I'VE GOT A JOB FOR GRAVENHURST COUNCIL -
FIND OUT ABOUT THE FAIR PLAY OF ATTRACTING STUDENTS FROM ONE SCHOOL TO BOLSTER ANOTHER - OR POACHING FOR A GOOD ENROLLMENT
I'VE GOT A BIG NOSE FOR NEWS. MY BLOG ON SERIOUS ENROLLMENT ISSUES, IN MUSKOKA SCHOOLS, WAS FIRST OUT TO THE PUBLIC, WELL BEFORE THE LOCAL MEDIA'S NEWS ARTICLES THIS WEEK. I HATE TO BRAG BUT I WILL ANYWAY.
BUT HERE'S THE TROUBLING THING ABOUT IT ALL. FROM AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 12TH ISSUE OF "WHAT'S UP," I LEARNED THAT ENROLLMENT AT BRACEBRIDGE'S ST. DOMINIC CATHOLIC'S SECONDARY SCHOOL IS 247 STUDENTS. NOT GOOD. IT'S A BIG SCHOOL. LOTS OF DESKS TO FILL. WHAT REALLY CONCERNED ME WITH THE ARTICLE, AND THE COUNTER MEASURES TO REVERSE THE TREND, WAS THE MENTION OF THE SCHOOL'S ONGOING INITIATIVE TO ATTRACT NEW STUDENTS, AND IN A TIDY INCLUSION, IN THE SAME STORY, THERE'S A PARAGRAPH ANNOUNCING THAT THERE IS A BUS COMING FROM GRAVENHURST, AS WELL AS HUNTSVILLE. THIS ISN'T NEW OF COURSE. HERE'S ANOTHER LITTLE TIDBIT OF INFORMATION, SOME FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CATHOLIC TO ATTEND.
I READ THIS ARTICLE THREE TIMES, AND EVERY TIME I FINISHED, (SITTING SPEECHLESS FOR A MOMENT), I BECAME MADDER THAN THE TIME BEFORE. THE ONLY WORD I COULD THINK OF, TO DESCRIBE THEIR DESIRE TO INCREASE THE SCHOOL'S ENROLLMENT, WAS "POACHING." GOOD OLD FASHION POACHING. IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED, CREATE A DISADVANTAGE FOR SOME OTHER INSTITUTION. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL IT, WHEN THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY STUDENTS IN THE REGION TO ENROLL, AND WE'VE GOT THREE OTHER MAJOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, EACH WITH STUDENT POPULATION ISSUES .
OUR TOWN COUNCIL HAS, I'M SURE, THE OPINION THAT I'M JUST A BLOW-HARD, WITH VERY LITTLE FOUNDATION TO MY ARGUMENTS. I'LL TAKE ISSUE WITH THAT IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF TODAY'S BLOG. BUT HERE'S THE BIG PICTURE. WE HAVE LOST STUDENTS TO ST. DOMINICS IN THE PAST. SOME WHO WERE NOT CATHOLICS. AT THIS TIME WHEN THE ENROLLMENT AT GRAVENHURST HIGH SCHOOL, IS A HAIR'S BREADTH FROM BEING UNDER-ENROLLED, IF IT'S NOT ALREADY, WHAT SENSE DOES THIS MAKE TO ROB ONE SCHOOL TO HELP ANOTHER. I WARNED COUNCIL A YEAR AGO, THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BECOME A SERIOUS ISSUE, AND FROM WHAT I'M READING, THE POACHING SEASON MAY BE GETTING UNDER WAY…..AND I THINK THIS SUCKS. BRACEBRIDGE HAS TWO HIGH SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ONE. WE REALLY NEED OUR SCHOOL TO SURVIVE, SO FRANKLY, I THINK GETTING AGGRESSIVE FOR STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS GROSSLY UNFAIR. SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THEIR CAMPAIGN IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE WERE TO LOSE FIFTY TO SEVENTY-FIVE STUDENTS BY NEXT SEPTEMBER…..WHICH BY THE WAY COULD PUT THE SCHOOL IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY WITH THE TRILLIUM LAKELANDS BOARD? NOT TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF A TEACHING JOB.
I DON'T CARE IF THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST THINKS I'M A MAD MAN, OR AN OVER-REACTING RADICAL WITH A BLOG. THEY SHOULD START TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, AND PUSH PAST THE MEDIA RELEASES, AND RHETORIC, AND MEET WITH BOARD REPRESENTATIVES. AND HERE'S A QUESTION THEY CAN ASK A BOARD OFFICIAL. "IS OUR GRAVENHURST SCHOOL, ALLOWED TO POACH BACK…..AND WILL THE BOARD FUND OUR ENROLLMENT PROTECTION CAMPAIGN? BUT SOONER OR LATER THIS WAS GOING TO BECOME A PRESSING ISSUE, AND IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SLOWLY FOR YEARS. NOW IT'S PRECARIOUS, BECAUSE THERE AREN'T THE STUDENT BULGES TO SATISFY ALL THE SCHOOLS LOOKING FOR MORE ENROLLMENT. SO WHAT WILL OUR TOWN COUNCIL DO, TO PROTECT OUR SCHOOL, FROM LOSING EVEN MORE OF ITS STUDENT BODY? NOW IS THE TIME TO BECOME PRO-ACTIVE AND YES….."MOVE FORWARD." ANY STEPS BACKWARD, AND WE'RE IN TROUBLE. IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD
INVESTING IN GRAVENHURST THE OLD FASHION WAY - SWEAT EQUITY AND PRIDE
I CAN BE CALLED A LOT OF CHOICE NAMES, SOME THAT ARE RATHER FETCHING; OTHERS NOT SO MUCH. I WILL NEVER CHALLENGE YOUR RIGHT TO AN OPINION, IF YOU ALLOW ME TO EXPRESS MINE. IN REALITY, THE ONLY DEROGATORY REFERENCE I WILL VEHEMENTLY CHALLENGE YOU ON, IS IF YOU WERE LABEL ME, OR MY FAMILY, EITHER "COWARDS" OR "QUITTERS." THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A SURPLUS AMOUNT OF HUBRIS OR MISPLACED BRAVADO, OR ANY BELIEF THAT WE ARE MORE PROFICIENT, DETERMINED, STRONGER, OR BETTER SUITED THAN ANYONE ELSE. IF IT HAPPENS, THAT AT SOME TASK, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE REQUIRED WORK, OR PROJECT WELL, THEN THIS IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. BUT CONTRARY TO SOME OF OUR CRITICS, WE DO NOT WAVE-ABOUT THE FAMILY FLAG, ON EACH OF OUR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES. AS FOR BEING CAMERA FRIENDLY OR PUBLICITY HOUNDS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. IF THERE IS ANY SELF-PROMOTION IT'S BECAUSE I'M A COLUMNIST / BLOGGER, AND I OFTEN WRITE ABOUT MY FAMILY BECAUSE THEY'RE FUNNY PEOPLE. IF WE WERE GOING TO CARRY ANY FLAG AT ALL, IT WOULD BELONG TO GRAVENHURST. AND WE KNOW LOTS OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO CARRY OUR BANNER, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY IN HEART, EVERY TIME THEY STEP UP TO THE PLATE…..TO TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT PUTTING SOMEONE ON BASE, WITH THE IDEA OF SCORING MORE RUNS FOR THE HOME TEAM.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, WITHOUT APOLOGY, I GET PROFOUNDLY MAD AT OUR TOWN COUNCIL, FOR PERCEIVED SHORTFALLS IN THEIR ADMINISTRATION. SHORTFALLS THAT INEVITABLY AFFECT THIS COMMUNITY. I'M POSITIVE THERE ARE THOSE ON COUNCIL, WHO DREAD MY LATEST TOMES, AND REFUSE TO READ THEM BECAUSE I'M "SO OVERLY CRITICAL AND NEGATIVE." DWELLING ON WHAT I THINK THEY'RE DOING WRONG, OR WHAT KIND OF RECKLESSNESS PREVAILS, REGARDING SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES. I DO UNDERSTAND THIS.
IF ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY WERE TO TRUST THE EDITORIALIST, WHO DOESN'T MAKE A DIME OF PROFIT OFFERING HIS OPINION, OR REPRESENTING SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS, IT MIGHT JUST SUDDENLY POKE THROUGH THE FOG OF CONTROVERSY, THAT NONE OF THE CRITICISM FLIES WITHOUT A SOLID FOUNDATION OF ARGUMENT. YOU CAN ARCHIVE ME BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME, AND THE COMMON THREAD THROUGH EVERY BLOG, EVERY EDITORIAL I'VE EVER WRITTEN, IS THAT OF PROFOUND RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY ABOVE ALL ELSE. WHEN I AM CONFRONTED BY SOMEONE ANGRY ABOUT A POINT OF VIEW I'VE HERALDED, I DON'T SHY AWAY FROM A RESPONSE, OR AN EXPLANATION…..BECAUSE I DON'T WRITE WHAT I CAN'T DEFEND. I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, AS AN EDITOR, DURING ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PERIODS IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER HISTORY, THAT IT IS CAREER-ENDING TO MAKE MISTAKES. EVEN SMALL ONES. BEING DAMN SURE OF THE FACTS, WAS AS IMPORTANT IN DAILY LIVING, AS FEELING FOR THE PULSE ON YOUR WRIST. IT IS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH TO CHIRP CRITICISMS AT THE REFS, FROM THE BLEACHERS, IF YOU REFUSE TO MEET WITH THEM AT THE END OF THE GAME, TO DISCUSS DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
MY ARGUMENT IN GRAVENHURST, AND NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF ANY CRITICISM I MIGHT LEVEL AT THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, HAS AS ITS ROOT, MY SINCERE BELIEF, RIGHT OR WRONG, THAT CERTAIN DECISIONS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED MORE EFFICIENTLY, WITH GREATER RESPONSIVENESS TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, IF THEY HAD TAKEN THE TIME, AND SHOWN THE PATIENCE, TO GET ADVICE FROM BEYOND THE COUNCIL TABLE. IN THIS TOWN, WE HAVE SO MANY WELL-EDUCATED, HUGELY EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING A COUPLE OF FORMER DISTRICT CHAIRMANS, LONG SERVING COUNCILLORS, FOR BOTH THE TOWN AND DISTRICT, AND AN ARMY OF SAVVY RETIREES, WHO WOULD LOVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THEIR HOME TOWN…….AS VOLUNTEER ADVISORS. THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT IS OVER-LOOKED, BYPASSED, IGNORED, AND DISMISSED AS LARGELY IRRELEVANT TO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. IT IS THE NUMBER ONE FAILING OF THE PRESENT GRAVENHURST COUNCIL. THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE ADVICE FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND THOSE WITH IMMENSE MUNICIPAL EXPERIENCE, WHO COULD HAVE PROVIDED THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WITH CRITICAL NAVIGATION TIPS, FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THIS MOST CONTENTIOUS, DIFFICULT TIME OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE.
WHAT IS EXPERTISE, IF IT IS NOT USED AS A RESOURCE FOR OUR BETTERMENT?
There is a mistaken perception, that once a government is elected, the power shift is supreme and almighty. While political candidates are eager to seek out advice prior to the election, the moment they are sworn-in, they assume wrongly, that they no longer need the same kind of sage advice as earlier. This is a foolish presumption. They are so sure of themselves, that they actually start believing, the right to govern is all-encompassing, like being a wizard or enchanter. As they began humble and open to suggestion, before the election, the oath of office prevails upon them to look upon unsolicited advice, as an unwelcome intervention on their rights to govern; based on the electoral will of the people to put them in office. To this I say, get a grip. Look at the turn-out numbers. Consider the number of citizens who have given up voting at all levels, because they assume every elected official turns-out the same way. An indifferent bully sitting up on a pedestal, ignoring the actuality of all our new realities. Generally, they insulate themselves, but the better word would be "isolate," and feel it is incumbent, to be seen as tough, unflinching deciders, in a mysterious, cloaked municipal environment. Even if they make questionable decisions, as a group, that they wouldn't have endorsed as non-elected members, (as constituents), they become so adamant they made the right choice……well, it becomes unfathomable to change their minds. In other words, they can't see the forest for the trees, or the tree for the forest.
I learned in my first year of university, to get what I needed from my professors, when it was required; and even if it may have inconvenienced them to stand awhile after class with me, I paid for their services aftereall. Their job? To educate me! I got twenty-five percent more time with these professors, than other students who, although having questions to ask, were to bashful or impatient, to follow-through. As a fledgling writer and historian, I asked for help constantly, and never assumed I knew all the facts, before I'd tapped into all the available sources to make sure. I'd regularly ask Canadian writer, and friend Wayland Drew, what he thought of my work…..not just because I wanted his endorsement of my writing, but rather, how he would suggest I make it better, and more endurable as I continued my career. I can't tell you how incredible it was, to have this outstanding writer, critique my work. I looked forward to his critical overviews. He never once wadded-up my work, or made a gesture to throw it into the garbage bin. He was patient and caring, but even if he had been nasty and brutal, I would have stood there, and consumed every last comment or directive. I wouldn't have asked his opinion, without having clear knowledge, of Mr. Drew's exceptional writing capability; so evident in the landmark Canadian book, "Superior; The Haunted Shore," in company of one of the country's best known landscape photographers, Bruce Litteljohn. It was an honor to be critiqued by someone with Wayland Drew's writing credentials. I have exposed myself to many literary critics, and although sometimes a little hard on the ego, all of it has influenced my work today. Some don't like criticism. I've been fueled by it!
The problem we have in Gravenhurst, if any one thing stands out for me, as a regional columnist and political watcher, it is in this reluctance of our upper administration, to seek out the kind of volunteers they could benefit from…..in terms of professional knowledge and experience. It seems they would rather muddle along without, than truly take the time, to listen to the advice of others, even if it could save the town money, and move a project along more efficiently. There is no loss of stature, or prominence, for the keen councillor, who asks for a second and third (or more) opinion from a constituent-in-the-know, about a certain position to be taken by the town on our behalf. Not everything is confidential, and smothered by protocol. There is more to be gained, not just asking for public input, but welcoming it, as a course of good governance for ongoing business. Going back on the past two years, and what has been called a debacle by many citizens watching from the sidelines, it all could have been mitigated by the networking of old fashion, time honored, good citizenship. Council has a lot of willing resources out there, if only they would loosen up to the possibilities. Allowing themselves the freedom of movement, to seek opinions and advice from that other group of volunteers; ones who may not be ladling out soup at a free dinner, or canvassing for the Christmas food drive; but who would be willing to share a wealth of experience from their respective professions.
I said to one candidate in the last municipal election, that my best advice, for not only an enhanced knowledge of the town, and a more dynamic campaign, would be to spend some money on lunches. I strongly suggested that the candidate spend some of the campaign budget, to meet with former town and district councillors, including a highly accomplished former District Chairman, living amongst us, and ask for some advice, on their perception, of our most pressing needs……., and the way to become better at representing the constituents, and improving our community at the same time. I even offered to help set up these luncheon meetings, because I am a huge believer in this kind of networking, and respect for accomplishment and wisdom. Well, maybe my advice came too late, or there wasn't the will to follow through, but I stand by this advice. I have suggested this many times to other councillors, and the council itself, (even recently) to build an advisory group that is the best of the best…..and whether it offers blunt criticism or not, it is important, and precisely what's needed, to make a better, more pro-active council for the balance of this term of office. Paid advice isn't the end-all. So tap into an exciting, dynamic, under-used reserve of professional service, that has been largely bypassed despite its inherent value to us all.
The Opera House Advocacy Committee, that I have suggested for the past year, and most recently, since the roof re-surfacing began this fall, is a case in point. A three to five person volunteer committee, to represent the best interests of the historic Opera House building, to liaison with management, and elected council. This would be a group of people, dedicated to Opera House preservation, not tithed by any pay-for-services protocol. Expertise on this historic building is long overdue, and it is free of charge. Locally! Now imagine that? For the simple price of admitting, that seeing as there are no curators on staff, or anyone who has extensive background in heritage buildings being on the inside during this restoration, "Yes, it's true, we could really use some extra advice and in-house monitoring." While some councillors may see this as highly "out of order" on my part, and a violation of strict protocol on how the municipality conducts itself, it's neither of the above. Fearing intervention is foolish, if it means a project can be done more proficiently for historic conservation. Wouldn't it have been great if the Titanic hadn't hit that iceberg? It could have been avoided, you know. The legendary ship could have been built better? I hate when people say, hindsight is 20 / 20. If they can utter this statement, then they could have sided to the opposite, and been, as they say, "ahead of the curve," instead of using a cliche to explain a disaster.
It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It is not a harbinger of poor governance, to admit help is needed. It is not a compromise to the democratic process, to seek the help of constituents after an election. In fact, it is insightfully democratic, to appreciate the advantages of human resources, and the dynamic of experience, especially from the people who live and work here…..who have a vested interest in making this a better, and more durable home town. It is faulty logic, to assume that because of a mistaken interpretation of municipal protocols, that it must always be a case of "them and us," when it is the complete opposite that holds most sensibility.
Council becomes us, as a governing body, by extension of our democratic privilege to vote for the candidates we feel will best represent our interests. There is nothing that stops the dynamic exchange of wisdom from constituent to elected official, except plain old "will" to do so. So this is the question we must ask, looking forward two years. Is there the will to increase transparency, welcome input, and govern with the people, instead of over-ruling them?
With the recent Town of Gravenhurst Spirit Awards, so profoundly demonstrating once again, the importance of this voluntary co-operation, to keep our town competitive, and responsive to needs, internal and external, it might also be considered by our elected officials, a workable, common sense plan, to look at how much there is to gain in the largely untapped region of volunteer expertise…..still waiting to be invited to participate in future-building.
Thank you for joining today's blog. I greatly appreciate your support.
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