I've been schooled

I received a scathing email this morning chastising me for my answer about education at the Romanelli West forum. The writer felt that my answer shirked my responsibility as a leader and abdicated all issues regarding education to the school board. He said I should be ashamed of myself. He accused me of not having the "political stomach" for taking on the education issue. He said I had lost his vote. You know what? I'm glad I received that email. Valid criticism just opens the door to self-improvement. He's right about everything but the "political stomach" remark. I'm glad this person took the time to write a very long and thoughtful letter. Education is an important topic to him and his family. He felt I had let him down. I'm glad he pointed out some glaring missteps I made. I admit it was my worst answer of the day. I won't make excuses, but I will say my remarks came out of anger and frustration. I'm mad at the KCSD. I'm mad at "community leaders" who seem to want nothing more than to have arguments about race and socio-economic differences. I'm mad at the KCSD teacher who lectured me at a candidate screening that "neighborhood schools" are a pipe dream because in the neighborhood he teaches "the kids will never be able to walk to school." (begin sarcasm) Well thank you Mr. Optimism! Yeah, that's the kind of guy I want teaching our next generation. "It's hopeless kids. You live in a bad place and there's nothing you can do about it." (end sarcasm) My critic sent me some links. One of which is standup.org which is funded by the Bill and Melinda gates Foundation as well as Warren Buffet. Maybe there's some useful information there. Maybe I can find out some things I can do as a councilman above and beyond using the office as a bully pulpit. After all, education is never a waste of time. I should know. I just learned something.