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March 13, 2009
Ms. Karen's Last Day....
Today I spent my lunch time in the local elementary school, surrounded by talkative nine year-olds. As they shared excitedly about their plans for spring break and the afternoon magic show the lunch room monitor moved closer to our table, her eyes twinkling as she made small talk with her kids. She exchanged a few words with me, and then the young boy across the table told me in his matter-of-fact style "Today is Ms. Karen's last day. They're cutting her job."
I knew it was true, I've been reading the newspaper reports on the school district budget meetings. I had been wondering which faces would disappear as they eliminated custodial staff and lunch room monitors. Now I knew. I looked into Ms. Karen's eyes, which were beginning to fill with tears. I made a lame comment about how sad it was. She smiled anyway and said she was going to really miss the kids, before moving away. I guessed she was moving away more to help keep the emotions in check than to continue her duties.
A brown eyed Hispanic girl looked at me and asked in a whisper "Why are they cutting their jobs?"
How do you explain a recession to third graders?
"Because there is no money to pay them." I heard myself answer back, unable to explain sales tax revenue and budget shortfalls in two sentences or less. "Where did the money go?" She asked back. No words would come to my head as I returned her helpless gaze. The boy across the table laid his head on his arms and said "To Washington."
I signed out, stepped into the icy afternoon rain, and suddenly nothing in the world felt right.
Posted by Anna at March 13, 2009 10:10 PM