Polarization is chilling America

While reading comments on my Facebook Page, today, I thought about the path we are taking, for America.  I found it interesting how far apart I was with some of my friends on our beliefs about "Obamacare" and what its implementation will mean to American Business.  What struck me most was how much I appreciate my friends speaking up and giving me their thoughts, even when they know we differ.

I am worried about our "Polarization", as a People.  We should be Americans FIRST and everything else second.  (I took the above picture from "RealClearPolitics".  Read their Blog, it is interesting!)  As you can see, from the picture above, we have become more polarized, over the last 16 years.

My concern is this; why is it we can't stop to respect the opinions of those whose beliefs differ from our own.  In a personal way, what makes someone else's opinion more right or wrong than mine?  I feel many people have become so entrenched in their opinion they refuse to be open to the other side.  Maybe, JUST MAYBE, we could learn something from one another and actually carry America forward.

This Polarization has led to a Missouri Legislature and United States Congress who have accomplished very little, over the last several years.  The Republicans and Democrats are so worried about fighting with one another and opposing whatever the other side supports - that BOTH sides are losing out.

Please take time to listen, truly listen, to people who hold views opposite your own.  Maybe they will bring up valid points to challenge you and make your beliefs stronger; maybe you both will find some common ground and remember - WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST - and everything else second.  IF WE CAN'T AGREE.....LET'S AT LEAST BE CIVIL!!!!!!!

Why aren't we complaining about Education and Academics, in Neosho?

While attending School Board Training, today, I had my eyes opened to an interesting question, from the Presenter......she asked; "How many of you have received calls, from angry patrons about the lack of excellent academic achievement, in your District?"  No one in the room, of 73 School Board Members, from ALL across Missouri, raised their hands.  The Board Members spoke of calls about Sports Coaches, Bus Drivers, Teachers "being mean" to their kids, etc.

This made me think long and hard.  Where are our priorities?  Now, do NOT misunderstand me here, I am not attacking our Teachers, in Neosho.  I support them 100 %.  So, don't misunderstand my criticism..... I feel Neosho can do much better at educating our youth and I ran for the School Board to chase Excellence.

Vince Lombardi, the famous Football Coach, was never satisfied with his teams "staying" where they were, in performance, he was driven to make them even better.  That is my Goal.  I want to see Neosho be the greatest School and provide the best education anywhere AND I want to see constant improvement over time.  Never ending improvement.

So, this brings me back to the question asked today.  Why aren't YOU, as a parent, or Teacher, or District Patron calling me to demand improvement in academics across our District?  Our kids deserve it!  The questions must be asked.... "What can we do to improve?"  .... Answers need to be obtained, to that question, and then a plan must be implemented to get us there.  That is what I am working toward.

We have our priorities messed up, as a Nation and as a Society.  While it maybe important to know why a Teacher was mean, or a Bus never runs on time, or a specific team always loses; the bigger MORE important question is this; "What are WE doing to prepare our most valuable resource, our children, for life?"

How about we ALL get "angry" (in a positive way) and tackle academics?  Isn't that why we have schools in the first place???????

If we can't agree.........let's at least be civil!!!!!

Romney is being railroaded - he is RIGHT about the 95 percent!

Well, the liberal media is at it again, BUT this time they have gone way to far.  They have proven they are anti-American and not optimistic, as evidenced by this story today from the Huffington Post: "Mitt Romney: '95% Of Life Is Set Up For You If You're Born In This Country".

As I read this article and searched the web, to find several other news organizations bashing Romney's statements, from this May 2012 campaign speech; I became angry.  Not angry about what Romney said, as he is Right!  Mitt Romney said; "..... 95 percent of life is set up for you if you're born in this country...."  The article goes on to bash this idea and present statistics showing why its not true and I want to tell you this......The article is a prime example of everything that I see wrong with TODAY'S AMERICA.

In Today's America, people are not brought up (as a whole) to believe hard work will get you wherever you want to go in life.  

Not only do I believe it; I know this is fact.  Hard work WILL get any person to a better place in life and to achieve their dreams, in Today's America!!!  Show me one person, who has worked hard, not used drugs or something dumb like that, and they have not bettered their life.  I want to see it!!!  I am from Missouri, so SHOW ME!  

Sure, people have rough patches in their lives.  We lose jobs, unexpected things happen, and challenges cross us all; but all in all hard work and dedication makes the American Dream still viable to anyone who is willing to chase it.  Being born in America is a blessing, from God!!!  This is the difference between Democrat leaning Liberal Media folks and Republicans.  Republicans still believe America is a great Nation and we can work hard to make it better, with less Government and hard work.

Many people today, take the easy road - they file for disability, because they are too lazy to work, they collect unemployment instead of looking for work, they live off the Government dole, because they feel entitled.  Now, you can be offended by my remarks OR you can look at them objectively and see where I am right!!!  I am NOT saying all people on Government Assistance are lazy and draining society.  I have no objection to helping my neighbors, who are truly in need.  But, I do object to supporting those, who are as able to work as the next guy.  We have to change our mindset!

America is in decline because of junk like this and the failure to have a vision, like Mitt Romney, when he sees the blessing afforded all Americans....being born here does make you better and luckier than most all other people in the World...Don't take it for granted!  Work hard and fight for it.  America isn't easy, but America is Great!

If we can't agree........can we at least be civil??????

A Field of Dreams: when athletics drives kids to succeed...............in life!

Giving kids the tools to graduate and succeed in our society is my main goal, as a School Board Member.

A Field of Dreams: when athletics drives kids to succeed...............in life!

In May, of this year, I joined other members of the Neosho School Board in unanimously voting to build a new Softball Field, Locker Room, and Concession Stand, on property immediately North of George Washington Carver Elementary School.  I have heard from many of you, the patrons of the Neosho R-5 School District, who are upset with the expense of this project.  I have heard you don't understand why we are spending money on such a "frivolous" project, when we have such a huge overcrowding issue.

 I would like to respond to these concerns, in a public way, so I chose the use of my Blog.  Now,  let me give you my disclaimer:  I am speaking only for myself here.  I respect every member of our Board and know each of them has the very best interest of our School at Heart, but I do not pretend to speak for any of them, so if you want to know their thoughts, please go ask them.....

EVERY vote I make as a Neosho School Board Member will ALWAYS be with the best interest of the students and District as a whole in mind. 

I feel our District is at a crossroads and we have many needs.  We have sub par facilities and when I ran for election, I made no bones about my feelings in this area.  I have repeatedly said, "Our kids deserve the very best education and to have great facilities, just as kids in Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Monett, Nixa, Republic, and Willard do."

We have to face facts, we have neglected our facilities for decades!   In the years since we established a Softball Program, for our High School Lady Wildcats, we have NEVER had a field of our own.  We are unique in our conference, in that regard.  We were unable to host District Play, which brings people and tax dollars into our area.  But, more importantly in my mind was this: "What message were we sending to the young ladies in our District?"  Were we telling them how important it was to be a champion and succeed in life?

This project is not just about money to me, but I realize how expensive this project is and I deeply respect responsible use of YOUR tax dollars.  This project is also about keeping kids in school, improving their academic achievement, and encouraging them to go to College.  Athletics does all of this.  Most all Researchers have come to this conclusion:  Extracurricular involvement DOES translate to academic success, in High School.  Further, most all research shows kids involved in Extracurricular Activities have a lower instance of dropping out.

 According to the United States Department of Education No Child Left Behind: “The Facts about 21^st Century Learning” in 2002, students who spend no time in extracurricular activities are 49% more likely to use drugs and 37% are more likely to become teen parents than those who spend one to four hours per week in extracurricular activities.  After school hours of unsupervised time for youth can lead to one or more life altering poor choices.  (Taken from http://www.wvmetronews.com/hsSports.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=47924).  

 Study, after Study has shown - kids who are active in Extracurricular Activities are likely to have better grades, higher scores on the SAT, and less instances of substance abuse and depression.  We MUST do all we can to encourage ALL kids to succeed in school.  I desire excellent results, from EVERY child within the Neosho District.

IF a new softball field keeps 5 kids every year engaged in an activity, when otherwise they would have been wandering the streets, would you support it?  What if only one kid per year stayed in school, because they loved softball?  Would it be worth it?  Now, mind you, that is 10 kids in ten years.  Who will these kids become?  What would they have become if they dropped out?  THAT brings me to my final point.........

Every one of us is in this together!  We sink or swim based on what happens in the Halls of ALL Neosho Schools.  Did you know it easily costs more than $12,000 per year to keep a non-violent offender in a Missouri Prison???  Did you know High School Dropouts are much more likely to be arrested, than graduates????  Do the math.  

You see, as I was voting on this issue, I thought about the big picture, not about the large expense (which I agree the new softball field is) today; but rather the many rewards to our society tomorrow.

I encourage those of you with questions and disagreements on this issue to reach out to me.  I look forward to hearing from you.  I also would like to invite you to become involved and come to our Board Meetings.  This issue was discussed for more than a YEAR, at open Board Meetings, and to my knowledge not one person came and spoke against it.  We are here to represent you!  

(I could go on and on with so much more information on this issue, but in the interest of time I will close.  If you have further questions, just ask!)

If we can't agree - Can we at least be civil???????..................

 

 

Dare to DREAM BIG NEOSHO........

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this Community will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "Neosho, where Excellence in Education is the Norm."

I have a dream that one day on the rolling hills of Southwest Missouri the children of former graduates and the children of new transplants will be able to sit down together inside a modern education facility, second to none.

I have a dream that one day even the Neosho R-5, a District struggling through economic tough times, will be transformed into an oasis of educational opportunity for all people.

I have a dream that my two children will one day live in the District where they will raise my Grandchildren in the most modern facilities anywhere.

I have a dream today.

As I ran for the Neosho R-5 School Board, I made no secret of my desire to pursue a Bond Issue to improve our inadequate educational facilities.  When I graduated from Neosho High School, in 1987 (25 years ago this month), the building was over crowded.  A few small additions have been made to the building, in the past 25 years, but by and large it is the same as when I walked those halls.  The student population has grown greatly, in this time.  There are hundreds more students now, than back in 1987.

Our entire District has grown, exponentially, in the past 30 years.

At our most recent School Board meeting, we voted to add Mobile Classrooms to the Middle School and Central Elementary Campuses.  Mobile Classrooms are NOT acceptable for our children.  They do not contribute to the educational environment AND they are an expense on our operating budget.  Real brick and mortar buildings appreciate in value, not so with these structures.  They are unsafe in severe weather, as well.

My daughter, Chelsah, is a Sophomore at Neosho High School.  She is active in Debate, Track, and Cheerleading.  Her activities have led us to travel across the region.  What I have seen smacked me upside the head!!!!!!  New schools and wonderful state of the art facilities, in Webb City, Carthage, Monett, Republic, Nixa, Willard, Ozark, Bolivar, Joplin, Clever, Carl Junction.......should I continue or do you see we are falling behind?

Last evening, I was conversing with a dear friend of mine, whom I respect a great deal.  We talked in depth, about our Schools and the many needs we face.  I expressed my desire to present a bond issue to the Voters, early in 2013, and my vision for first class innovative facilities.  He replied, "Steve, Neosho may not be ready to dream that big".

I have thought about this remark all night.  I ask, "Why?"  Why are the people of Neosho not ready to Dream Big?  Why do we seem to have such poor infrastructure, not only in our schools, but across our entire community?  For way too long, these items have been looked upon as an expense..........well, I respectfully disagree.....NEW SCHOOLS ARE NOT AN EXPENSE - THEY ARE AN INVESTMENT.

I refer your attention to the list of communities above, who HAVE invested in their schools, show me ONE community that has had less retail, industrial, and residential growth (on a per capita basis) than Neosho?  They have all had a lot MORE positive growth, because people want to live in progressive communities!

It IS TIME.  It IS NEOSHO'S TIME!  Interest rates are at ALL TIME HISTORIC LOWS!  We NEED new Schools and I don't think anyone can reasonably disagree on that point.  I know how tough times are, but I also know this...............

Somewhere, in China and Indonesia, young people are working hard to show us up.  This is a matter of not only investing in Neosho's Future, but America's Future. 

I have a Dream Today.  My Dream is for you to join me in supporting our youth, who will someday be America's Leaders, in having access to the best facilities anywhere.  Let's grow Neosho and invest in OUR FUTURE!  Let's show people what it means to have WILDCAT PRIDE!  The time is now!

If we can't agree, let's at least be civil............................