The Shadow
Welcome back, Shadowers! In last week’s article, we were metaphorically mulling over how to fix the village tractor to address the school shooting problem plaguing our amber waves of grain. Well, it seems we got the tractor a’plowin, but then a rock appeared in our path and we overcompensated so hard that we ended up plowing the neighbor’s field in the process.
Covington Middle School started with a well-executed Shelter in Place order a couple of weeks back. Unfortunately, that seemed to have prompted the rumor mill to run amuck until over the following weekend. So last Monday, Sept 23, the police decided to show up out of an abundance of caution to help quell the rumors and put students at ease. Seems they overcompensated and caused another public anxiety attack.
Whoops! Sounds like they forgot to tell the parents.
Covington Chief of Police Christopher Smith issued a statement, “The extra presence this morning was an example of that appropriate response, but unfortunately, it had the opposite effect of what was intended. When the extra presence of law enforcement was seen at the school this morning, it was construed as if something else had occurred and caused the parents and students who were arriving at the school new and unnecessary concern.”
First, while I can’t speak for everyone, it’s safe to say we don’t mind the overcompensation, however, maybe a little better thought leadership to let parents know ahead of time would eliminate the problem. Regardless of the small snafu, Superintendent Halterman and her staff, the school board, and the city and county police departments get extra gold stars at the top of their tests for their dedication to everyone’s safety. I’m sure we have no idea of the immense amount of pressure both the school administration and the police are being put through on behalf of our children and families. If I had two hats, both would be off to recognize and support their efforts in this extremely challenging situation.
Aren’t we still missing something here?
While it seems like we’ve mastered the “what to do after it hits the fan” approach, school-based violence is usually a blinking neon sign pointing to bigger societal problems—like failing to provide mental health support, community resources, or stepping in to help at-risk kids. Sure, we’ve got all sorts of support in place when they’re inside the school walls, but the real question is: what happens when they leave? Is their home life a nurturing sitcom or a chaotic reality show? Because let’s face it, if their support system is more ‘Jerry Springer’ than ‘Mister Rogers,’ we’re all in for trouble.
What does mean on a local level? Do we have any dysfunctional issues with our local social services?
Now here’s a thought for you… With our local Alleghany-Covington Department of Social Services (local DSS) making constant headlines for alleged poor leadership, embroiled in a $5M lawsuit, and constant stories of its alleged failures in providing adequate services to the folks and children who need it the most, what if this dysfunction was actually contributing to our children’s distress?
Let’s start at the top.
Did you realize that our local DSS board isn’t elected for their expertise, education, or training, they are appointed because they happen to be in local and county leadership roles. Our Local DSS has six board members. Three from Alleghany County, and three from the City of Covington. Each locality has a government representative. The other four are community representatives, and all members are appointed by their respective governing body. Chairman David Crosier is Covington’s, and one of the community ones is Kathy Carson, wife of Covington City Councilman Lance Carson. Apparently, Lance is also Crosier’s cousin.
This means Chairman Crosier is appointed by mere association rather than qualified expertise. You’d think that Lance Carson would have been the better pick for the job, as at least he has worked in Adult Protective Services at the local DSS from 1984 to 2018. I don’t see anything in Chairman Crosier’s resume that states he has any formal degrees or expertise in education or social services. This is as logical as assigning the town karaoke champ to conduct the London Philharmonic Orchestra. And since all the others are ‘appointed’ by the local government leaders, this means anyone who actually has skills and experience can be passed over by the leader’s favorite person with no qualifications or experience.
How did we get here?
Do you remember the “butterfly effect,” which suggests that small, seemingly insignificant actions—like a butterfly flapping its wings—can trigger a chain reaction leading to large, unpredictable outcomes? What if an event as simple as you checking a candidate’s box on the voting machine ballot leads to great unpredictable outcomes? Wouldn’t you want to make sure your vote was for the right candidate based on factual information instead of the one most popular?
Let’s talk about what happens when you put the wrong people in public service. Sure, we probably voted for them because we liked them, and at the time, they seemed like the best option. Some folks, once elected, buckle down, learn from their mistakes, and become real public servants who grasp the concept of ethical behavior. Others, though, discover they like the taste of power a little too much. Before you know it, they’re crossing that shiny ethical line, building their own little fiefdoms, and ruling with the finesse of a middle-school drama queen. And we all know what happens when power goes unchecked with zero accountability. We’ve been aware of this since 1776, yet here we are, still learning the hard way.
How do we get better information about our candidates?
One great opportunity is this Thursday, Oct 3 at 6pm at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge. The Virginian Review is rolling out the final showdown of council and school board debates before election day. The community has spoken—hundreds of questions from citizens are in, and trust me, these questions cut right to the chase.
So, here’s a wild idea: Instead of treating this election like a high school popularity contest, how about voting based on facts? You know, an informed vote for the best candidate who will serve the community honestly and ethically, rather than the one with the most yard signs. You can attend the debate in person at the Masonic Theatre Oct 3, 6-8pm, or watch the livestream.
I’m out of time and out of coffee, but I’ll leave you with the wise words of Mark Twain, ”The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”
