I spent that week watching CNN's vignettes of the young children killed. I mostly cried. Then I wrote this . . .
In the shadow of tragedy I marvel at the grace shown by these poor parents. I'm amazed.I love my job so I don't look forward to retirement. But I have given it some thought.I always thought it would be cool to be a Padres usher. How cool would that be? Be at the park. See games for free. Get paid a few bucks.So it's settled. When I retire, my night job will be as a Padres usher. But I'll also need a day job. You now, for when I'm retired.During the daytime maybe I'll become a presence. We need more presence in this world.Schools need a presence. I'd be old so I don't know how effective my presence would be. I could stand in the front office. I'd look vigilant.
Maybe the police could do this. They could be present. They could get to know the kids. And kids would feel safe. That would be a presence.
But there's no money for things like that. There's not even money to retain teachers let alone putting it towards paying a police officer.And that's sad.
I don't know that armed guards are the answer. I only know that I haven't cried in about 2 weeks. The stories of murdered first graders are no longer on the television. And that's sad.
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