Category: Perspectives

Thomson Family

Our daughter loves her coach
Our businesses are doing well
We are having second thoughts.

Dean Family

We don’t think it’s worth it
The trouble has not been worth it.
Are our friendships worth it?

Thomson Family

We’re with you,
We want to end this protest.

Dean Family

How do we do it?
How do we get the school to cave?

Watts Family

Traitors are not liked around here,
You’re not being a good teammate, you know

Dawson Family

Don’t forget, our kids lost out too
We just aren’t sure this was worth it.

Watts Family

You are weak.
Why are you still here?

Dawson Family

You sound like
What you are protesting against.

Dawson Family

We go to work
We get paid
They aren’t working
Why are they getting paid?

Dean Family

We’re more about relaxing
Hitting balls on the golf course
Chilling by the house.
It would be nice if sports were back.

Dawson Family

How dare you say that.
We have put everything into changing
The way sports are over there.
It’s just not right.

Dean Family

Maybe, but we actually like the basketball coach
He’s been nice to our son
And the track coach has been pretty cool to Rhonda.
It’s not that bad.

Dawson Family

Why are you here?

Dean Family

We don’t know.

Watts Family

We have to solve this problem
Time is running out.

Thomson Family

Time? We lost our season.
Maya did not get to play at all.

Watts Family

That’s just the way it goes.
We still have time.

Thomson Family

Time? Is this just about you?
You started all of this.

Watts Family

And it’s time that we shut it down.
Cole needs to showcase his talents.

Thomson Family

Priceless.
These guys are priceless.

When rats get hungry
They eat.
When the rats have nothing else to eat,
They eat each other.

Those who collude and conspire
Cannot stay loyal to a cause
For they only look to themselves
To feed their egos.

So it is in Taylorville,
Where the rats posing as promoters of good
Have run out of they one thing they seek,
Control.

Alannah Alvarado (Taylorville High School Principal)

We have spent so much time planning,
Planning to keep people out of the building
That we never thought we would have to plan,
Plan to keep people in the building.

I honestly don’t know what is going on here.
Why have we neglected to find an appropriate solution?
Why are we letting the outside run our school?
Aren’t we the experts?

Everyone went to school,
So everyone knows how to do it, right?
Teachers were stupid when we were kids,
So as adults we must still see them as stupid, right?

I mean this whole thing is haywire,
Kids walking out,
Parents protesting coaches,
An administration unable to lead.

Next thing you know,
The parents will be fighting each other.
Mark my words,
This is going to get worse.

Ralph Higgonbothem (Taylorville School Superintendent)

WHAT?

THE KIDS ARE WHAT?

Walking out?

Where are they going?

They are heading here?

What do they think will happen?

I’ll take care of this.

(Grabs bullhorn)

“GO BACK TO SCHOOL.”

“YOUR PARENTS WILL BE CALLED.”

“THE POLICE ARE ON THE WAY.”

“THE PROM WILL BE CANCELLED.”

“PARKING PRIVILEGES WILL BE REVOKED.”

“C’mon, pleeease go back to class, won’t you, please go back?”

Robert Woods (A Local Dude)

Things were calming down…

I think the kids let everyone think
Things were calming down.
I also think, the kids might be the smartest ones here.

They are pushing an issue,
They are saying adults are ridiculous,
And they are making it seem so.

Jerry Dean (Basketball, Eight Bars Parents)

On the Talk app…

Remember, just walk,
No talking, no yelling,
Stay on the street,
Don’t mess with the cars.
We’ll stop for five minutes
At the target.

No problems.

(Message sent)

Ralph Higgonbothem (Taylorville Schools Superintendent)

How is this turning on me?
I have deniability,
I’m well within the rights of the district,
It was the parents who started this whole thing.

Get me Alannah on the phone.

“Alannah, darling, what’s going on over there?”