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Fielder’s Choice
By Barry Burleson Bridging our schools Last
week I wrote about breaking down barriers and the importance of
working together when it comes to economic development. This week the
topic is education – where teamwork also applies. That latest united effort got a jump start Saturday with the event – “Bridging Our Community and Schools Through Prayer.” It
was extremely hot at 10 a.m. in Spring Hollow Park but the one-hour
program was uplifting and well worth the sweat. It’s a shame more were
not there to take part. But as one of the organizers, George Zinn, said, “It’s a start.” Most
all schools had a representative or representatives in attendance –
city, county, public and private – mostly by administrators.
Personally, I just wish more students could have been there. Maybe that
number will grow each year. Organizers want to make this an annual
event. The purposes – to pray for our schools and to bring the community and the schools together. Growing
up, we had bitter rivals when it came to athletics. Most of the
bitterest were other schools right there in my home county. We didn’t
like them. They didn’t like us. When I got to
college, some of those guys on those opposing teams became my best
friends, even roommates. I discovered, “Hey, they’re not that bad after
all.” Rivalries are good. But they should be left on the playing field. When it comes to educating our children, we must all work together. There has been progress in this unity. More appears to be on the horizon. The
Holly Springs and Marshall County school districts have worked together
in the Teacher Corps Summer School program. This year it served 230
students with the help of 10 team (lead) teachers and 23 first-year
teachers. It was held at Holly High – a united effort between the city
and county districts and the University of Mississippi. Last
football season, during the playoffs, the Holly Springs High School
Band played at Marshall Academy games in support of the Patriots. MA
does not have a band program. The Holly Springs
and Marshall County school district have combined to operate one
alternative school, located on the Holly High campus. A
Junior Leadership Marshall County program has been launched to bring
young people together from all of our schools to work on important
projects and share ideas. Plus, they’re smiling, laughing, having fun
and getting to know each other. Near the close of
Saturday’s activities, Leigh Anne Sanderson, principal of Potts Camp
School, took her turn at the microphone and said, “We cannot be
competitive. We must work together.” Amen. I feel at home in every school in Marshall County. I have never felt unwelcome. It should be that way among our students. Some
examples of furthering the cause – maybe the student council at
Marshall Academy should have lunch with the student council at Potts
Camp. Maybe the administrators at Holy Family should have lunch with
the administrators at Galena. And visit each others’ schools during the
school day. Let’s keep the “working together”
attitude going. The seed has been planted. We all need to help it grow.
Our future depends on it.
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