Signal Mountain should be commended on looking at options

I am constantly amazed by the stones people throw these days.

Agree with something, and those folks are brilliant. Don’t like something, and those folks are nuts.

Pick a topic — local, national, global — and the folks who do not agree will almost universally ignore the issue, the facts or the details.

They throw stones, and more times than not, those stones are launched with no direction, no purpose or facts.

And it has found us locally now.

Too many of the people who do not live on Signal Mountain are throwing hand grenade after hand grenade at the mountain community for no reason other than looking at the pros and cons of a school district independent from Hamilton County Schools.

Seriously, how is a community exploring better options to educate its kids anything but commendable?

Is Signal splitting the best plan? None of us knows. But, as someone who lives in that community, I appreciate the town leaders and civic folks looking at the pros and cons of the options for schools where my children attend. Just like I appreciate the folks who believe it is a bad idea trying to fact-find the details on their side.

Folks, a public discussion of better ways of educating a community’s kids is not racism. It’s simply good parenting, for crying out loud.

If you are saying the county-wide, community-first approach is the best way, are you aware the base word of communism is community?

Which parents among us would not look for the best opportunities for our children? Whether it’s camp or college or anything in between, why do the folks in Hixson or Ooltewah give two rips about what’s happening on Signal?

What I don’t understand is the vitriol and angst from the other municipalities with a fervor that makes you think Signal’s decision is about anything beyond kids.

Racism? Elitism? Egoism? Whatever-ism?

Please. PUH-lease. Such meaningless stones.

And the allegations of racism in this case are so farfetched it boggles the mind. In fact, it makes me sad that the word “racism” has even entered this discussion.

Yes, there is racism around us every day. Every. Single. Day.

But to throw that allegation into this discussion is a disservice to the real racism around us.

Is the Red Bank community racist for taking the same steps in exploring its best options for public education? Is East Ridge or the other towns that have had similar talks deserving of the scarlet “R” in terms of public perception? Absolutely not.

In fact, when the Hamilton County school system is in such a state of turmoil and the Hamilton County Commission repeatedly balks at investing in its largest endeavor, then I think every community, every town and every parent should explore whatever options are available to them for their children.

That’s not racism, that’s responsibility. And if it’s not happening in your community, you need to question your city, town or county leaders as to why it’s not.

As for the bellyaching in every other burg in our county, do those places want feedback from Signal folks when making community school decisions?

If you are in a smaller city and you want the Signal schools to stay, why? If you are in East Brainerd and you want Signal to stay, why?

I can understand the uneasiness within the current school leadership. This is a tenuous time.

I have high hopes for the tenure of Dr. Bryan Johnson, the new superintendent hired last month. And I believe better times are ahead.

But I also know the state is looking hard at taking control of the five worst schools in our county system.

I also know that the tug of war over tax increases and the faux hand-wringing of most of the Hamilton County Commission are not over.

Parents of school kids across Hamilton County should demand more from the central office as a whole, and not use an awful word like racism to belittle those who are already looking for better for their kids.

Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 423-757-6343.