Murphy: Resolve to Support our Students
School Board Vice Chair Dick Murphy
School Board Vice Chair Dick Murphy writes an occassional column for the Iowa Bystander. This one was published in the January 11 edition of the paper:
It’s the beginning of our New Year season (still to come: Chinese, Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, Nepalese, Sudanese, Tai Dam, etc.) and the celebrations bring people together to renew old acquaintances and to establish hope for a few new ones. Many of us do this by making resolutions to get healthy, be responsible, practice kindness, and a myriad of other self-improvement concepts. And at the end of the year some of the resolutions will be forgotten and others, actually kept.
Each year there are also what I call “Resolution Wanderers.” These are people who would like to make a resolution but are so serious about commitment that they never end up resolving to do or not do anything. They are like graduate students contemplating a thesis topic. They want it to be significant and yet be something they can handle. Grad students often procrastinate for years trying to determine a significant topic. And New Year’s Resolution Wanderers often do the same thing.
I know all of this because I procrastinated on all of my thesis topics and I rarely make a New Year’s Resolution because I can’t think of anything significant that I might actually be able to do!
But, as an elementary teacher used to tell me, “You need to look no further than your nose to find the solution.” And I think I have a solution for all of us “Resolution Wanderers.” It should be very simple to do, and the results will certainly be of significant benefit to our students. If you are not a parent of school age children, then this solution is even more appropriate for you.
All you need to do is choose one or more of the following resolutions and you will find a sense of accomplishment and more than likely you will feel better about yourself and your community. Our students need you and you need them.
Resolution 1.
Go to a high school play, music concert, or any other student activity. I especially like this resolution for those of you who have no kids in school. You might be surprised especially if you think today’s kids are not up to your standards. If you attend a student activity, you will find they work hard, are talented, and can perform much better than kids of previous generations.
Schools and families are financially stressed and extra-curricular activities are being slashed all over the country. When schools have to make cuts in these areas, people show up to complain about it to their local school boards. I remember a couple years ago, I was asked to address a group of citizens who were objecting to proposed cuts in the arts. I suggested that if they were so concerned, the least they could do is to support the students by attending their activities. The room was silent and I was criticized for making that suggestion. I still stand by it and hope you will fill up those auditoriums, and playing fields when your neighborhood high school is performing.
Resolution 2.
Volunteer. There are many opportunities. Elementary buildings often need volunteer readers. The United Way creates opportunities for their volunteers to help their local schools and you can volunteer through the United Way. You might join a high school booster club even if you do not have kids in the school!
Resolution 3.
If you don’t have the time or the opportunity to actually involve yourself with students, then you can always help with your financial resources. As we all know an investment in our kids’ education is an investment in our own future.
Most school districts now have a foundation that supports students in a variety of ways. Some are scholarship foundations and others help the schools provide extra curricular activities. It is important to ensure that students can explore the arts, the sciences, and their own physical limits.
If you choose the third resolution, your contribution will help to ensure that our students grow up physically strong, mentally alert, and morally focused. Des Moines residents can send a contribution to the Des Moines Public Schools Foundation, 901 Walnut, Des Moines, Iowa 50314.
This year make your resolution count!
