Editorially speaking the issue that pops out of this newspaper – more than others, is the issue raised at the Oyster Bay-East Norwich board meeting about letting someone go. The surprise happened when at the conclusion of the board meeting, the members voted to accept personnel actions which included the resignation of Michael Tweed, as of June 30. 2011.
There were a lot of interesting issues that solve themselves. There are the tulips of East Norwich to be cheered about. There is the proposed Graduated Pearls of Oyster Bay that needs funding. There is the wonderful exhibit at the Old Orchard Museum at Sagamore Hill by students of RISD that we heartily recommend. They took wood debris taken from Mt. Vernon and Sagamore Hill after bushes and trees were pruned and removed and after studying the presidents, TR and George Washington, they created object d’art that we truly enjoyed seeing. More on them later.
This weekend there was also a great turnout of the Centro Cultural Hispanico at their fund raiser. They are a group that works in the community to support itself as well as other non-English speaking members of the community to thrive.
But, editorially speaking we found the use of the word “will” in relation to what the public wants from the OB-EN board of education to be interesting in the cultural context of 2011. In a Democracy such as this, the will of the people is allowed to be yelled out. It can be heard. It doesn’t always succeed unless the people we elected to office agree – after their deliberations.
In the mid-east countries, which have no voice, were encouraged by FaceBook to demand a voice where they had none. We allow a voice to each and every citizen including on FaceBook, but we don’t get our wish per se. There are others in a democracy with a wish that is for or against your wish. The issue is decided by those we elect to protect all of us.
Elected officials are not put in office to agree to the demands of a few people, no matter who they are. We have a democratic process to follow. It is in place. The will of the few is sometimes not the will of the many.
With that said, we have no view except that boy! – people who serve on boards of education need thick skins. We have heard that in New York City they do not have enough people willing to volunteer to sit on those boards of education saying they do not have the time to spare from making a living.
All we have to say is a great big thank you to those willing to serve to handle the public’s valid requests and to take their slings and arrows with dignity.
We like to say “everyone is correct” and that is right when you consider where people are coming from. This current fight over a teacher’s tenure is based in kindness and concern and a love for children and what parents and they think is right for them and another person. The board is trying to decide the correct way to go with more information than the rest of us.
Do we have a view? Life is tough. People lose their jobs all the time. It really is hard to take. Hopefully like in the movie Up in The Air, suggests the people take the time to re-direct their lives to a better future. After working in New York City for many years in advertising and seeing people fired and sometimes quitting, I am accustomed to the process and maybe even hardened to it. That is what is called being a mature adult.
