歪歪漫画

I have told this story before, but with school starting it should be told again.

A wealthy philanthropist appears before the board of education and tells them he will give all 50 high school seniors a million dollars if they graduate. If one student does not graduate, the deal is off.

He also says he will give a million dollars to each student鈥檚 teachers and a million to each family. Obviously, there is a lot of excitement. Parents, teachers and students are overwhelmed by this offer.

As the year progresses, diligent teachers watch over the seniors like mother hens. Parents see to it that their kids are in school every day, provide time for homework, and turn off the TV and computer when necessary.

Students are working hard, even helping other students, and reminding each other that they all need to graduate 鈥� 100%.

When a student struggles, teachers go beyond the call of duty to help the student catch up. Other parents support parents who require help.

Students are given pats on the back for good work. Teachers positively reinforce the notion that every student can and will graduate. No innovative and new strategy is left unturned when helping students.

Even the community is rallying around the students, knowing that with more millionaires in town, businesses will thrive and there will be an economic boom.

Colleges realize that their enrollment will increase with more potential applicants. Hospitals will see a decline in admissions with a healthier population. The demand for healthcare workers will lessen, and crime will be reduced as well as young people committing suicide and using drugs.

The entire community realizes that with more students graduating, it鈥檚 a win-win outcome for everyone. The community as a whole is bursting with positivity. Just think 鈥� they are about to graduate 100% of their students for the very first time.

The outcome may represent a mindset for all future students, families and teachers. If it can be done once, why not do it again? High school graduation will become part of the culture. Hooray for everyone!

With about a month remaining in the school year, the philanthropist appears before the school board and announces that his investments did not materialize as he had hoped.

The result is that the million-dollar payment for students, parents and teachers is no longer possible.

The board members are devastated.

鈥淗ow dare you lead us on like this. How dare you raise the hopes of our students. How dare you cheat the parents and teachers that have worked so hard. You should be tarred and feathered. This is intolerable. You should think of leaving town. What do you have to say for yourself?鈥�

The philanthropist slowly rises, looks at the board members and says, 鈥淵es, I am very sorry about my miscalculation. You don鈥檛 know how I agonized over this moment. I hated to be the bearer of bad news, especially when it affects our children. But then I thought that maybe this exercise in working hard for our young people is a lesson for all of us."

A board member interrupts the speech and asks, 鈥淲hat鈥檚 your point?鈥�

The man continues, 鈥淪houldn鈥檛 we be working this hard all the time to ensure that all our students graduate? Isn鈥檛 this the responsibility of each of us? Don鈥檛 we owe this to our kids? After all, if we don鈥檛 try, we don鈥檛 do and if we don鈥檛 do, what are we here for?鈥�

The man concludes by saying, 鈥淎ren鈥檛 our children worth much more than a million dollars?鈥�

The philanthropist sits down.

The board members remain silent, unsure what to say but thinking about the man鈥檚 point, 鈥淎ren鈥檛 our children worth more than a million dollars?鈥�

Sometimes, we as educators, parents and administrators can鈥檛 see the forest for the trees, meaning we can't see the whole situation clearly. We spend too much time teaching reading and writing, worrying about credits and passing on from middle to high school.

We worry about not having enough computers, the most current reading program, the room being too hot or cold, or maybe we shouldn鈥檛 have school today.

What is it that our students want from us? I don鈥檛 think it is more computers or fewer students in the classroom or whether or not we have the most recent textbook edition. What they want is much simpler.

What if every teacher was to emphasize and teach in their classroom about showing kindness to one another? What if every teacher would show compassion and teach about compassion? What if every teacher would teach their students as if they were their own? What if we all accepted that our children are worth more than a million dollars and acted accordingly?

When we embrace these needs, everything else will fall into place.

What I just suggested doesn鈥檛 cost more dollars but would have the highest payoff that any community could imagine.

Bobby Kennedy said, 鈥淥nly those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.鈥�

Why can鈥檛 those of us living in Bemidji, Red Lake, Ponemah, Blackduck, Clearbrook, Northome and Kelliher change a small portion of events to see our children graduate? Isn鈥檛 that worth more than a million dollars?

Riddle: What question can you never answer 鈥測es鈥� to? (Answer: Are you asleep yet?) Can we graduate 100% of our students every year? The only acceptable answer is 鈥測es.鈥�

Ponemah had an excellent parade to complement its annual powwow. It鈥檚 too bad schools can鈥檛 find the means to be in parades to promote themselves and thank the community.

John R. Eggers of Bemidji is a former university professor and area principal. He also is a writer and public speaker.