Standoff Not A Good Lesson For Tiffany

There’s a big meanie in the Tiffany Cook saga, but it sure isn’t Spokane School District 81.

By digging in their heels and being stubborn and unreasonable, Tiffany’s parents have done their daughter a horrible disservice. She has been taught some positively awful lessons that could haunt her for the rest of her years.

The Cooks should be ashamed of themselves for using their own child as the rope in an ugly public tug of war.

Every news outlet in the city has been riveted on the plight of poor little Tiffany, who seems to have replaced Princess Di as The Big Story. Thank God for that.

The sandy-haired, spunky 10-year-old spent the week engaged in a tense, emotional standoff with district educators over where Tiffany would attend the sixth grade. She wanted to stay with her pals at Woodridge Elementary. The district said there was no room and insisted Tiffany take the bus four miles away to Browne Elementary School.

From what I’ve seen on TV, she seems like a bright, adorable kid. Tiffany obviously has a sense of humor. Wondering what she’d do if the police blocked the Woodridge entrance, she quipped, “I don’t know. I may have to make a run for it.”

It fortunately never got to that point. On Friday, the district stopped playing games and did what it should have done in the first place.

Tiffany was told she couldn’t stay at Woodridge. School administrators vowed to get a court order if she refused. Tiffany’s mom, Tammy, took advantage of the moment to give a speech outside the school. Tiffany burst into tears and left the school grounds bawling like the kid she is.

What a wretched spectacle. Growing up is hard enough without being put through something like this.

What must Tammy Cook be thinking?

Instead of setting an example of self-centeredness, wouldn’t it have been a far better lesson to teach her daughter that life isn’t always fair?

Here’s what I would tell Tiffany if she were my kid:

“Tiffany, you can’t always get your own way. Sometimes you have to put others first and make the best of a painful situation. But don’t worry. It may sound corny, Tiffany, but overcoming adversity really does build character.

“With your winning personality you’ll make all kinds of new friends at Browne. It’s only natural to be sad now, but trust me - friendships come and go quickly when you’re 10. In a few months you’ll probably forget there ever was a Woodridge.”

Instead, Tiffany has learned to defy authority. If the rules don’t suit you, mount a petition drive. Call in the TV news crews.

But here’s the truth: The school district’s enrollment policies are fair.

Tiffany registered at Woodridge on Aug. 20. Her class already had more kids signed up than the 29 allowed under teacher contracts.

When that happens, the last kids in are the first ones out. That assures the remaining 29 the best education. Few parents would put up with having their child in an overcrowded classroom where students can’t possibly receive the attention they deserve.

The school district must put all kids first - not just Tiffany’s self-interests. The Cooks should have appreciated this before they decided to go to war and stick their daughter on the front line.

As Tiffany sobbed Friday, Tammy told a reporter, “I’m not going to put her through any more.”

Good idea, Mom. Too bad you didn’t think of that a week ago.

, DataTimes