Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for February 21, 2009 MY LITTLE TOWN

Simon & Garfunkel (1975)

In my little town
I grew up believing
God keeps His eye on us all

Were they prophets, or what?

Nah...just knew the ways of small towns.

Example...

In Cairo Illinois, on a cold and rainy Saturday morning, one could walk into the local grocery for a loaf of bread and be confronted with the latest rumor.

As one innocently tries to escape with a small purchase, one could well be told "I hear your Superintendent is in San Francisco!"

Whatever...

This is why I seldom shop in Cairo...who wants hear more bad news. I get enough of this first hand without being inundated with rumors.

Then again, the worst part of it...rumors in Cairo are usually true, if sometimes exaggerated.

One escapes such encounters of the worst kind by mumbling something like "Really...hadn't heard about that" and rushing for the check-out lane.

So, where is Cairo School District Number One Superintendent of Schools Dr. Leotis D. Swopes? (I have confirmed that he was NOT in his office on Friday when several people came a calling.)

Personally, I would assume that Superintendent Swopes is in Chicago...at his permanent residence. That's where he goes every weekend...

I mean, I saw Superintendent Swopes with my own eyes at the Cairo Board of Education meeting on Thursday night. He did NOT mention anything about being "out of the office" or "out of the District" like Superintendents have done in the past.

Of course, there is that frequent citation of the meaning of "ass-u-me"...