School principals deserve the support and appreciation of the community

Let us open the door of our public school and take a look at the glamourous world of the school principal.

In every building these fine people are expected to be an educational leader, school manager, head cheerleader, transportation engineer, maitre d', custodial engineer, referee, bodyguard, fashion consultant, policeman, friend, attorney general and fire marshal. They are expected to be role models combining the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the ability to make instantaneous decisions while walking on water. These duties must be carried out faithfully in full knowledge of students' and parents' rights, constitutional or otherwise. He or she must act with full awareness that vacillating superintendents and school boards may have little interest in supporting the decisions made on the scene at the moment of impact.

Consider any destructive or corrosive element present in our culture and in our neighborhoods. You will find it knocking on the front door of our schools, often escorted hand in hand with "my rights."

A school principal stands as a part of society's first line of defense in maintaining the safety of our children. Line of defense against what, one may ask? Well, physical violence, armed violence, educational neglect, child abuse, poor nutrition, inappropriate dress, inappropriate undress, sexual misconduct, foul language and drug use, not to mention bygone and mundane items like inattention in class and failure to turn in homework assignments.

Any society that expects to maintain a level of functionality must have arbiters between freedom and responsibility. These same arbiters must be supported by the community in which they live. Whether it is our policemen, teachers, Little League referees, court personnel, clergy or school principals, these figures of authority are finding their decisions undercut, vetoed, overturned or even ridiculed at ever increasing levels.

The tasks given to these persons run the gamut from gently reminding about courtesy to placing life at risk to impede armed assault. Clearly, the easiest thing to do for the people filling these roles would be to do absolutely nothing and turn a blind eye to the infringements on our peace and tranquility. This is especially true if they are made to walk the plank as a result of fallout from any difficult decisions.

If our culture cannot or will not give high regard to the people filling these roles, it will eventually tip the scales that balance freedom and responsibility toward the direction of either anarchy or tyranny.

The public schools are the first responders to the myriad ills of contemporary society. While some parents and students (and their attorneys) are loud and demonstrative about any perceived infringement upon their rights, there is a yawning gap in today's society calling for the equal need to meet one's responsibilities in order to make our schools and communities succeed.

While civil liberties are a cherished part of our democracy, an equivalent clamor for civil responsibility is never heard. Take the time to ponder and support (and to thank) the often unappreciated people -- like a school principal -- who help to make your town a more safe and civilized place in which to live.

Neil Casey is a teacher in the Cape Girardeau School District.