Mr. President

Nice summer off...always great to take time off and get some perspective. Not sure how much I'll be writing this year, but I'll shoot for the same quality, as usual.

However, you may see a shift in what I write. Today, for instance, I'm calling out those who flooded the office with frantic calls about the President wanting to talk to the kids about those well known liberal values of studying hard and staying in school. Do you realize how much of a whack job you look like?

I'm not a great fan of Obama, but there are those on the right (and HC is full of them) who seem unable to muster the brain cells to debate the issues logically. There are issues that can be, and should be, debated loudly, but people prefer to huddle about conspiracy theories such as the whole birther thing and now this.

Here is what I think - people are afraid that Obama will have a positive influence on their kids, and this one 30 minute speech will undo everything they've said for the past year about him. He'll seem calm, reasonable, humorous...and will not say anything that they haven't heard before.

Not sure what the school's plans were, or are after this outbreak, but if I was a kid, I'd be mainly annoyed you are taking my lunchtime away.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations...evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism...

A couple of posts I'd thought I'd bring to the top...

The issues you describe may be fact. However, we as a community cannot heal, or begin to think about healing until we unite.
Here is another fact for you to list: this blog at best is a gossip lover's "guilty pleasure" (one of your guest's terms - not mine)at worst it is divisive and harmful to our Church and school.

Here is my suggestion: Ask again and again for meetings with the community and the Church. I know you say you tried this avenue...You really did not...you (or maybe not you) attempted to bully your way past the Diocese and Fr. Dan. Bullying never works! Extending an invitation to a "bitch" session only counts as bullying! There are plenty of things working at HCS. We need to start there.

Not a bad post, really.

First, I tend to agree with your statement about running to the diocese. I thought some went that route too early. As a minimum, those who went upstairs should have tried to meet with Father Dan, or notify him, as to why they felt they needed to do this. I'm not sure those who did, and there were more then a few who did this seperately, followed this route. And, to be honest, I think I even suggested this to at least one person - some control I have over my minions, eh?

However, there has to be a next step, as there is in every other area of our life when we are not getting satisfaction, especially when you can't seem to get through. Calls for meetings by those who were leaving, calls for meeting for those who have left, calls for meetings by teachers and administrative staff were not returned. I tend to think that some of these catagories (ie, teachers and staff) should have stood outside his door, if necessary, to get on his calendar. However, I also understand the average Holy Cross teacher is more mouse than lion when dealing with authority, especially Church authority. While understandable, it also underlines, to me, the extent that some of them have already gone.

The Quizz's posts have really only done one thing...and that is to provide a forum for those who have misgivings to know there are others who feel the same way, and to provide an opportunity for those who don't like our tactics to comment. I haven't deleted a single comment, and have only made one change in almost a year, because I do want a solution. I also think it is a "conversation piece" as I've over heard a few conversations about the blog. Funny, but I let it go, and it is interesting to see how two people will feel each other out as to the opinions posted here. Even Denise has used some of my postings in this matter, which I am certainly honored.

As to solutions, I've heard rumors of another meeting, but a bit more structured one, perhaps on church grounds. Again, I think this is a better solution, but an even better one would be for Denise or Father Dan to take the initative, show some leadership. Here's the deal...you call it a bitch session, I call it clearing the air. We'd have to address any possible retribution (which is difficult if you believe or know that your complaints will get reflected elsewhere), but such a meeting would be either you put up, or shut up. If they had such a meeting, agreed to write down the complaints, and agreed to address them, I'd stop posting immediately. I'd ask for anyone who has complained about her to her face or Fathe Dan to be invited, and maybe a few "referees". Establish some ground rules, and get it out in the open.

It becomes necessary to desolve the ties...

For the apologists out there, do you understand that the teachers, parents, and kids who have left, or who would like to leave but are hanging in there hoping for change or don't believe they have another options, have what they believe are legitimate complaints? Not whether or not YOU think they are legitimate, but those who have taken the ultimate step of leaving felt THAT strongly about it? Pulling kids out of a school is not something taken lightly, and many who have done so were HC grads themselves. There are those who change the subject as soon as you start talking specifics, but teachers and parents have left because of Denise. Cold, hard fact.

Now...no one "fears" this blog. I know who reads it and the number of people who read it. You have to want to read it, which is why I think it is better then Newszap, where everybody gets to read it. You have to search to find it, and if I wanted broader distribution, it would be easy. I could post the link on Newszap, or I could send an email out from oldhcs@gmail.com to every single teacher and parent I could find pulling them to this site. I choose not to do that.

This step was a necessary one, but I believe the complaints that have been posted here are legitimate, and I know that at least some of them were validated by Denise's boss, who promised to address them. Unfortunately, most did not "stick" and though I applauded what I hoped was a new attitude at the beginning of the school year, she reverted back to form.

As for changes....what "changes" has the Quizz really complained about? What changes that she has made that Loyalists think are so wonderful?

When in the course of human events...

One of the mantras those not happy with the way Holy Cross School is being run is the ever popular, "Why don't you just leave", sometimes expanded to the "if you are not happy with what you are paying for, why don't you just leave?"

Easy answer, really. It may well come to that, but do you think it would stop? This isn't about money; I've been paying this for so long, and it's automatic nature make it more of a utility bill or a car loan that never seems to end that I really don't think of the money aspect of it.

But...the utility comparision IS a fair one. I pay for service, I expect to get it. If my service was great for a number of years, and then it went downhill, I, of course, could always just leave, but I also have the right to try to get the service back to the level that it was before.

As I strolled downtown Dover on the 4th, another of those blasted analogies came to me. Those men who signed that Declaration of Independence certainly heard a similar mantra from many of their countrymen. "It isn't that bad", "If you don't like it, you can leave", or "it beats what else is out there" were all reasons, among many, for the Founding Fathers NOT to try to improve the situation. They tried all sorts of means, and were rebuffed time and time again, but many of their neighbors, who were more worried about their personal affairs, thought it best to keep quiet and just stay on the farm, and hey...I don't read that much, or drink tea, so it doesn't apply to me.

Our "independence day" may well come, but like many of the Founding Fathers, I still feel allegiance, but the intollerable acts are piling up. And, like Great Britian, who learned a hard lesson from the loss of their American colonies through this rebellion, perhaps Holy Cross will learn a painful and expensive lesson.

Well, Well...

Interesting and thought provoking posting from someone that I don't believe is Jacono, but who I have an idea who they are, eh, "girlfriend"?

My point is simple...You, this blog, is an aggitator. You seek to rile folks up with remarks designed to rip Mrs. Jacono and by extension the Holy Cross administration (and even the Diocese!). There is no solution in what you do here! Man-up, Be part of the solution...for if you are not then, in fact, you are part of the problem!!My children are getting a solid Catholic education, which is why I sent them in the first place. I have no problems with how things are run. You and your anonymous cohorts need to know that you do not speak for all. Mrs. Jacono, Holy Cross, Father Dan and the Wilmington Diocese are my home..You may think that the "faithful" do not exist. You are wrong. And I am not Mrs. Jacono!!

Lots to talk about, but I'll take one point right now, and that is the agitator one.

Guilty, dear, as charged. However, like the agitator in a washing machine, without a lot of things going on, there is no effect. Cleant clothes require something to wash, some soap, some water, and the rest of the machinary to work (and, yes, this is an A-N-A-L-O-G-Y...which means that it is not to be taken literally). Without one of them, the agitator does no good. And, like many other "Agitators" like Thomas Paine, Martin Luther (and King), nothing would get done (and, NO I am not comparing myself to Martin Luther King....it is an A-N-A-L-O-G-Y....Tree is to paper as rubber is to tire does not mean I think a tree is a tire).


I also KNOW I don't speak for all. There are many I talk to who feel much, much stronger about her then I do. I even know a very prominent person who believes she is "evil", as in big "E" evil. I don't go that far, believing that gives her way too much credit for what amounts to someone who simply doesn't know the basics of management. However, I also acknowledge there are those who like her personally (like you, I guess) because she treats them differently then others ,for God knows what reason. I also know there are many - perhaps the majority - of people who don't know or don't care about this. I was surprised to find someone like that the other day. I didn't say much to them, believe it or not, but to have heard nothing is something is indicative of someone who hasn't been paying attention - would you agree with me on that?

What you refuse to accept is that there is a certain number of people who feel as I do. Your focusing on me, or elevating me to some God-Like status (it is an...okay, I hope you get it) allows you to ignore the comments themselves. Good tactic, I guess, but way too obvious. You want to ignore the 15-25% who feel roughly the same way I do.

Does that matter? Well, if it was an election, probably not. However, most businesses couldn't afford to have that many unhappy customers, especially one that already relies on subsidies. You don't think the number of people who left last year caused the leadership to "discuss" the matter with Denise?

So...I agitate because there is something to agitate about. The problem is that for most of the first year, people didn't know about each other's issues with her. It didn't help that when they went to Father Dan SEVERAL people heard him say, "Well, this is the first time I heard about this". You want to shoot the messenger (I never realized how many analogies I use...but I don't really believe you want to shoot me - do you?), and ignore the message.

I'll have more to say, but I'll let you and others respond to this.

Life after Jacono

A reader sent this in, and I thought it was good enough to deserve it's own post, although it will probably overshadow one of my more clever posts below it....

For the record, there is life after Holy Cross and it's wonderful! The public school teachers and administators openly welcome parents who volunteer, even more so they adore them! The school uses up to date testing, unlike the outdated testing used to track at Holy Cross. Intelligent children are challenged academically, as the school knows these children's success will bring them better funding!

The teachers truly appreciate my well behaved, religious children (and I take credit for that, Holy Cross did not raise them). All students are treated equally and fairly, not just the ones who don't disagree with the principal. Fundraising is minimal and any effort applauded. Specials are not changed randomly year to year, and they are all solid options. Teachers are respected, and if they aren't they can take action, amazingly the same goes for parents ( I know that sounds strange to HC parents it was strange for me at first too!).

Then there are the little things. You can go to any class celebration. You don't need to get fingerprinted to go on a field trip with your child. Your child won't get detention if the dentist can finally get them in at 8:30a.m. on a Tuesday. If you want to sign your kids out with no notice five min. before the end of the school day, so be it, they're your children after all! (shocking I know!) Oh and the secretary won't give you attitude for doing so! Lunch is a dollar and you don't have to plan a month in advance to buy it (get this it's even nutritionally sound and filling to boot!). If your kid wants a rolling backback and notebooks with cartoon characters, they are free to express themselves in such a manner.

Best of all not only do all the students have to play by the rules, but so do the teachers, secretaries, principals, assistant principals, and even ass. supers and superintendants. They don't fly by the seat of their pants making up rules and picking and choosing who they are accountable to. Funny, it's like I left the twilight zone and entered back into reality. I can't tell you how refreshing it has been! While I miss the parents I have become friends with over the years and watching their children grow with mine, and the teachers my children and I have come to know and love, the sense of communtiy left when Jacono came. The teachers weren't the same, stressed Im sure by their own dealings with Jacono, The sense of community was gone. Friendships I had with many parents was shattered by their lack of action despite their many complaints about Jacono.

I am not one to go with the flow sacraficing my childrens education and my own morals, and I was shocked and disheartened when others were so willing to. There is life beyond Holy Cross, it is not the only option, you can raise good, Catholic, well educated children while they attend public school.The ultimate reward for me was when at the end of this school year (we left HC mid-year((yes J it's me your favorite Dr's daughter)I gave the children the option to return to Holy cross if they wanted to, and they both answered with a resounding "NO!".

I am confident next year will be even better, as the children won't have the burden of transitioning to a new school mid-year. I never, ever thought in a million years I would even consider sending my children to public school. Jacono made that decision for me and for that I thank her! We couldn't be happier!!

A bit of a stretch, but...

I think most of us have been somewhat confused regarding the uprising in Iran. It first shows that Iran, and the Arab people, are not all marching lock step with their leaders, and they have, low and behold, differences of opinion, just like us. Imagine that.

What is fascinating is to see the reaction of the establishment to the riots. First, they announce nothing is wrong. Then they say there may be some minor problems, but that doesn't affect anything the people have full control of. They then threatened and forced confessions or redactions from people who they think are behind demonstrations.

And, while we don't know how it will turn out, and it is quite likely that the existing Iranian President will continue in office, there is no doubt that the country and the people of Iran have changed. They have changed the way they see their country, their religion, and themselves, and their actions do not end at this election, but will certainly be felt in the future.