The 28th Ward is Schoemehl's ward. Its endorsement is unofficial confirmation that those candidates are the Slay slate.

Actually the Mayor hasn't interviewed everyone. I thought the process was over, but it's still ongoing. MOre to the point is that Keaveny is probably going to be supported by the Mayor and he's committeeman in the 28th.

Eastern Wisdom Applys to Western, St. Louis-Style Public Education

Many of you know I lived and studied in an Arab, North African country back in the 70s. In fact, I began my Arabic studies in my second year of residency in Montpellier, France. One of my fellow classmates my first year in France was a Hussein of Iraq, a law student who sought me out for discussions (in our mutually poor French). I have to wonder today if he was related to the notorious Hussein family. Counted among my dearest friends are some Arab Christians from the Middle East. All of this is to say that such an experience has given me a great appreciation for Eastern languages, culture, and wisdom. Arab proverbs in particular are great sources of wisdom and common sense.

Today I belong to a book club, and our book assignment for March is Mayada, Daughter of Iraq by Jean Sasson. I am assigned to lead the discussion of the book due to my experiences and residency in a part of the Arab/Muslim world.

While reading this book today, I came across a quote from Sati al-Husri, a renowned Arab philosopher, intellectual, educator, and political heavy weight. Though Arab living during the tail end of the Ottoman Empire, he was a secularist who influenced Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Sati al-Husri is considered the Father of Arab Nationalism. It is his granddaughter who is the subject of Mayada, Daughter of Iraq.

It is while she is languishing in one of Saddam Hussein's prisons and torture chambers that she remembers a quote from her grandfather, Sati al-Husri, "History never sleeps." As I read that line, I highlighted it and thought, someday, what is happening in the Saint Louis Public Schools will be accurately reported and chronicled because "History never sleeps."

Someday in the future, public relations spin or media manipulation will not influence the truth of what is transpiring today in our school district--how it has been pilfered and looted, how its properties have been sold for a pittance of their worth, how corporate greed has been introduced on a grand, epic scale, and how the children and staff have lost out as the focus of most, if not all, decisions.

How many school districts would allow themselves to end up paying for perhaps three superintendents simultaneously due to lack of due diligence in decision making? And if the newly appointed superintendent brings along his team of 12, as rumored, how will they be paid along with the team already in place? At the same time, it is reported that a committee is presently working on cuts of staff. If recent past history proves consistent, those cuts will probably be people who actually do the work and directly impact the benefit of the children.

Well, I take comfort in wisdom coming out of the East, "History never sleeps." Someone will eventually dig up and out the truth of the politics involved, the waste, and the poor fiscal decisions that have been made. It may be too late for today's children or today's community, but I think I can sleep better at night now that I am reminded "History never sleeps." I hope you can too!

Perhaps a good homework assignment would be to study Eastern thought, culture, philosophy, and nuggets of wisdom. Sati al-Husri may be gone for some time now, but his words live on and so aptly apply to our local St. Louis Gateway to the West City. That's one way of saying, "East meets West."

Helen Louise Herndon
Hloherndon@cs.com