The Northwest Voice

By: Wallace E. McCormick

I have agreed to write a monthly column for The Northwest Voice for the next year.

This makes me an expert, right? Not really.

Opinionated? Absolutely!

Have I turned to the “dark side” by writing for a paper? Probably.

So let me start with my ground rules. I have to set up these rules so when the time comes I can always say, “I told you so.”

First, since I am employed as the Norris School District Superintendent I will not be writing specifically about my school district, individual students, parents, staff, whatever. I have been a superintendent for 21 years in four California school districts and spent another 10 years overseas in private schools. Those experiences, along with teaching first, third, sixth, seventh and eighth grades as well as high school social science and coaching for 15 years give me enough background to take on a wide range of subjects so that when I write as an “education expert” I have some actual basis for my opinion.

Second, I will do my best not to be boring, but that remains to be seen.  A school administrator, or any administrator for that matter, who is not boring is fairly rare.

Third, I will express my opinion directly and that means I will undoubtedly offend some frequently and many occasionally.

Fourth, I told The Northwest Voice they could fire me at any time and keep my salary, which, in the interest of fair disclosure, amounts to an annual total of $0.

Fifth, have a sense of humor. It is a requirement of a democracy that there be a broad range of thoughts and opinions. I just don’t see why those opinions must always be expressed like a debate of dour men in gray suits on “Meet the Press.”

Finally, my general topic is to be schools and education. That is more than broad enough to provide plenty of ammunition to shoot down many plump and inviting targets of opportunity.

Let me start with a contrarian’s opinion about breakfast at school: feed your own kids. I take issue with government feeling they must intrude and take on the responsibility of feeding children breakfast. When politicians see feeding children breakfast as a government responsibility, as schools are where kids are concentrated, schools will then be encouraged or given incentives to provide the service.

Breakfast is great family time. For less than the cost of a pack of smokes, you can make a lot of pancakes or just put out cereal and milk. It is also time to talk to your children, to make sure they are ready for the school day and to check everyone’s schedules for the day. By feeding your own children, with parents present, you are building a family. Timed properly, you’ll have your children to school on time and be ready to go to work.

I’m not saying hungry children shouldn’t be fed, but do the math. School is in session 180 days a year out of 365. In other words, schools would feed children less than 50 percent of the calendar days. Having once operated a breakfast program, the children using the program frequently arrived late so every day we had to chose between breakfast and instructional time. Families should feed their children 365 days of the year and get them to school on time.

Comment on this column, visit: www.northwestvoice.com and share you opinion on school breakfasts.

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