Once a Crimson, always a Crimson...

Once upon a time, I was a Turner Devil. 

I wore green and white. 

I was so proud to represent Jonathan Turner Junior High. 

Then, a mom of one of the 8th graders decided that the Devil mascot was promoting negative religious connotations associated with the word. She went to the School Board and requested a mascot change.

I remember all of the students being surprised, as well as upset, at the possibility of removing our Devil. It had never crossed any of our minds that there needed to be or should be a change to our history. 

Even though I was only in 7th grade, I felt so strongly about keeping Turner as the Devils that I wrote a Letter-to-the-Editor. Seeing my thoughts in the Jacksonville Journal Courier was incredible. It took me several drafts and redrafts to get my ideas on the page, but I felt I represented what several of us felt in the final effort. 

How we were nothing but proud of being Turner Devils was clear. We needed a voice. I've never been afraid of speaking up when I've felt strongly and passionately about an issue. 

Unfortunately, the Board bent under pressure and we were forced to change the mascot. While we became Titans, we were still Turner Devils, through and through. I still think of myself, even today, as a Turner Devil. 

A few weeks ago, I read that the current School Board is looking to change or 'add-to' the current Jacksonville High School Crimson mascot.  A committee has been formed for that purpose. They will bring ideas to the Board. There's a possibility we won't be Crimsons anymore. 

Deja-vu. 

Like many families, several generations of Stewart's can say they were Crimsons. 

While I don't plan to write a Letter-to-the-Editor, I do feel as strongly now as I did all those years ago about messing with tradition. 

I applaud our school district for the plans to finally give our students the facilities they deserve.  Our community clearly supported the effort by passing a referendum to support this initiative. 

However, changing or 'adding-to' our JHS Crimson mascot should not be part of the equation. 

There's no need. 

Focus on the facilities and providing the education to our students. 

Buildings need to be updated. They need to change with the times to give the best we can, educationally. 

Leave it there. 

Mascots are not a part of that equation. 

Mascots are a tradition that we feel in our hearts.

Mascots are a pride we carry long after graduation. 

Mascots bind us as a class, as a school, and as a community. 

Leave the Crimsons alone. 

Sometimes, the urge to change goes too far. 

This is such a time. 

It is what it is. 

p

Playing the Race Card...

When will we stop playing the race card and focus on personal responsibility?

In the past few days, news broke that a Springfield school board member believes race was a factor in a basketball game between Jacksonville and Lanphier high schools a week ago.

I happened to be at the Bowl with several family members. 

Watched the entire game. 

At the buzzer, JHS won 58-56.

I saw the technical fouls called against Lanphier players. But, personally, I didn't feel those calls impacted the outcome of the game. But I've never been the kind of person who believes questionable calls hold that power. I feel it all works out in the end. 

It's called a game for a reason. 

The variables that come with any IHSA competition includes the officials. Not a surprise. I'm sure I've heard JHS parents complain about questionable calls when we've been visiting other schools for a contest. I expect to hear grumbling about calls and about officials from both sides. Part of the experience. 

What I did NOT expect, however, was the playing of the race card. 

I have to say I was incredibly surprised to read, according to the Springfield Journal-Register, that board member Judy Johnson pointed out most of the Jacksonville High School players are white, as were the three Illinois High School Association referees, and Lanphier High School's roster is made up of mostly black players. 

Numerous reports say Lanphier has filed a formal complaint with the IHSA over the matter.

I'm so disappointed. 

While the Springfield school district appears to be playing the race card, I feel they are missing out on, ironically, a huge teachable moment for their entire community. 

When will we stop playing the race card and focus on personal responsibility?

As a former IESA and IHSA coach, I feel both the coach and school district need to hold their athletes accountable for their personal actions. 

Take the officials out of the equation. 

We are talking about learning how to handle adverse situations. 

Do we do it gracefully and humbly? Do we learn to recognize that life isn't fair? Do we model good sportsmanship to our teammates and to all those around us? Do we represent our school and our community to the best of our abilities, no matter what the situation? Do we lose as graciously as we win? 

Unfortunately, when athletes aren't held accountable, the very thread of what sports stand for starts to unravel. 

I don't fault the athletes.

They are kids. 

I fault the adults who allow behaviors to go unchecked. 

If there was a foul given that truly shouldn't have been, then the lesson is how to accept the perceived injustice in the best light possible. 

When will we stop playing the race card and focus on personal responsibility? 

Without a doubt, racial prejudice exists in this world. In my opinion, it's one of the most shameful parts of our society.

However, playing the race card simply because white and black athletes come together on a basketball court, amidst questionable calls, is not the way to handle what is merely the natural progression of a well-played game. 

By bringing the issue of race into this, I feel the Springfield school district is doing a tremendous disservice to the students who look to them as advocates of their future. 

This was a game. A hard-fought game. A nail-bitter of a game. An extremely well-played game with talented athletes. 

It was NOT about race.  

It is what it is. 

p

Where in the world is Macedonia?

He's going to be gone 27 months. 

This is a first for our family.

We've gone through the college separation for all four of our kids. 

Got used to that. 

We've seen one son spend an entire summer in New York for an internship.

Made it through that. 

This is much different. 

Where in the world is Macedonia? 

It's nearly a world away in Eastern Europe. I had to ask. Not sure I've really heard of Macedonia except in passing. 

Now, I'm going to learn everything I can about it. 

Our oldest son will be joining the Peace Corps this September and will enter into a commitment which will keep him from home until December of 2018. 

Although, in the back of my mind, I always knew this day would come...one of our four kids moving somewhere difficult to visit...I wouldn't want anything else.  

It's the natural progression of his life. 

Our first-born child, Braxton has always been an old soul. He's never been the typical kid. Even now, at 25, he often surprises us with the depth of his thoughts and his vision for his life. His need to do for others. Way beyond his years. 

He's endured a lot of kidding from all of us when he goes into his monologues about world issues. He has such strong and developed views. Thoughtfully created and executed. But that's what makes him who he is. 

We're going to miss every part of him. 

He's been the leader of our 'Four B's' and watches over his brothers and sister like it's his job...because I think he feels it is. He has such a strong bond with his siblings that he has worked, tirelessly, to be the best possible role model for them that he can be. He's succeeded. 

Not that it's always sunshine and rainbows, of course. Braxton has been known to give some now infamous 'lectures' to Blaize, Brody, and Bentley when he feels they need it. Ed and I laugh that it feels like he's a third parent. He often does a better job at it than us. 

We're going to miss his guidance and wisdom. 

We're going to miss his fierce loyalty to our family. 

Watching Braxton move to St. Louis a couple years ago when he became a Teach For America educator, I felt such pride that he wanted to make a difference for the 4th graders in the Walnut Park neighborhood. 

His school was only a few blocks from the Ferguson police shooting of Michael Brown. The world wide attention drawn to the area only heightened the strain added to his job. I'd watch my phone for texts or calls from Braxton. Hoping he was safe and his students were safe. It's one thing to see the turmoil on the news and quite another to know your child is living amid it all...trying to teach kids from the neighborhood in a locked-down school.

I had no idea how this experience would change him.

He has a greater compassion and understanding for what students need and deserve. He can handle all types of situations. Normal and surreal. He has worked in an area few would even drive thru. He has connected to families in a way I couldn't have imagined. He has immersed himself in the school community riddled with many strikes against it. 

And his students...well, I can share that Braxton told us the hardest thing he has ever had to do was tell his class that he was joining the Peace Corps and wouldn't be back at school in the fall. 

He said they cried together for an hour.

THAT is what change looks like.

I told him the fact these kids cried because he wouldn't be in their lives anymore shows me how they've come to rely on him, trust him, respect him, and love him. This group of kids isn't easy to reach. He was able to break thru their glaring differences of upbringing and circumstance and become a true educator to them. He's become their advocate.

Brax has no idea how his couple of years teaching those kids will impact them for the rest of their lives. 

Brax has no idea how his couple of years teaching those kids has impacted his life. 

He's become a different person.

Now, as he looks forward to moving to the country of Macedonia, he'll once again be teaching. 

New students, new parents, and a completely new culture. 

The learning will begin again. 

For everyone. 

As a parent, I remember holding him in my arms and praying to God that I wouldn't screw him up with my inexperience. For some reason he was given to us and I knew it was a true gift. I suppose it's normal to feel inadequate when raising our children. There's no manual to read on child-rearing. You go with your gut. Trial and error. Braxton was meant to be our first. He allowed us the freedom to make mistakes and he persevered in spite of us. 

I love this boy who first made me a mom. He gave me my inaugural glimpse of the unexplainable connection between a mother and a child. 

 

I look at him now and can't believe it. I still see the little boy. Yet, before me, stands a man who has already worked to change his small part of the world. 

I'm in awe. 

Leaving the United States, he'll touch a new part of the world. I know he is grateful for the opportunity and ready for the experience. 

For our family, though, we'll miss several holidays, vacations, and birthdays with him. While he'll see Blaize graduate with his Master's in May, he'll miss both Brody's and Bentley's college graduations while he's gone. Those will be the hard moments...not to have him here for his siblings monumental achievements. 

But we know our Braxton. 

His heart will be with us. Distance won't change that. 

He has a journey to take...students to teach. Change to implement. 

My heart will break saying goodbye to him and watching him walk away. Tears will flow. 

But I will continue to learn, through him, how one person can make a difference. 

I have no doubt I've become a student of Braxton's, too.

And that makes it all worth it. 

I love you, Braxy Poo. We all love you. 

It is what it is. 

Mom