I have a dream...

By Lon Tuin

*My dad spoke at the courthouse on the National Day of Prayer. This is is speech and I thought it was worth publishing. So, I am publishing it for him. :-)

After over 40 year of teaching, coaching, and counseling in public education, I find that like Martin Luther King, I too have dreams. Dreams for Marion and Grant County here in Indiana as well as for the rest of the country. I would like to share some of those dreams.

I dream of a day when we reach a new level of unity for the sake of our children and our future. A day when the board members, custodians, district superintendents, cafeteria workers, teachers, secretaries, parents, administrators, grandparents, coaches, and labor unions all work together to achieve one common goal - the education of the children.

I dream of a day when children are not treated like dairy cattle - force fed for higher production. But rather they are viewed as the bundle of possibility each child represents. A day where each child is encouraged and motivated to learn and achieve to the highest level possible for his/her own good rather than to pass a test or achieve a certain score.

I dream of a day when no child is left behind because we are all pushing him/her to the front.

I dream of a day when schools are inundated with help from, parents, grandparents, and neighbors, politicians, colleges and universities until children feel the whole community is behind them

I dream of a day when the Federal, State and local governments cooperate to provide the funding needed for excellence in education in all communities.

I dream of a day when homes are sold because they accommodate a family not because they are in a certain district or area.

I dream of a day when the graduation rate is as high as the temperature on a hot August day.

I dream of a day when schools are not judged by the color of the skin of their students but how green the school operates.

I dream of a day when violence is not a part of the school day. When students respect each other and feel safe in their environment. Where the feeling of mutual respect by school personnel is contagious and is caught by every student in the school.

I dream of a day when honorable educators are highly respected by our community because they are training the leaders of tomorrow.

I dream of a day when kindergartners start to dream of college.

I dream of a day when colleges and universities across America are swamped by admission requests from students who are qualified and anxious to further their training and education.

I dream of a day when funding will be available to all students who want to attend those colleges of their choice.

I dream of a day when college recruiters come regularly and often to sign not only the athletes but also the artists, musicians, and the students of science, history, English and foreign languages.

Lofty dreams? Perhaps. But my dreams nevertheless. I hope you will join me in praying that these dreams become a reality and then working in our community to become an answer to our prayer.

Someone Said I Had To - - -

Participate in a game of tag.

Four Jobs I've Held

1) Disneyland Cast Member - not as glamorous as it sounds. I worked in "food services", basically at a fast food restaurant in Fantasy Land... Village Haus. I hated the costume!
2) Babysitting. One time had to call my mom to come help me because the kids were throwing their toys at me. I could not get them to do anything. I told their parents and was never called again... good thing, because there wasn't enough money to make me ever say yes to them again!
3) T.A. for a professor in college. That was a great gig! Good pay and no stress.
4) Teaching elementary school... that was the most rewarding job.... but not as rewarding as my current job... being a mom!

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over


1) The Princess Bride
2) Napoleon Dynamite
3) The Wedding Singer
4) Any sappy John Hughes romantic comedy from the 80's.

Four Places I've Lived


1) The house I grew up in Santa Ana, CA - 15 minute drive from the beach.
2) Irvine, CA... about a 12 minute drive from the beach.
3) Santa Barbara, CA... 5 minutes from the beach.
4) Marion, IN - forever from the beach!

Four TV Shows I Like


1) The Office
2) Biggest Loser
3) Grey's Anatomy
4) CSI

Four Favorite Foods

1) Mexican
2) Chinese
3) Italian
4) Chocolate

Four Places I'd Like to Be

1) The Beach!
2) In my new house (where I am right now)
3) Hawaii - a dream I am not sure will ever be realized.
4) On vacation.

Four People I Tag


1) Marion - my cousin, not the city.
2) Shannon as in Shannon of the Woods.
3) Angie - seriously!
4) Jaena - who doesn't have anything else to do, right?