The Richland Springs Report

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I was thinking of that old saying time flies when you are having fun. It explains why time seems to be dragging its feet.

Back in Canada, I would say: slower than molasses, going uphill, on a cold day in January. Like our students and parents, this has not been a fun month. I am looking forward to some change in May.

Unfortunately, all schools have been closed for the rest of the year.

Piling on to the unfortunate, the TEA wants school to remain in session for the duration of the school year with virtual learning. I won’t say that is impossible, but I can assure you that there is a disaster in the making.

I posted a President Coolidge statement this morning.

It stated: Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. -- Calvin Coolidge

I state this to say thank you to all the parents who are teaching their students persistence in the face of many obstacles. I can say that, for me, as I grade the work that is turned into me, I look at the effort required. In all truth, I cannot give a grade for no work. I will honor persistence, but not slothfulness. These times are character building times. The lessons learned during this epidemic are lessons that will be taken into the future. For all the athletes out there, if you don’t stay with your training regimen, you will end up with your skills diminished. For the brilliant ones, if you can’t learn to work without a supervisor, you will not work well in the future. For all you students, please build your character, do your work, turn it in, and try not to take short cuts. (You know - getting the answers from your friends without learning how to do the work.) This is the time to prove to yourself and everyone else whether you have integrity and drive. The underlying pain to all the teachers is the lack of learning and teaching. The fear that those little ones that need a touch, a hug, an extra moment will slide a little farther behind and feel a little less secure.

If anyone thinks I don’t know this is hard, then you don’t know me. I have moaned on Mrs. Starr’s and Mrs. Wyatt’s shoulders for weeks. I am struggling to learn the ins and outs of all these programs. I sit in front of my computer for hours at a time answering questions and trying to find student's work that they say has been turned in but is nowhere to be found. Many of us know the internet systems are engulfed with all the people using them. I try not to get impatient as I switch from media to media searching for work. I am getting better, but I am not good. Still, I am persisting with all this technology, paperwork and long hours because it is important. My work is examined by the state; it must be submitted, no excuses.

I miss my church folks especially. Every week, a new disaster seems to hit our computer system. Last week, I told my friends that I sounded like a bull frog that had been stepped on by a giant foot. I love praise and worship. My heart gets restless if I am not singing, but I sure don’t want to listen to what came out of my mouth last week. Fortunately, I know I don’t sound like that, but it gave me cold shivers, and it’s my voice. I am a hugger, and this enforced isolation is painful. I laughed last week about those solitary folks that don’t like people much, so this is like heaven to them. It is the opposite for huggers.

This sounds like a gripey column, but the truth is we will survive, we will be better, our economy will restore itself, and we will be free once more. Our school halls will ring with the laughter and buzz of children. Our churches will resound with the sound of happy Christians singing praise to the Lord. Our merchants will open their doors to welcome guests into their establishments. America will be alive again.

In the meantime, we will watch as our politicians argue over the huge amount of money that is required to save our people. We have an answer for that; pray. So, pray for our Congress, pray for our President and the people working so hard to control this virus, pray for all the essential workers. Pray for the end to this virus. The good thought is; the sun is shining, and UV rays do kill germs. So, let’s get those germs killed. As a nation, we need to pray for so many things. I know God is in control, I know whose Word I believe, and I know this will pass. For the thousands who have lost loved ones, please accept my condolences for your loss. You have paid a heavy price. I usually close my column by praying for our precious troops and their families. I will add all those essential workers and our precious troops and their families this week. We are lost without them. Thank you for all you do. Keep that work coming in please.