It’s hard to think about much else as COVID-19 and the coronavirus continue to dominate everything happening almost everywhere.
Some things are starting to become a little clearer, though. For one thing, when all is said and done, in almost everyone’s view no one will have made a correct decision.
Everything and everyone is already being second guessed. And much of what has been done by government deserves close scrutiny. While it’s true hindsight is always 20/20, it is important to learn from past mistakes to mold lessons for the future.
The idea of hindsight notwithstanding because, again, it’s for future debate, have you thought about whose shoes you would hate to be in right now?
There are no wrong answers, but I think they would have to be the ones belonging to Erik Cioffi, the principal at Fannin County High School (FCHS).
All school officials and teachers have had a tough road lately, but right now all eyes are on Cioffi for graduation plans.
No doubt any final decision will come from higher up the chain of command, and that decision could very likely be dictated by the state.
But Cioffi has currently been designated the point person for planning graduation. And parents and students want answers and they want them now.
I wish they could have the answers, and I have no doubt Cioffi would agree.
The graduation ceremony marks a huge milestone in every graduates’ life. For some it will even be the end of organized education before settling into adult life. For others it’s a stepping stone they will always remember.
Either way, it’s a time for the entire family to come together and honor the accomplishments of one of their own.
Watching students march across the FCHS football field is a time-honored tradition.
This is what families and students alike want to see for the Class of 2020.
But for now, we wait. And Cioffi plans as best he can.
And like Cioffi, all the teachers and other school officials deserve credit for rising to the occasion during the coronavirus.
Closing school for the final weeks created a tailspin. But the education system has risen to the occasion, through everything from distance learning to delivering much needed meals to students.
The schools are a huge part of the community and the educators reflect that. To each and every one, thank you.
I hope that is something everyone agrees on. We should.
Glenn Harbison is publisher/editor of The News Observer. He can be reached at 706-632-2019 or by email at glenn@thenewsobserver.com.