Some of us will miss Leece

Bits and pieces.

Those who celebrated Wendy Leece’s ouster from the school board

should be careful what they wish for.

The reality of Leece’s tenure is that she had absolutely no hope

of advancing any of her conservative agenda, as she was only one vote

in seven.

But instead of tolerating the divergent viewpoint that she brought

to the board -- as we teach our children to do -- she was made out to

be a religious nut who wanted all kids to spend all day praying in

school instead of learning how to read.

Wendy Leece wanted convicted drunk driver Jim Ferryman off the

board. I have yet to meet a parent who disagreed with her, even those

who disagree with her on most other issues. But instead of supporting

this no-brainer, her misguided colleagues circled their wagons and

left Leece on the outside to be perceived as not the team player she

should be.

Leece questioned the addition to a high school reading list a

particular book that glorified casual sex and graphically described a

rape scene. She did not want to burn every copy in America; she only

wanted to keep the board from sanctioning this trash. For that act of

parenting, she was labeled a censor.

Leece would like to have had the Ten Commandments posted in

schools. Again, no chance of that ever happening. But it was not so

much her strong faith that propelled her to believe this was a good

idea as much as it was to let kids know that despite what they see on

TV or at home, society does have rules of conduct. There is nothing

religious about suggesting to people that they do not commit adultery

or murder.

The board’s valuable alter ego is gone. What is left is a

committee of rubber stampers who will not ask the hard questions of

the unions and administrators. Parents have lost a resource that

would have let them know when the envelope was being pushed too far.

Leece should be missed if only because she made us think.

Leece has indicated that she may write a book about her

experiences. Her time would better spent writing one that would be of

value to the nation, not just the locals. It’s called “How to Raise a

Conservative Child in a Liberal Society” or “Instilling Old-fashioned

Values in a Much Too Modern Society.”

* * *

“Letter writing Tuesday” at the Smith home got off to a rocky

start. The kids wanted to know why they had to spend their precious

after-dinner reading time writing to Jessica Smith, a cousin they

barely know.

I explained to them that the payoff would come in a week or so

when the letter carrier brought a reply. I’m not sure how much good

it did to explain that there was a time when mom and dad had to wait

a week for photos to be developed or weeks for a catalog order to

arrive.

I’ve been wondering whether the letter writing exercise is really

as valuable as I think it is. It’s true that there is something to be

said for receiving a letter on nice paper, but beyond that, is an

e-mail exchange really so evil? No, it is not.

After all, this is 2002, and we have moved to the point where we

don’t have to wait for a lot of things that used to take time. That

is only bad when we expect everything to arrive yesterday and we grow

impatient for no reason other than that we are spoiled.

The key to writing a letter or e-mailing is not how long we wait

but that we communicate at all. In an era when too many people don’t

have the time to tie their shoes (resulting in the invention of

Velcro straps), we should welcome any sort of note, regardless of how

it arrives.

* * *

I’m not a big soccer fan, but I must admit that I am now looking

forward to the games. It’s not because the sport has grown on me -- I

still don’t get it -- but rather our mandatory attendance forces us

to stay put in one place for a couple of hours with the kids. In

2002, that is a miracle.

As a freelance writer, it is career suicide to turn down

assignments -- at least at my level. The last couple of months have

been brutal, and while I am happy for the work, other areas of my

life have suffered.

So the soccer games have become a sanctuary, and I am loving every

minute of them.

* * *

Parents, run to the Orange County Department of Education and get

a copy of “Helping Youth Succeed.” Then turn to pages 4 and 5 to read

“The Power of Developmental Assets,” one of the most valuable guides

to raising kids I have ever seen. I got my copy at TeWinkle Middle

School.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer.

Readers may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at

(949) 642-6086.