From Discriminating Followers to Thoughtful Leaders

An Opportunity to lead

In the spring of 1978, our basketball coach decided to move some 9th graders up to varsity prior to the city tournament. The other high schools, not having access to ninth graders, protested. The school board then ruled that City High School ninth graders were ineligible to play in the tournament. Our student body was angry.

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We determined the purpose for our march was to demand that the

appointed out of touch school board become an elected body.

Taking to the Streets

One of my best friends, David Ensign, was the editor of our school paper. We got together and decided to organize a march on the Chattanooga City Commission in protest. We determined the purpose for our march was to demand that the appointed out of touch school board become an elected body. About thirty of us made signs and marched from the courthouse to City Hall. We got a permit to march and reserved an opportunity to speak at the meeting. It was a rousing success. We got coverage from all three local TV stations and the Chattanooga Times while the City Commissioners showed respect for our presentation.

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We supported busing and presented an elected board as an opportunity

to diversify community voices.

An elected school board had been a priority for public school advocates in the community for several years. The issue did get to a referendum prior to 1978 but failed at the ballot. Adult organizations saw us as an opportunity to bring the issue back. David and I saw frustrations with the board growing over numerous issues. We supported busing and presented an elected board as an opportunity to diversify community voices. Our elected board coalition consisted of leaders from the League of Women Voters, the local chapter of Jesse Jackson’s PUSH Excel, my mother, the NAACP, the Chattanooga Teachers’ Association (NEA), the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, and a highly regarded lawyer who decided to work with us pro bono.

Learning How to Lobby for a Cause

David and I attended numerous City Commission meetings into the summer. We individually lobbied commissioners we thought could be swayed to put another referendum on the ballot that fall. I’m sure we surprised the city leaders with our veracity and determination. David and I had an agreement that we would share media interviews taking turns being the spokesperson to TV stations or the local papers. We were featured in the Chattanooga Times and support grew as we moved toward the vote.

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One antagonist had written a column in the conservative afternoon paper previously

claiming we were pawns for the adults wanting an elected board.

Outspoken adult leaders against our cause tried a gimmick at a City Commission meeting by bringing students from other high schools in their Sunday best to sit in the front two rows of the chamber. It became clear in that meeting that none of the students were aware of the issue concerning the school board as the adults in opposition did all the talking. The other students were ineffective props. One antagonist had written a column in the conservative afternoon paper previously claiming we were pawns for the adults wanting an elected board. Our presentation that day proved otherwise.

David and I later attended a closed-door planning session prior to the City Commission meeting where the vote for the referendum would take place. One of the commissioners who opposed our initiative looked at us and said that although he disagreed with our cause, he was impressed with our comportment and preparation. This moment made me even more interested in politics.

The Timing for Good Politics

That City Commission meeting was quite the scene. I spoke before the Commission, and David did the TV interviews afterward. Our coalition met the week prior, and my first draft of the speech fell flat. I was all over the map and not focused on the main arguments for the referendum. My changes were well received after the rewrite.

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The chamber was full of teachers who applauded after my speech and supported

us as we answered questions from the commissioners.

We were fortunate that the other main issue at the meeting involved teachers pushing collective bargaining rights. The chamber was full of teachers who applauded after my speech and supported us as we answered questions from the commissioners. We also witnessed a great game of political chicken when the longtime leader of the NAACP held up a stack of signed petitions supporting our cause while claiming he had thousands, which we knew he did not. The vote went 3 to 2 in our favor.

The Influence of Success

The night of the November election I left my college campus to watch the results of the vote in Chattanooga. David was attending Kent State and unable to be there. My mother took me to our US Congresswoman’s headquarters to meet her as she awaited her results. The vote went our way. At this point I was convinced I was headed for big things. High school was small potatoes compared to this. Law school and politics here I come… so I thought.

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Once I chose teaching over law school, I felt compelled to support public schools

within the schoolhouse and in the greater community.

The campaign for an elected school board became a catalyst for future advocacy. Once I chose teaching over law school, I felt compelled to support public schools within the schoolhouse and in the greater community. In the schools I served I was an outspoken proponent for my students while collaborating with staff and parents to improve learning opportunities. In the greater community I wrote opinion pieces and worked with universities, businesses, and outside agencies to promote our work.

As I moved toward the end of my career, it became obvious that our adult citizenry was unaware of what it takes to teach or run a school. This ignorance was not only common among the general population but school policy makers as well. The dynamics within a public school not only develop leadership but a vibrant vision for community. David and I surprised the Chattanooga City Commission with our knowledge and confidence. Much of who we were at the time was the result of our experience in public schools. The students I served were better because of their experience in the public schools, both academically and socially. It is where discriminating followers become thoughtful leaders who have the audacity to make our communities stronger.

©Paul A Bonner