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From the publisher

The Principal Of The Thing

Our feature in the January issue titled “#1 Public High School—Erath High Earns Top Louisiana Ranking” written by Barbara Gautreaux prompted a very thoughtful response from one of our readers. I’m relinquishing my space this month to present her opinion.

While waiting for my doctor in New Iberia, I read the article on Erath High School and its stellar achievement as top non-selective public high school in Louisiana. As a veteran of 17 years in the classroom in grades five through twelve teaching English and all of the Social Studies, and in my 19th year as a substitute in Lafayette Parish, I just knew the article was going to get around to the main reason for the success.

Years ago, when my youngest was in Kindergarten and my eldest in Junior High, I sent both of their principals coffee cups that said, “It’s not the school; it’s the principal of the thing.” It really boils down to that (no coffee involved). If the principal has control of the school, if he is the acknowledged leader, if he asserts his authority fairly and consistently, if he respects his teachers and has their backs, there is no end to the possibilities that can be pursued.

Unfortunately, principals like Mr. Francis Touchet of Erath High School and the principals of my sons’ schools are pretty rare not only these days but decades ago when I started my teaching career. Too many are only worried about the “central office,” keeping the peace, and appearing all benevolent. They lack the character and the backbone to stare down the troublemakers and their usually supportive parents. (Gone are the days when you got in trouble at school and got it worse at home).
But those who do these things show all the others how it can be done. No hand wringing about self-esteem, diversity, social justice, equal outcomes, and honors for all. The achievers are rewarded, the lower achievers are given opportunities and encouragement to do better, and the troublemakers are quickly dispatched to the head adult in charge.

When I read Mr. Touchet’s philosophy that is not the job of the teachers to discipline, it is their job to teach; I wanted to get in my car, drive to Erath High, shake that principal’s hand and use the old pickup line, “Where have you been all my life?”  
Actually I had

three principals like him and they will always be my personal heroes but most were a sorry lot not up to the job or simply not willing to do the job.

The good people of Erath should be so pleased and proud with this school and its leader and the teachers who work for him so well and so willingly. It really isn’t the school, “it is (indeed) the principal of the thing.”
Donna Greco
Lafayette, La.

Jan. 17, 2012

Donna Greco is a veteran of the classroom in public, private, and Catholic Schools having taught in Orleans Parish, Knoxville, Tenn., and schools in Indiana, Illinois, St. Martinville, and Lafayette, La. She has taught as a substitute in Lafayette Parish since 1993. Her husband is Dr. Anthony Greco, Professor of Economics at UL Lafayette.

  Art Suberbielle, Publisher

Verse of the Month
“You shall be my people, and I will be your God.”                  Ezekiel 36:28