiences, I have learned of a different type of sinister danger that is facing our children today.

It appears that not only have the "religious right" broken into the evolution debate with their rewarmed creationism, but they are on full attack, invading our most inner sanctum values- that we teach our children- the all mighty SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

You see, I thought this problem I had with this particular new principal was an isolated, 'Catholic' incident. Boy, did I find out differently!

Not only are the neocons trying to (and have pretty much succeeded) gut our entire public school system, but they have infiltrated the very fiber of our schools- becoming the coveted and all powerful of all parents- the SCHOOL BOARD.

I have been a part of food and fiber to the public school system for my children and before, but mainly for the past decade or so ingrained in the well-being of the public schools system for my children's sake.

In the past 10 years, I have seen a lot of politics played full hands to the (mostly) detriment of our kids education system; LNCB not withstanding the hardest hit against schools to survive. But I have never seen the neocons push such a hard right on school curriculum's as to politicize the very learning of our youth to their hard and fast ways. C'mon, give our kids a chance to learn and think on their own! Damn it!

This is a very serious situation; and every parent needs to be aware of the hard right change that is occurring in our schools- not just parochial schools. I have just begun to unravel all the politicking that has been building for years to come to the surface now. I'm still gathering more info on the situation, however dire it is. Whatever their ultimate motive is, it is not for the betterment of our children. Show you care about your kids. They are our future.

My advice?

Attend all "school board" meetings in your area. Be involved. Participate to the max. Take back our educational right in this country. Knowledge is power. Arm yourself with knowledge before they arm our kids with guns.

20/20 Save Our Kids; Save Our Schools

Any Parent