I don't often go to school board meetings but from time to time when there is something big on the agenda I try to attend.
Tonight there was a 2 hour period for the public to voice their opinions, concerns, objections, and/or support about several possibilities for the future of the IKM-Manning School District as to whether or not the school in Irwin continues or if all classes are held in one school building in Manning.
At times the discussions were passionate but no tempers were displayed and the meeting maintained its decorum.
More people need to attend these meetings from time to time so they can better understand the responsibilities we give the board members when we vote them in.
It is easy to sit back, criticize, and listen to gossip but if you "walked a mile in their shoes" you might have a different attitude towards the work they do.

After the 2 hour open meeting the school board held their regular meeting and here is the agenda...
So before you judge/criticize the board members for something you don't agree with them on - take a look at all of the responsibilities we give them when we vote for school board members.

I really should have stayed home and worked on my many history projects but as a voting citizen and tax payer it is also my duty to participate in meetings from time to time.


One of the reasons the Manning community gets so much accomplished is because there are a lot of VERY dedicated people and some even with aggressive tendencies but we all need to stop and think - "If we don't have something good to say about a person, then keep it to yourself."

I've always thought this is a great song and from time to time is nice to play to remind us all that before you criticize/judge/opine about people...

Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Joe South

If I could be you
And you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way
To get inside
Each other's mind, mm-hmm
If you could see you
Through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you'd be
Surprised to see
That you've been blind, mm-hmm

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Now, your whole world
You see around you
Is just a reflection
And the law of karma
Says you're gonna reap
Just what you sow, yes you will
So unless
You've lived the life
Of total perfection, mm-hmm
You'd better be careful
Of every stone
That you should throw, yeah

And yet we spend the day
Throwin' stones
At one another
'Cause I don't think
Or wear my hair
The same way you do, mm-hmm
Well, I may be
Common people
But I'm your brother
And when you strike out
And try to hurt me
It's a-hurtin' you, Lord have mercy

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

There are people
On reservations
And out in the ghettos
And brother, there
But for the grace of God
Go you and I, yeah, yeah
And if I only
Had the wings
Of a little angel, yeah
Don't you know I'd fly
To the top of a mountain
And then I'd cry, yeah

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Better walk a mile in my shoes
Drop whatcha doin'

Walk a mile in my shoes, yeah
Walk a mile in my shoes
Uh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes, yeah

Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Back to Dave Kusel's main page