|
The More Things Change, The More They Don't
Editor,
Before another Garrison school election occurs, seniors and childless residents should become aware of two realities.
First, the school historically schedules a program by children on school election night. This massive parental outpouring stacks the deck against nonparents.
If this continues, the polls should be moved to neutral turf. Perhaps the town AARP could interest members in petitioning the state commissioner of education to prohibit special events on school property on election dates. The houses they save may be their own.
Citizens can address the second, more subtle, problem with their awareness and votes. The Garrison School Board has historically perpetuated itself. A candidate not in the good ole boy/girl network faces a tough fight. Although the board does not officially endorse candidates, members pick individuals they want and work behind the scenes on their behalves.
This year a group paid for an ad for two incumbents and a non-incumbent urging support of "the team." No board member disclaimed that the trio was running as "a team."
I recall when a severe voter backlash caused election of an independent candidate. Betsy Calhoun, a licensed architect serving on the school building committee, was punished for her victory over her opponent, then board president. The lame duck president caused Betsy's arrest while Betsy was doing her job as a committee member preparing for a state environmental hearing. Also arrested was my husband, former Hawaii state soil scientist/ geophysicist for the Federal Government, a volunteer assisting Betsy in locating an elusive septic system with his non-invasive ground-penetrating radar unit.
Punitive action was also taken against our dog. The defenseless animal was killed with rat poison in his run at about the time of Betsy's victory too much coincidence for me to swallow. I can't pinpoint a specific individual, but I can pinpoint a climate of hate.
Throughout her board service, Betsy was abused by board members hand picked by the defeated president whom the board, thumbing their noses at disenchanted voters, appointed as a high school liaison.
The board continues to perpetuate itself. With our particular case thrown out of court, I asked successive boards to apologize to my husband, reporting that, in the interest of peace, we ultimately signed off on rights to sue. I pointed out that other bodies have apologized for predecessors' actions: the Pope for certain alleged Crusades misdeeds; the British queen, for her country's persecution of my people, the French Acadians.
Yet, the School Board recently declined to apologize, unanimously, like the original unanimous complaint to arrest my husband. Seven people in lock step agreed not to comment on actions of past boards. They obviously rate their board more prestigious than the Pope's church or the queen's Commonwealth.
The more things change, the more they don't. Let's at least petition the commissioner of education to prohibit special events at polling places on voting dates.
Catherine Portman-Laux
Garrison
| 
