Middle School Leaves Visitor Close To Tears
Nothing is tougher on self-esteem than middle school. Seventh-graders instinctively seek out those with self-assurance and drain their confidence, leaving school hallways filled with slump-shouldered zombies.
I know. I just left Lakes Middle School in Coeur d’Alene with my ego in my shoes. I’d been invited to act as a mentor to two seventh-grade girls interested in journalism.
My coat was hardly off when Sarah, a young Lois Lane in saggy overalls, demanded with no-nonsense directness, “Have you ever covered anything interesting, like the O.J. Simpson trial?” The expectation in Sarah’s eyes told me she’d either admire or pity me for my answer. Her friend settled in for some prime entertainment.
“I’ve covered a lot of interesting stories, but not O.J.,” I said, prepared to elaborate. I never got the chance. Her eyes said, “Lame answer,” and moved to the second question on her list.
“What big things have you covered?” she said, her voice already laced with doubt.
It was clear we had different perspectives on big. She knew about O.J. and the Oklahoma bombing. I’d written about white supremacist violence, textbook censorship, hantavirus deaths, homeless families, teachers preying on students, new strides in cancer treatment.
They all were big at the time I wrote them. But they seemed inadequate now around this 12-year-old with visions of mushroom clouds and movie stars in her eyes. My shoulders started to slump.
I pitched textbook censorship at her. Sure, it was dull at first mention, but I’d explain how it pitted neighbor against neighbor, how it involved violence, religion, sex.
But before I could explain anything, she moved on like a talk show host stuck with a boring guest.
“Do you do the same thing everyday?” she said, smiling as if she’d just asked about the weather.
I stared at her for a second, awed at how quickly her few well-aimed questions had deflated my pride in my career. The surgeon general should consider placing warning signs on middle schools, I decided as I joined the other empty-eyed adults in the hall.
“Satisfaction threshold extremely high. Enter at your own risk.”
Flood of money
North Idaho’s lakes and rivers double-crossed a lot of people this month. But you can help them get their lives back together. The American Red Cross has set up a disaster relief fund at all West One Bank branches for flood victims.
Either call (800) HELP-NOW or mail a check to the Disaster Relief Fund, C/O American Red Cross Panhandle Chapter, 212 S. 11th St., Suite 3, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. West One banks will take donations, too.
String fling
The guest artist at the Post Falls Arts Commission’s concert this Saturday tours world wide with his classical guitar. But Robert Bluestone isn’t too big to spend some time with up-and-coming young guitarists.
A hand-picked group of Kootenai County teenagers will join Bluestone at his 7 p.m. concert at Ponderosa Elementary. They’ll strut the stuff they learn during Bluestone’s three-day residency in the Post Falls schools this week.
Can’t beat the price of the tickets: $4 for adults, $3 for kids. Call 777-9278 for details.
Election year
They’re off and running again, for every office everywhere. And anyone you run into on the street will tell you why all of the candidates are wrong about everything.
I love to pick on politicians who don’t see things my way, but I’d never run for office. I couldn’t stand the heat. What about you?
Tell me which office you’ve run for and why you’ll never do it again. School board? City council? Gripe about it to Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene ID 83814; fax to 765-7149; or call 765-7128.
, DataTimes