Superintendent's Report
Role models offer lesson in meeting adversity head on

Marvin Beaty

I was reading a new book the other day and I came across a bit of information that has caused me to stop and think long and hard about the way I and my cohorts handle themselves in a time of crisis.

It was the story of King David when he was just a boy. Particularly, it was the stor y of David's tussle with a giant known as Goliath. Now Goliath was by many historical accounts nine feet tall. David was just a boy and probably would struggle to be tall enough to ride many of the rides at Six Flags. Yet in the time of conflict, 1st Samuel says that David ran to meet the giant. Not walked or crept or even moved with careful military precision -- he ran! What a testament to his courage and faith.

Another tidbit of a story that I came across relates to the testament of the disciples seeing Jesus walk on the water and they became very afraid. He simply said to them, "Take courage." He didn't say, hey boys it's OK, it's just me. He said to TAKE courage.

These two stories have stuck in my mind and caused me to spend a significant amount of time in personal and professional reflection. If we spend any time looking around us and reading the newspapers we quickly notice we are still in a war. The world has not run out of crazy people willing to take the life of another. The youngest among us suffer from illnesses so severe and devastating that we all occasionally feel sad and deflated. No matter how wonderful of a day we may have had, the television news stations are steadfast in reminding us that chaos reigns.

How convicting it is to know that often we creep, crawl or move with stealth to meet the giants we face. How many times should we have TAKEN courage, when instead we shrunk in the face of adversity?

However, there is good news for those of us that need lessons in taking courage and running to meet our giants. There are wonderful role models in our midst. Just this week I spent a couple of hours walking the halls of Troup elementary, middle and high schools. There I saw teachers running to meet the challenge of the students in their classes. Tutoring sessions are already under way in the afternoon, and parent conferences are in full swing.

At the Elementary School, I witnessed Mrs. Dean working diligently with her children, and the children's smiles told me volumes about what was going on in that room. Mrs. Badger is in full swing teaching math to our junior high students (talk about a chance to run toward a giant). Moreover, as I observed the children coming to school each morning I had to reflect on the dedication of the moms and dads that get them up and ready to face the challenges of their day.

Talk about "taking" courage and "running" to meet giants, spend a bit of time with a single mom or dad and you will be in the presence of courage personified.

I want to take a bow to those that keep our schools running each and every day from the bus drivers, cafeteria ladies, custodians, teachers, secretaries and parents. You truly make a difference in Troup ISD. Put a better way, you make the difference between average and wonderful.

So in parting I want to encourage each of you to run to meet your giants and take courage when facing adversity. If you need a model to watch, come see me and I will introduce you to a teacher in Troup ISD. Remember, you are always welcome here.