An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Podunk, Education, Tax Money, and Feckless Weasels
I’ve been trying to pay attention to some recent goings on in our little corner of Tennessee concerning the Hardin County schools, the school board, and tax issues. Unfortunately, because the local fish wrap’s website totally sucks, I can’t link back to articles on the issue.
From today’s edition, we get this little tidbit:
Lawsuit to save community schools dismissed by judge
Group tried to block construction of two new 550-student buildings
For the second time, a suit seeking to spare five aging community schools from closing has been dismissed in Hardin County Chancery Court.
Monday, Circuit Court Judge Donald E. Parish, sitting in for Chancellor Ron Harmon of Hardin County who dismissed a previous suit by Concerned Citizens for Community Schools-threw out the latest suit.
The group sought an injunction to block the ongoing construction of two new 550- student “mega-schools”{ and the closing of North, Walker, Whites, Nixon and Walnut Grove elementary schools.
Ok, I’ve read the injunction (.pdf), and even though I’m not a lawyer, I have to say BOTH judges made the wrong decision. The history sited in the injunction pretty well states the case that one single person decided to thumb his nose at the people of Hardin County (page 9, sec. 35).
Named as defendant were Hardin County, the school board and the chairman David Long, county Mayor Kevin Davis and county schools Director John Thomas.
Since David Long was in cahoots with John Thomas back in 2006, I’m really curious how these two are even in these positions.
“Now that this is behind us, the board and I can continue to focus on getting these buildings and the renovations done so our children can have a better place to learn,” Thomas said Tuesday.
Actually, I think Thomas should seriously worry about keeping his job. If the people of Hardin County don’t toss him out on his keister, there is something seriously wrong. I find it extremely interesting that there is a total lack of concern with the well being of the children themselves. The idea of small children sitting, for an hour to an hour and a half, on a school bus is more than just a bit disturbing. There have been studies to prove that community schools are better for the children than being bussed across town, or across a county. Hardin is a good sized county, 596 square miles, consisting of a LOT of winding back roads, which or course, adds time to any drive. By the time they would get home from school, the poor things won’t have time to actually be …….kids! I know it’s hard to urban folks to understand, but out in Podunk areas, kids still actually do kid stuff…..outside!
Some folks might ask why I care, since I don’t have a dog in this hunt (no kids in school). Unlike many in the current system of education, I actually CARE about what happens to kids, and their level of education. Question: How likely is a small child to pay close attention in class if they are tired from the ride to school, after being up before any self respecting rooster? Kids are our future. I’d really like to see the education system return to what it once was, a community affair, with parental involvement, and a return to a great many of the basics that have been left by the wayside, all in the same of political correctness. A bit of reading, writing, correct spelling, grammar, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and FACTUAL history might come in handy some day.
Since I’m unable to link to much of anything in said local fish wrap, I’m disappointed that I can’t link to a terrific letter to the editor that is directly related to the issue. I guess I’ll just have to do what I always do……type it myself. 
Some parents have written recently complaining of long bus rides for their children as a result of the county’s school conquest, er, I mean consolidation plan. This is an understandable concern, but there is a simple solution. Dormitories. The inmates, er I mean students, would be housed there during the entire school year. This would prevent wated time on school buses. The time saved could be used to properly indoctrinate, er, I mean educate, the students on the glories of our Dear Supreme Leader in the Holy City of Washington, D.C. Any supplicant, er I mean parent, who wished to see their offspring could easily do so by seeking the permission of Mayor Davis in writing.
As for the property tax, sales tax, wheel tax, tax-because-we-have-to-put-up-with-you, etc., wouldn’t it be far easier for the Grand Council to simply confiscate the most lucrative businesses and private estates in the county? You know, like King Henry the Eighth did!
I know the good people of Hardin County will want to thank me for these bold and innovative ideas. But it’s really not necessary. Just keep voting the same people back into office over and over again, and that will thanks enough.
Glenn Hubbard
Morris Chapel
Jeez! I just love snark! Especially when there is SO MUCH TRUTH in it! Mr Hubbard stated so well what many of us have been thinking for quite a while now.
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Kate…don’t you just love small town BS? I have my own saga going and if you have any pointers for how to deal with them I would be eternally grateful.
Honestly, it would be prudent to kick ‘em all out, from bottom to top! LOL I don’t know about where you live, but I suspect the situation is similar, they become entrenched, and even scandals can get ‘em out….kind of like Kennedy or Byrd.
Oh yes, so you DO know the drill.
Here is a sneak peak at the next installment: the cast of “characters”
a NAZI…a real one
the town whore
the town drunk
the other town drunk
and that is just the short less slimy list…..
LOL Well, there are some differences between Northern Podunks, and Southern ones.