"What's best for kids?" These four words have caused me deep reflection and challenge to personal convictions, over the past month. A couple of intelligent and articulate young ladies representing the Student Body, at Neosho High School, and the Graduating class of 2015; came before the Neosho School Board to request moving graduation to Missouri Southern State Univeristy's Leggett & Platt Center. There reason? They wished for valued family and friends to attend their graduation. They feared inclement weather could force their graduation ceremony inside, at Neosho High School, and cause limited seating. Indeed, over the past eight years, this has been the case six times.
Upon first hearing this proposal, I was shocked. I was saddened. I felt betrayed, by the very students whom I have tried to advocate for, as I have pushed several educational agendas. You see, when I am injured and blood comes to the surface of my skin, it is not crimson or red in color. When I bleed, it is a mixture of two colors.........BLACK AND GOLD. I believe in Neosho. I believe in all that is good about this community and how wonderful it is to raise children here. I fondly recall riding my bicycle around the entire City, as a youth in the 1970's, waving at Jim Gage as he opened his Dry Cleaning Business; or stopping to say "Hello" to Hale McGinty, as he swept the sidewalk in front of his Department Store; or riding into the Neosho Fire Department to check out the Fire Trucks with Chief Bill Grey.
My point is this, to me, Neosho is not just a town. It is not just a place where I live. Neosho is my home. I have a real emotional connection here and I appreciate all the good Neosho has allowed me to experience and I hope to see others find their own good and happiness here. But, as a friend of mine, Mike Stauffer, pointed out to me, this connection; while healthy in many regards, can blind my judgment and not allow me to see the forest for the trees. Sometimes, one must step back from their position and get the "Ten thousand foot view".
As I began to step back to 10,000 feet and thought about what these kids were requesting with graduation, I stared at the back of my name plate, which sits before me at every School Board Meeting. The back of the name plate says, "WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS". I then went home and my daughter asked how I felt about the proposal to move graduation. Chelsah is a 2014 graduate of NHS. I told her I was inclined to vote against the idea. She then reminded me how much she was stressed and physically ill, just 5 months earlier, as she had to decide which family members she would invite to see her graduate. She worried about offending her Uncle Dave, when she told him she didn't have enough tickets to get him in. Or about her adopted family, the McKeehan's, when she would have to tell them she just didn't have room. Or her third grade teacher, Mrs. Crane. Oh, Mrs. Crane, Chelsah loved her as a small child and then was fortunate to be able to work in her classroom as a Cadet Teacher, this past year.
As Chelsah mentioned all these people and her stress, I realized she had memories, just as I did, from my youth. However, as most of my memories of Neosho, were fond and happy, Chelsah had a siginificant one that wasn't. As she spoke about her graduation, she told me how she thought about the stress, the decision of who she was going to have to exclude from "her" special day. THAT was it, my mind changed. I got it. I never wish for Neosho to "exclude" anyone. WE are a community. WE need to be together.
The only way for the Neosho Community to be "together" for graduation, is to allow room for indoor activities to be in a larger venue, than we have available within the immediate Neosho area. Does this mean Neosho loses something? Does this mean Neosho is less of a great place to raise a family? Does this mean the kids don't support area businesses? NO, this means our children wish to share an exciting moment with as many people as they possibly can!!!
Over the past several years, I have stayed rather silent on controversies that have engulfed our Ozark Home. I have shied away from some very important issues, as I didn't want to offend anyone on either side. I felt there was no "winning" and someone would be mad. Well, I made a mistake. The ONLY side of any issue that matters, from here on is this....."What is best for Neosho". Period! We all need to stop finding issues to divide us and find what UNITES us. Stop looking for reasons to attack one another and find reasons to help one another reach common goals. Will we always agree? Certainly not, but we can listen to one another and learn why we feel the way we do. Let's work to make Neosho the best small town in America, together!
If we can't agree, can't we at least be civil?????????
