When I was in college I and a few other students had a scheduling conflict. On a particular Tuesday we all had 3 midterm exams. And we approached the professor—Dr. Trant—to see if he would be willing to move the date of his exam to lessen our load. And he agreed---and he announced that the date of his exam would be moved to the following Thursday. And the class cheered and proclaimed Thank God!
But when the class settled down, Dr. Trant was annoyed. He said this: Why are you thanking God? God had nothing to do with it—I did. You should not be saying Thank God--you should be saying Thank Trant.
When I was the chairwoman for platform tennis at the country club I thought it would be a great idea to hold a women’s member-member tournament on a weekend. My thought was that the women members who worked outside their home might have a greater opportunity to play if the tournament was not held during the week as all the other club tournaments were. And I pitched the idea to the men on the board—they held all the power. I suggested Superbowl Sunday. I liked the idea that a women’s tournament would be held on the manliest of sport days. And the men reluctantly agreed. Now every year on Superbowl Sunday the club holds this women’s platform tennis event—and it is very successful. So when a successive chairwoman credited the Superbowl Sunday Women’s member-member to a person other than me, I made sure to correct the misinformation. I had worked too hard to have my thunder stolen.
In a recent issue of the Garden City News a person who had attended a recent Board of Education meeting praised the changes she has seen at the high school. But because the quote was a bit ambiguously phrased coupled with the previous paragraphs which discussed an entirely different topic area, the average reader likely walked away with the impression that the reason the high school environment has improved is because of central administration. That is not where the credit lies--the deserved credit goes to the new principal. She is the stellar educational manager and scheduling master that has made protocol changes and AP course additions possible. She is the one who listens to concerns and lobbies for change. Any and all success at the high school is credited to her watch.
And especially since that day in Dr. Trant’s class I have become acutely aware of giving credit where credit is due—I am ever cognizant of recognizing the person deserving of the recognition. Which is why I am compelled to acknowledge the educational contributions of our current superintendent of schools. I have an obligation to proclaim his legacy to the district as I see it---and it is laudable—each day students and parents reap the benefits of his educational talent.
Because the superintendent’s legacy to the district is simply this: parking lots, bus circles and bleachers. Under present superintendent’s reign the bus circles and parking areas of both the middle and high school are unquestionably improved. The bleachers are beyond compare. Other school districts are in envy. Neighboring administrators from Jericho and Great Neck travel just to see how lovely and functional they are. They are the model other educators aspire to. Newsweek is rumored to be adding it to its “Best of” list. Our district is now nationally renowned for both its athletic program and its bleachers.
So. I will give credit where credit is due and render on to Caesar what is Caesar’s. I will not thank God, but thank Feirsen for raising the standards of our infrastructure. Improved infrastructure is what good education is all about. He has paved the road to quality education with asphalt. Because every child deserves good asphalt. Every child deserves a foundation that is a mere 2 inches deep.
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