The Law of Unexpected Consequences

In a quest to rally an army of support, the leaders of the school administration and school committee have been going to every school function.. curriculum nights and PTO meetings to expain the dire need for updates to the high school.

And they’ve done a good job.

The catwalk needs repairs, the windows leak, the gym and locker rooms need replacing, the auditorium is too small, the cafeteria.. the library.. all inadequate.

So.. the result?

Now the word is that many parents are thinking about using private or religious high schools in the future.

Where last year we always heard that although we are tight with our money, we had one of the best High School Bands, our Football team is one of the strongest in the state, our kids were winning Arts contests in Boston, and our high school musical presentations winning awards from the state theater groups. Dropout rates were improving, the Scholarship Foundation was beating expectations every year, parents are involved everywhere from Band Boosters to PTO to supporting sports and Grad Night, and every kid was passing MCAS prior to graduation..

This year, its a constant “We have one of the worst schools in the state.” “We won’t get accredited and your kids will have trouble getting into college.” and “The town is not committed to education.”

Unexpected Consequenses? The overcrowding problem will solve itself as parents send their kids elsewhere.

Elaine Espindle once spoke with me about the concept of the self-fulfilling prophesy. “Why talk about the negative,” she said. “it doesn’t help.”  Everyone knows the negatives, but its better to emphasize the positive… that encourages the kids to reach for more.