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Tom Germond
Thanks, Joe
By TOM GERMOND
Article published on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 |
More than 25 years ago, the chairman of the Indian River County School Board made a remark that I will never forget.
Speaking to a sobbing woman who was begging the board to reconsider its decision to expel her son, Joe Idlette spoke plainly but sternly.
“The school district can’t solve all the ills of society,” he said.
The expulsion stood.
I guess I was surprised because the words were coming from a Democrat; it sounded more in line with the philosophy of a conservative Republican.
I called Idlette Friday night. Hadn’t spoken to him since I was a cub reporter for the Vero Beach Press Journal in ’79 or ’80. He had just finished several hours of yard work, admirable considering that he is more than 70 years old.
“The school district can’t solve all the ills of society.”
Idlette remembered the incident.
“It’s still true,” said Idlette.
If that philosophy sounds callous or too simple, it apparently didn’t make Idlette too many enemies; he served on the board for more than 20 years, he said.
I’ve often referred to Idlette’s remarks in arguments with friends over the years about the school district’s responsibilities.
Too often, I think, we look to the school district to be surrogate parents. There is never enough programs, never enough courses, alternative schools or resources in the schools to satisfy some parents.
School Choice,
the FCAT, crowded schools, funding shortages, busing issues, school violence – the pressures facing teachers, administrators and counselors is scary. Whether I agree with Superintendent Clayton Wilcox or not on issues, I think he has the toughest job in Pinellas County – particularly at a time when the mandates upon the district are leaving it financially strapped.
We expect so much from our educational system – and yet some parents won’t even make sure their children have adequate medication when they come to school and too often make excuses for their children’s misbehavior. I’ve heard from more than one teacher over the years on how they feel they are nothing more than baby sitters.
“The school board can’t make students attend school; the parents must,” said Idlette.
It’s such a simple philosophy – parental responsibility – that it may be speaking the obvious. But, at least for me, it was reassuring to hear what Idlette had to say. He wasn’t spewing theories from a dissertation, not from a political agenda. He was just talking from the experience of someone who has “been there, done that” for more than 20 years. He also has six children – so he can relate to parents’ problems.
Idlette said he took great satisfaction in serving the community as a school board member and gave credit to the work teachers do. These days, there are more politics involved in being a school board member, Idlette said.
“You get so preoccupied with so many things, you lose sight of your goals,” he said. “It’s not going to get any easier.”
When I told Idlette that the remarks he made at the meeting surprised me, coming from a Democrat, he laughed.
“These days I’m more of an Independent.”
I thanked Idlette for talking to me after all these years.
He said he appreciated my remembering what he said.
Obviously, I haven’t followed Idlette’s tenure in office. Don’t know what type of voting record he had. But I felt good after our recent conversation – was convinced that what I heard was genuine.
It’s always uplifting to talk to leaders who stand by their words.
Tom Germond is executive editor of Tampa Bay Newspapers.
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Article published on Wednesday, April 12, 2006
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