BCPS Virtuous Behavior ???

This is written with mind of heart and very little knowledge of punctuation . I attended the BCPS board meeting on the heat closure policy with my 8 yr. old . I explained to her before we arrived as to why we were going and what the topics of discussion would be . I also explained to her in my best way possible how the process would work and how decisions would be made. What a mess, once the meeting began it became an unorganized ball of obvious confusion . Protocols were not followed and fell by the way side so much that even me not knowledgeable of the process could tell something wasn't right . Eventually my baby girl tapped me on the arm and asked "Why are they fighting ?" I said "No they are discussing "

She then spoke and said "No they are fighting " . I could not disagree , she was right . So there was the BCPS school board, People I have taught her to respect acting like a group of school yard children at times. I then had to explain to her that the board was separate from her school and it wasn't the school arguing it was the schools bosses , she accepted that quick and short answer and went back to listening at times and being bored.

The BUZZ word for BCPS this year is VIRTUES knowing them and putting into practice Virtuous behavior . My baby girl said " That's not being a virtue ? I knew what she meant ,I encouraged her to settle and listen. It has to be said She was right .

Keeping promises is a virtue , However the promise to care for the children's health was tossed aside , promise broken. We should show sincerity to our children who have practiced ,long before BCPS brought up virtues , they have and continue to practice patcence, steadfast fullness ,trust , diligence and perseverance,and many other virtues that most could only hope to display.. Follow through and be true to your promises proving to our children that BCPS and our promises aren't empty and have no meaning or faith behind them . Show them compassion if for nothing else their innocence and hope. They above all deserve purposeful respect and honesty. Not escapades. How's that for using words of virtue ?

Speaking of virtues , to me shows no more then possible intent of the use of said virtues , Practicing and displaying virtuous behavior is the key . That behavior was not displayed ,we were not shown that last night .My baby girl was not shown that . I felt better for her once we got home she said

"I'm still going to practice the virtue ." and that she thought that they were just having a bad day. My eyes filled with tears and my heart with pride and I told her how proud I am of the person she is and is becoming ..I wanted to correct her and tell her to put an S on the end of virtue , but it wasn't the time or place . See, I did know about the S.

Perhaps the board should have read their virtue cards before the meeting . Instead of showing us and above all our children how to go about doing very little the whole while wasting a lot of time with very little virtuous behavior.

Where was a health official to educate BCPS on the dangers of the heat BCPS didn't have one there .We never thought we needed one , believing they did . They needed to NOT use the outside temperature where the grass grows as their guide for the amendment.but use the INDOOR temperature where our children are expected to grow .

Our school was well above 90 by 9 AM and we can prove that to anyone with a challenge , by noon it was above 98 and quickly continued to rise . We monitored thermometer readings and in one of our classrooms it hit 104 degrees once we factored in humidity by BCPS standards , there was a real feel of 160 degrees.

The board and the person that spearheaded the ammendment did not take into consideration the INSIDE temperature, that is where our children sit , that is where our Staff sweat like dogs teaching their lessons to children who are obviously not tuned in . The children should be learning and studying with motivation and concentration not just coping with their enviroment.

Yet due to the infinite wisdom of the powers that be ,We continue to risk diminished performance due to students and teachers lethargy , dizziness , exhaustion and a meaningless and hand binding policy.

I do believe that the board believed they where trying to accomplish something last night , we saw and heard a lot of who can dazzle who with their brilliance I truly am not trying to offend anyone , really I am not. Once all is said and done the board did the best they could with who and what they had . That I do believe they deserve my respect for their attempts no matter how much they fell short. There were two board members who voted with the children and only the children in their minds and heart and for that I Thank You both most of all .

It was obvious that a few people had their own agenda separate from the issues at hand . I truly believe and observed that it boiled down to athletics .Every time it came close to a vote someone else would bring up the athletes not being able to practice because of the heat closure policy , Truth is the policy had nothing to do with stopping sport practices , that particular decision was a separate decision to made at the discretion of our superintendent. I do believe that sports are important. However this was about certain athletes in certain areas not getting enough practice , I believe at least 10 by a certain time and the possibility that scouts would become disinterested in some of the athletes . I repeat " The Heat Closure policy had NOTHING to do with athletic practices it was the superintendent's CHOICE to include the no activities after school into the closure phone calls.

The only thing accomplished by the ammendment was it cancelled out the policy that protected the children .So this was done not taking into consideration the students and staff of 37 schools ,but for something it never affected to begin with.

Be serious 90 degrees by 11AM is unlikely OUTSIDE , But 90 plus degrees by and we'll before 11AM is a reality INSIDE our schools.

Part of the policy let's parents remove their children if the temp is expected to reach 90 degrees at any time before 3PM it being an acceptable and excusable absence to not be held against them , Hello it is surely held against our schools attendance numbers. , So not only did the board cancel out caring about the children they threw the responsibility into the laps of our principle and staff , we can remove our children but they are responsible for attendance and standards . So in essence BCPS has washed their collective hands of the dilemma. Okay some would say to go on about this would be like racing a horse that isn't even running. I assure you the horses are running patting each others backs looking to being re elected.

I believe the issue should be revisited and something that is more conducive to a fair and healthy policy for the children be made . If not for now then for the future should it be needed.

Some say "Oh I never had AC " or we are coddling the children. It is 2016 we have better knowledge of the health risks ,The children are expected to and are held to a higher level of responsibility and expectations more then EVER before .

I wish all the nay sayers to sit in the same environment as the children , then you would be standing where we are . Wondering why?

I invited anyone at the meeting to come to our school with their laptop and sit in our classrooms do their work and stay for the entire day , I would even buy them lunch There have been no takers and I expect there won't be .

That's a role model ,right ? No its not . Yet our children are expected to sit in an enviroment that no one would voluntary subject themselves to.They should do it if for nothing more then to show the children that the expectations and requirements for them to be virtuous and practice virtuous behavior goes full circle .

If anyone made it this far reading my feelings of heart I thank you. As for the decision makers I thank them too , because I would like to believe they think they did the right thing .

There was no intent on embarrassing the board or to disrespect them. On the same hand I had no intent on embarrassing myself though I may have and that's okay because I wrote this out of love for my baby girl and all of the students and staff of the 37 schools that where kicked aside last night . Feelings are feelings and passion runs wild and free. I truly wish for you all to have better understanding of the situation whether you agree or not . I THANK YOU !!!