Yeah, But Have You Ever Been Kicked Out of the Buffalo School Board Meeting?
A while back, one of our local school board members passed a rule that nobody could criticize any vote or activity of the school board at a school board meeting. He felt that criticism of the school board members was not respectful. And Lord knows, what with Texas being next to last in education, respect was due.
I was working for the newspaper back then, where I regularly criticized school board members along with anybody else who forgot the servant part of public servant. So, I announce in the newspaper that I am going to the school board and call them a bunch of nincompoops, and that I was going to use that exact word to get myself removed from the board meeting and that everybody could come watch.
So, I arrive to a packed room, including the entire Rosenberg Police Department just itching to tote my pattotie outside. This is a small town and entertainment is scarce.
First they make me fill out a form to get “permission” to speak during the allotted public speaking time. They want my name – The Queen of Damn England, my address – I’m your freekin’ neighbor, you know where I live, and the topic I wish to address – rampant nincoompoopism right here in River City.
I make a note on the bottom that my permission to speak at a public governmental forum derives from the Constitution of the United States of Damn America, not a stinkin’ school board secretary. I also noted that I was here with 4 lawyers, two Houston television stations, the ministerial alliance, and the state recognized running back of the Lamar High School Football Team. People who recall this story to tell their friends also add that I put Bite Me on the form but I don’t recall that part. I’m not saying I wouldn’t do that but I just don’t remembered it.
The first order of business at the school board meeting was to rescind that rule. There was a standing ovation and some very disappointed police officers.
So, for years I’ve been thinking that I’m kinda the queen of messin’ with school boards.
Not so.
Do you remember Carl Paladino was the 2010 Republican candidate for governor of New York with the Tea Party? Rumor has it that he lost. Yeah, with 31% of the vote.
On Wednesday, the former candidate found himself being escorted from a school board meeting by security guards after he began ranting about how badly board members had handled a sewage problem at Math Science Technology Prep in Seneca.
So, he announced that he’s running for school board.
I’m willing to bet that he won’t win this either.
Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore on Friday said that Paladino was “demented” and didn’t deserve to be on the school board because he had been caught forwarding emails that included bestiality, pornography and racism.
So, there ends my days of messin’ with school boards. Carl ruined it for us all.
Thanks to Hippie in the Hollar for the heads up.
“Don’t forget the servant part of public servant”. That should be tattooed on the forehead of most of our Congress members.
1I’d ask is it nincompoopism or nincompoopery? A long time friend of mine and I are currently debating moronitude or moronicity to describe the monkey houses otherwise known as sate legislatures. Paladino running for school board affirms , once again, that Mark Twain was very prescient when he quipped, God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board.
2When someone (or some group) tries to get respect through rules and regulations instead of by earning it you’re pretty safe in assuming they don’t deserve respect.
3“Nincompoop” – what a wonderful word! It was the dirtiest word in my vocabulary when I was four years old, and I used it on the doctor when, despite my struggles, he succeeded in giving me a penicillin shot in the butt. Trouble is, I don’t think I succeeded in making him as mad as I was at the moment.
4Oh, Juanita Jean, how I wish I had been at that Rosenberg School Board meeting. Wonderful!
5I’m pretty sure the proper usage of the word is “nincompoopishness”.
Here in middle Tennessee the teabagger types are all upset with our school board because someone sent them a notification outlining the various ways the schools in our area should deal with the needs of Muslim students. Apparently, prayer in school is desperately needed, unless those praying are facing east on a prayer rug.
6Mary R beat me to the punch. I would have paid cash money to have seen that.
Ever since the old School Board election system was trashed, which was one of the very few electoral offices in these parts and which gave rise to Marion Barry, the meetings have been positively civilized. The schools still suck, however, even after the reign of Michelle Rhee.
7Juanita jean, you’re my hero! (Or is it heroin?)
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