Opinions

What difference does it make when a school board does not properly vet someone prior to hiring the individual? Does it make any difference if the person is doing the job well? What if the person comes with an endorsement from a ranking staffer? Since the biggest act a school board is required to do is hire a superintendent, are they not also required to fully vet the applicants? The recent discovery of a school board in Des Moines, Iowa and its choice for Head of Schools, Ian Roberts, found fraudulent - has drawn great attention to the process.

It is a good thing to have cousins tucked into the nooks and crannies of the Southeast.

In the 1986 movie, Heartbreak Ridge, Clint Eastwood plays Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tom Highway. He takes command over a lazy and spoiled reconnaissance platoon. The resistance they offered to getting back into military shape made for a memorable movie. Returning to a former level is challenging and resistance is common. It is why many avoid the effort to get back to basics. Some recognize the need to make changes, while those who fight correction are no longer worth retaining. Tuesday in Quantico, Virginia, U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, met with 800 military officials whose rank of onestar general or higher. They were summoned to the Marine Corps base with no advance agenda given. The location, however, should’ve been a clue. The base is the Marines home of Leathernecks, Devil Dogs, Jarheads and Grunts, so it was doubtful that an exchange of pleasantries were in order.

School teachers have been called “the unsung heroes of the world in which we live.“ They challenge, correct and point the next generation toward a better path, while taking roll, changing bus assignments and suggesting, “You should blow your nose.” Teaching is a little like motherhood…but without the umbilical cord. It also seems to extend way beyond a school campus or administrative building for teachers, I believe, make the best traveling companions. Rick Steves, Roads Scholars and Viking would do well to capitalize on this group of organized, capable educators who serve as handwriting detectives and hall monitors while encouraging good citizenship, too. Their skill set is extensive.

“I guess I’m having my second childhood,” said my 90-yearold aunt in our telephone conversation this weekend. “I never had tonsillitis as a child but now I’m on my second week of antibiotics for what they’re calling ‘tonsillitis.’” Since she has been homebound, I called to report what news I could think of, and to learn from her, too. We discussed the calendar, school starts, birthdays and anniversaries.

We all own our individual sets of memories: good ones, horrible ones, and those which still take our breath away. When I think of the Gulf Coast wave that knocked off the top of my bathingsuit when I was in high school, I still gasp for breath. Or when I recall the time in New York City, while traveling with two girlfriends, when we were approached by a homeless man, I gasp again. Unable to hail a taxi, we were walking back to our hotel--in heels-- after seeing a show on Broadway and began discussing the tip for the evening’s meal--who paid too much and why we should split it. Before we knew it, a small, friendly argument had ensued. We took respite from the cold wind into an alcove at a closed business and continued our disagreement when a homeless man staggered too close and said, “I need some money.”

One of the most influential people in my life, Tony Campolo, passed away earlier this year at 89. He authored 35 books, most of them I’ve read. He taught sociology, first at the University of Pennsylvania and then for decades at Eastern Christian College, where he was named professor emeritus. I first met him in the early 80s at the National Youth Workers Convention. His effervescent spirit, anointed story telling and sharp sense of humor inspired me, angered me at times, and pointed me to the truth, though it was often uncomfortable.

If you apologize, in advance, for a question you’re pondering, the whole discourse is a lot easier to navigate. So I said to the husband, “I apologize for this really stupid question, but if we can put a man on the moon, can we not find a way to nudge a hurricane two degrees to the east?” Apparently, I was brilliant. “I was just thinking about that this morning,” he said. “If we are, indeed, capable of bringing about global warming, surely there is some way to interfere with a hurricane’s path.” We felt so smart, sitting upon our couch. Of course, I have years of research and extensive analysis to back up my stupid question. I remember seeing—on public television, no less—how universities (maybe one in Florida) have developed tests for windows and building materials to determine if they are able to withstand hurricane-force winds.

In a time when America seems deeply divided, it is easy to focus on the differences that separate us. The political climate often feels tense, and young people are growing up in an age of uncertainty. Yet amidst the noise, there are voices calling for clarity, conviction, and courage. Among those voices, Charlie Kirk has stood out as a leader who has touched the lives of countless young Americans, reminding them not only of the value of their beliefs but also of the importance of pursuing them with dignity, peace, and hope. Charlie Kirk’s influence has reached into classrooms, campuses, and communities across the nation. He has reminded a generation that their values are worth protecting and that America’s founding principles are still worth standing up for today. For many young people, he has been more than a speaker—they see him as a mentor who challenges them to think deeply, act responsibly, and take ownership of the future they will inherit.