Maybe
I was absent the day
that my school
explained the
definition of the
word…. ‘public’. As
it is used in the
phrase ‘public
servant’. You know
those folks that
work for some
governmental
function which as I
recall was funded by
those of us out here
known as
‘taxpayers’.
So, under that
scenario the folks
who work in the
government
technically works
for us, the
taxpayers, isn’t
that about the way
you see it? I do.
Well, here’s one
that’ll curl your
toes, up outside the
great city of
Washington, D.C.
there lives a
employee of the
school district by
the name of Dean
Tisadt. Mr. Tisadt
is listed as the
chief operating
officer for the
Fairfax County
school system, which
is just outside of
Washington, D.C.
It seems that the
other day a
snowstorm blew into
town and left about
three inches on the
ground. In our part
of the world that
would shut down the
city, but I suppose
up north it might be
somewhat normal or
then again, perhaps
not. Anyway, a
student at Lake
Braddock Secondary
School looked up the
home phone number
for Mr. Tistadt (it
was a listed number)
and called his house
to inquire if the
school was going to
be open or if there
was a snow day.
Sounds pretty
reasonable to me,
how about you?
He left his name and
number on Mr.
Tistadt’s answering
machine. I suppose
he went on to
school, but was
surprised to have a
message from Mr.
Tistadt’s wife
waiting for him when
he returned.
“How dare you call
us at home! If you
have a problem with
going to school, you
do not call
somebody’s house and
complain about it”.
At some point she
utters the phrase…
‘snotty-nosed little
brats’ and then
comes back on the
line to finish out
the conversation by
saying … “Get over
it kid and go to
school.”
Isn’t that lovely?
The student, one
Dave Kori then
posted Mrs.
Tistadt’s response
on Facebook and
Youtube, along with
the Tistadt’s home
phone numbers.
Sounds fair to me.
I suppose Mrs.
Tistadt’s peace and
quiet was shattered
over her little
temper tantrum.
Perhaps she’ll think
twice about how she
should respond to
someone asking a
legitimate question
and needing a civil
and mature answer.
This brings me back
to my point, the
last time I looked
this country has a
national debt of
some ten trillion
dollars. If any
corporation had a
debt of this size,
they would be long
gone many years ago.
In case you didn’t
realize it, the
government and yes,
the school districts
are a part of the
government ….are not
a profit center.
They do not, I
repeat do not,
generate a profit.
They are funded
solely by the
efforts of hard
working people like
you and me. But
think about it, how
often do our
‘employees’ get away
with kind of abuse?
Pretty regularly, if
you ask me. How many
of us dread going to
the post office or
calling the IRS for
something? Not all
of the time, but
most of the time we
are treated as if we
are dirt and that
our questions and or
inquires seem to be
bothering these
governmental
personnel. Not all
of them to be sure.
I have a high regard
and respect for
those citizens of
ours who work for
the government and I
never fail to tell
the ones that are
civil and polite and
helpful how much I
appreciate their
attitude and their
assistance.
But you and I both
know that there is
not a ‘the customer
is always right’
mentality out there
waiting for us with
most of our
governmental
agencies. Most of us
can tell horror
stories about the
ineptness and the
condescending
attitudes we have
all been subjected
to at one time or
another.
This wife of this
school district
official is a good
example. Do you
think it ever
occurred to her that
the parents of this
boy actually pay for
Mrs. Tistadt’s
livelihood?
I don’t think it
did. I think Mrs.
Tistadts has the
attitude that she is
the employer and not
the other way
around.
Perhaps that will
change the next time
a vote comes up for
a salary increase
for this district.
