WHY DOESN'T THIS SURPRISE ME?

We have new schools in our town and yet, we haven't figured out that people will walk the shortest distance to get from point A to point B, whether it is safe or not.  There are three new schools on major roads and the students don't want to walk any further than possible to arrive home. 

From the school on John Stockbauer, we have students crossing in the middle of the road, rather than walk a half of a block to the corner and then cross at the light.  Geeze, have people not heard that obseity is killing the youth and a little extra distance to walk would be a very good thing?  It's not like there's four feet of snow with hills to climb.  Give the kids tickets for jaywalking and haul their lazy rears off to the pokey if the tickets aren't paid.  Can't afford a ticket, then pull up your breeches and walk to the corner, wait for the light and cross the intersection like a civilized human being.  Crossing guards have been suggested, but who will pay for that position and what happens when the kids are a few blocks from the school with no crossing guard?  These aren't grade school kids, for crying out loud! 

Now, as far as West High School, the parents over there are parking on the side of the road and waiting for their precious children to walk to the major highway.  These are not lanes for parking and tickets should be issued to  people who are too impatient to follow the direcitons and pickup at the schools.  Place "No Parking" signs and have a police officer ticket these people who are putting lives in danger because of their inability to go with the flow. 

Darting across major roadways brings to mind a video game, "Frogger."  Hearing and seeing the splat when the ornery frog attempts to defy common sense to dodge the flow of traffic is off-putting.  Maybe we should revise this game and give the ignorant people frog costumes as they create their own paths home.  Jay-Walker versus a vehicle, no suspense there, just one less ignorant person.

TEFLON: EVENTUALLY THE TOXIC FUMES ARE DETECTED

When I learned today that VISD had finally reached the conclusion that their TEFLON person in the district had to be put on Administrative Leave, I was so pleased that finally the superintendent had realized how truly toxic the whole situation was.  I do feel badly for the students and parents who work so hard and enjoy the drill team experience and blindly believed everything was above board.

Whenever a parent devotes money, time and energy to keep their child involved in an extra-curricular activity, they shouldn't have to worry whether the person in charge is putting the children's well-being above her need for recognition.  Competitions were very expensive and yet the competitions were not true indicators of talent, since the team was the only one to compete in their category. 

Fund raisers might not be a problem for students who came from families with connections at work, church and social organizations who could buy raffle tickets, sponsorships, etc. But  for the families who struggle to met their household obligations, buying/selling the merchandise was a major financial strain.  Didn't matter who you were, the fundraising was expected.  Didn't want your child to have to work at the TKB event, because beer was sold and consumed, then too bad for you. How does this say that the director cared about the students? 

If a family couldn't afford all the financial obligations, then they should just pull their child from the team?  Soon we would be left with the elite and maybe that was the plan all along.  Oh, now I understand the name of LEGACY...rich, elite and above the rules. 

Sounds like it's time to regroup and rename the team.  The "DDDR" is the Legacy?  Really, then I guess it stands for "Did Debbie Do Right?"  And the obvious answer would be a big, fat, dingle-berry, "NO!"

TSORM'S OCCUPATION: THOUGHT POLICE

Over on The Victoria Advocate, there is a poster who goes by the name of TSTORM. He won't put up with anyone writing/saying/thinking anything against Bob Moore, the superintendent of Victoria Independent School District. TSTORM challenges other posters and asks them if they work for VISD. Is TSTORM really that dumb to think someone will post, "Yes, I work for VISD and I don't agree with what is happening in the schools"?

Bob Moore (through his principals) has made it very clear that if a staff member voices any negativity about anything, then it's time to find another career.

To have TSTORM act as such a staunch supporter of Bob Moore is quite strange, since he has family members who work in VISD. There have been times when his relatives have been treated very terribly. Either he is very forgetful; he doesn't care how his family members are treated; or he is trying to secure a place on a varisty team for his son.

No matter why he is Bob Moore's personal cheerleader, I am very tired of the same old cheers from TSTORM.