Further Observations about the Clinton County School System
                       by Duane Bristow
                      September 25, 1991

        I realized that my son was not receiving a decent education in a 
        decent environment and in doing so realized that the Clinton 
        County School System was not providing a decent education in a 
        decent environment.  So I went to a number of officials and 
        representatives of the system and said, "let us adopt as our 
        working premise that every child deserves a decent education in 
        a decent environment."  I was told, almost without exception and 
        in a number of ways, "This is a fine and lofty goal, but you 
        must remember that this is Clinton County and in Clinton County 
        the best we can hope for is the minimum acceptable education in 
        the minimum acceptable environment." 

        I quoted, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, else what's a 
        heaven for?"   They essentially said, "If we set our goal too 
        high we will fail, but if we set our goal as the minimum 
        acceptable, we can succeed and be proud of ourselves." 

        I have finally, I think, realized my error.  "The fault is not 
        in our stars, dear Brutus, but in ourselves."  I had asked for 
        reform of the system and they could not cope with that.  But if 
        I rephrase and ask only for special treatment for my son, they 
        are used to that and can cope very well.  So if I say, "My son 
        deserves special treatment so that he can get a decent education 
        in a decent environment.", they will say, "We'll see what we can 
        do." and they'll go to work on it.