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Now, having said that, it sure is pathetic to see a local teacher post the following screed on the Tribune forums:

Name: forgotten_cenotaph
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 11:35 am Post subject: Let Great Falls Rot
I would normally never post anything to a forum of this nature, but I just want to say that I am a teacher here in Great Falls. I’m a first-year teacher, in fact, fresh out of college and married. My wife and I thought this community would be a good place to settle down and start a family, but after the debacle of this election, we’re not so sure.
What kind of a town doesn’t value education? Isn’t it funny how the people who know the least usually think they are the very smartest? I read some of these comments and these people have no clue what they are saying.
Well the response of the people sickens me. Do you think teachers get into this profession to become rich? I did this because I want to help the kids. If this thing doesn’t pass, we’re definitely leaving and moving to Missoula or Billings or Helena or anywhere but here….If you don’t care about education, then Great Falls will keep losing professional, stable people. No more nuclear families, no more people with college degrees. Let this town become a haven for drunks and gambling addicts. You can all hang out at the Super Wal-Mart together, get loaded and complain how the schools are sucking the community dry happily ever after.

Wow. The arrogance is boggling: “What kind of a town doesn’t value education?” Whoa, there, Teach: just because we don’t throw money at it based on your first-year assessment doesn’t mean that we don’t value education. And the implication that our entire citizenry is illiterate, drunk, and lazy; unbelievable. To be honest, if this is your first year as a teacher and you’re already that cynical and ill-mannered, then perhaps you shouldn’t even wait for the final results of the levy: just pack up your stuff and move along. I’m sure that most parents would prefer that your attitude not rub off on the kids.

While the folks in Great Falls do indeed value education, we also value civility and respect - two things that his college education failed to address, apparently.

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And, coincidentally, Tuesday was also the day that I received my ballot for the school funding levy - another good thing about being a Montana resident: finally, I can vote as a Montanan! Too bad it was to vote against, rather than for, something: I voted no on the levy. Shortly after completing my ballot, I happened to read the screed by local attorney Elizabeth Best and felt even better about my vote. Her attempt to link the Iraq war with a tax levy for local schools was…well, just bizarre. As GeeGuy noted, she probably did more harm than good for her cause. And the mailer that I received last week from YES, which proclaimed that “It is not an understatement to say that the future of Great Falls Public Schools depends on this levy,” also probably turned off more people than not.

But on the issue itself: the GFPS folks do an amazing job. I have nothing but good things to say about the schools here in GF that my kids attended. It seems to me that the schools are doing a very good job with the funding that they have. Everyone would like more money, but with finite resources and an already excellent system, I just don’t see the need at this time.

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For a moment, the audience could see on the screen a blank Powerpoint slide, and then someone in the control booth clicked a few icons, and the image of airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center appeared. The conductor then stated that the final musical piece was written as a remembrance of those who died on 9/11. The band started playing, and the screen showed the images of the twin towers ablaze. The slideshow continued, with pictures of 9/11 rotating above the students.

I walked out of the auditorium. Several other people did, too. It was too jarring, and just brought back so many horrible memories. Was I overly sensitive? I don’t know…it just seemed somehow inappropriate, incongruous. The fall concert is supposed to be a pretty happy event, a chance for the kids to show off their skills to family and friends. I don’t think anyone walks into such an event expecting (or wanting) to see images of what is likely one of the most horrible events many of us have ever experienced.

I understand what the musical director was trying to do, and I don’t doubt that he didn’t mean any harm…but I do think that he showed poor judgment. What do you think?

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Monday, October 1
– Dress: Class Theme Day
– Hall Decorations, 4 - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, October 2
– Dress: Your Favorite Ancient Hero
– Float Building, 3:30 - 9 p.m./Heritage Bldg
Wednesday, October 3
– Dress: Class T-Shirt Day
– Period 2, Coronation Rehearsal
– Float Building, 3:30 - 7 p.m./Heritage Bldg
Thursday, October 4
– Dress: Dress Up Day
– Coronation Rehearsal, 7 a.m./Fieldhouse
– Coronation, 9:45 a.m./Fieldhouse
– Powderpuff Football, 6 p.m./Memorial Stadium
– Float Building, 3:30 - 6 p.m./Heritage Bldg
Friday, October 5
– Dress: Green and Gold Day!
– Senior Class Photo, 10:55/Pride Field Bleachers
– Free BBQ for students, faculty & staff/begins at 11:30
– Parade Begins at 2:00/Central Avenue
– Football Game vs. Bozeman Hawks/7:30/Memorial Stadium
– Dance for Students/after game until 11:45 p.m.

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