As a high school art teacher for the past 15 years in the “Twin City” area, I am used to the swinging of the educational blade getting ready to make its cuts. Luckily for me, those years of dedication and place on the “seniority totem pole” have built this protective wall that keeps me from receiving any swishing. Still, though, I have a heart-felt concern for anyone not quite as set-in-stone as me or for those in the non-academic positions in our schools.

I don’t know what made me think that as soon as I entered the classroom, I would only be focusing on the truth behind Van Gogh’s ear or how to make purple. I found that in the arts, teaching comes second so often that I think some days I should have my psychiatrist sign out like Lucy with 5 cents per advice. I love it, though and wouldn’t trade it for the world. So many children have touched my life and I know, though some might not admit it that I too have touched theirs. But, putting aside my “I can save them all cap” I know that there are situations and battle scars that I don’t know how to handle. I need the help of a trained individual. I want to see these kids make it. They deserve to make it. They can’t do it on the likes of those teachers like myself who want to try to help, but can’t quite give them what they need.

In today’s world, our children are so inundated with situations that challenge them on a daily basis; it would make our heads spin and June Cleaver gasp. Our social workers are desperately needed. They need to be in our schools and in our programs. They teach us that what works for one child might not work for another. They set us down and give us the guts to what makes that child tick and what sets off that child; they are the hug that a child needs when the teacher seems like the biggest meanie of all; they calm the child who comes to school carrying a load of anger ready to dump on our desks and those of their classmates. They get the kids through any unforeseen crisis. How could one possibly even consider the thought to pull that kind of support?

I found attending the meeting in March where Sue Gendron spoke was eye-opening and it answered for me some dollars-and-cents questions. However, in looking through the stapled sheets of the proposed budget, I started to think of the school as a home. In order to keep what is priority in my household, I have to make changes, not cuts.

And yes, like in schools, other things add to the bill list, but somehow I still manage to keep what I have got. I encourage you to do the same. You have a social worker(s) you must keep and make changes elsewhere. Please do not attempt to lose something or give up something that for years you have managed to hang on to and make room for. Why let go of something that you know simply “works.”

Melissa Perkins

Raymond

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