It is easy to make decisions for others. How often have we said, “If it were me …. ” and then offered what we consider sage advise? To be honest, I’ve done that.
But, the older I become, the more mistakes I make, the more I realize the old adage is true - “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.”
This past week, we had quite a bit of ice and snow.
When Pea Ridge school officials decided to cancel school Thursday before the first snow fl ake fell, some people criticized.
What they didn’t know is that several school officials arose at 3:30 a.m., went into the office by 4 a.m. and researched, evaluated and jointly decided to cancel for the safety of all concerned - students and staff. It’s a difficult decision and it appears that no matter which way it goes, there will be those who supposedly know better and choose to criticize.
Even as the snowy weekend continued and Pea Ridge school officials elected to cancel Monday classes, there were those whoasked about other schools in the area and stated that they, too, should close.
Each district, each community, each town is different with different sets of problems and blessings. Pea Ridge, although growing, is a small town with a large rural area encompassed in the school district. Many of the roads buses have to travel are dirt and extremely hilly and curvy.
People have much to say about the work of the road crews - city, county and state. From the ones I know, they’re dedicated, hardworking men who have put in many, many hours while we sat safe and warm athome.
Let’s withhold judgment and criticism. We probably don’t know the whole story.
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Editor’s note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County, chosen the best small weekly newspaper in Arkansas for four of the past five years. A native of Louisiana, she moved to northwest Arkansas in 1980 to work for the Benton County Daily Record. She has nine children, four sonsin-law, five grandsons, a granddaughter and another grandson due in May. She can be reached at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 4 on 12/11/2013