Until yesterday, I had planned to write about the economy. Although my knowledge of macroeconomic theory is nearly 40 years out of date, I did complete a second undergraduate major in economics, and I follow bonddad's diaries religiously. The short answer is that it is still the economy stupid, and we face a serious threat of long-term recession or worse unless bold action is taken. I am so sorry that we still have two more months of the failed Bush presidency. George "Herbert Hoover" Bush has driven us into a ditch, and it will take hard work on the part of every member of the Obama/Biden adminstration to try to rescue us from economic disaster. It is a real f@#king problem for all of us.
However, something happened to Son 3 yesterday that really made me angry. Follow me below the fold to learn more about my adventures with our local public high school and the high school's definition of leadership (hint--registering voters does not count).
WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
Back on October, Son 3 was invited to apply for admission to his high school's National Honor Society based on his GPA. He was told that there were four criteria for admission--scholarship, character, service (10 hours), and leadership. Son 3 has a high GPA; apparently his character is OK; and he completed about 85 hours of service as an archaeological volunteer during the summer of 2007. However, he was rejected for the NHS based on a lack of leadership. This is my FP tonight.
Son 3 is not the captain of the football team or the president of the student government. He was, however, an active volunteer in the Obama campaign working with Mercer4Obama. He spent several months registering voters in Central NJ, mostly in Princeton and Ewing Township. He taught me how to register voters. I was particularly impressed when he helped register a man who had lost his voting privileges due to a conviction, served his time, and was now eligible to vote once again. Son 3 knocked on doors for Obama and Zeitz in East Windsor, and he was even out working for Obama after school on election day. As far as I am concerned, this shows a hell of a lot of leadership, since he is only 16. However, the teachers who make the decisions decided that this was not leadership in their mind. I guess that work for the community and our country is not as important as joining clubs at school.
I had a long and very unpleasant conversation with the HS principal yesterday. While he admitted that working to register voters did show leadership, he said that the teachers who make the decision felt that Son 3 did not have enough leadership activities to qualify for the NHS. I asked him if he would tell me what Son 3 needed to do to show enough leadership, and he became slippery. (It's not his decision; the teachers make the decision; he would not put anything in writing...) He said that he would discuss it with Son 3, but he would not commit to telling Son 3 exactly what he needed to do to meet the leadership threshhold. I insisted that he speak to Son 3 in my presence, and I plan to write down everything he says. I can be the mom from hell.
Son 3 does not care all that much, but I am angry as hell. I am so proud to have a son who cares about his community and his country. Working to elect Obama is so much more important than being vice president of the "have a smoke in the john" club. Son 3 has become so interested in the campaign that he plans to take AP Government next year, and he hopes to study political science in college. I just hope that this whole experience hasn't discouraged him.
Cheers to kids who care about their country, and jeers to high school administrators who don't recognize the importance of student political activity. That's my FP this weekend. Please tell me about your FPs. Spooky and I are here to listen. and I hope that everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.