Around the District
THE PROM
To know children at the age of twelve and then to see them six years later dressed in prom gowns and tuxedos and walking arm in arm like celebrities on the runway is a humbling lesson on how time marches on and some very sweet children grow into beauties. As the flowers come to bloom in the lovely month of May, so to do the juniors and seniors at Cape high school. Memories of my own prom pale in comparison to the resplendent and sometimes daring gowns that the girls wore. There were princess gowns in pale pink and white, some sparkles but even more embroidery with tight fitting bodices and yards of layered delight. The tuxedos were distinguished dark shades with vests of soft silken shades. Shoes were either paten leather for the boys or high, high heels for the girls. It was a Cape fashion event of haute couture complete with poise and grace.
The promenade is held each year near eleven when the prom goers leave the prom at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. The master of ceremonies was none other than a former Cape teacher and the Cape Gazette’s own sports reporter phenom, Dave Frederick. With his commanding presence, he managed to bring an air of fun to this celebratory event and probably had something to do with holding off the rain until most of the students had been announced and were on their way home. Mr. Yore set just the right tone as he kept the waiting public informed the students progress toward the exit. Is it my imagination or is John Yore everywhere? He seems to be a strong and helpful person in every aspect of the students’ lives.
Little children grow up and bloom. The prom causes us to pause and ponder this wonderment in a whole new way.
THE ELECTION
If you really believe that your vote doesn’t count then you haven’t been paying attention to the School Board elections. In this past election the victor won by four votes! Not a very wide margin. The absentee ballots could have swayed the election.
Both candidates for school board are honorable and decent people who care about children. Richard Merriweather and Camilla Conlon are to be commended for working hard for our community. I think that school board is a tough job because there are so many important decisions to make and yet it is a phenomenal opportunity to make a lasting difference.
THE RIFS
May 11 came and went and some Cape Henlopen District employees were given notice that they no longer have jobs. The Cape budget needed to be cut and the last hired teachers and paras were let go to seek employment elsewhere. The curriculum cadre has been dismantled and many of these lead teachers will be in a classroom next year. Isn’t is time to also look at reducing the number of the District Administrators? Shouldn’t there be cuts at every level including the District Office?
Many of us are scratching our heads wondering how we will manage with larger class sizes and more demands brought on by even more accountability to the state and federal government. I have taught 160 children in one year on an AB rotation schedule and I will go on record as saying that is just too many! I found myself forgetting their names! Teaching is all about relationships. A teacher can’t have a meaningful relationship with 160 students!
When I started teaching many moons ago, there were probably some of these same problems, but teachers had so much more creative freedom to design lessons and inspire outcomes.
What is next? Hopefully some sound financial footing and some professional leeway to put the zip back into the profession.
