Two boys almost burn down their house; and their parents have reason to be proud of them.

As I understand it;

Two boys were playing with fireworks; after their mother
had told them not to.

They hid the evidence of their disobedience in a trash can;
which caught fire, which ignited the carport, which ignited
their house.

They fought the fire themselves for awhile, and then called 911.

Then they stood there and faced the consequences of the
choices they had made.

Most parents tell their children the story about
George Washington and the cherry tree.

Some parents illustrate the story with their personal example.

I suspect that these boys had parents like that.
And I hope that whatever consequences befall them,
that among them is some recognition of the courage
they demonstrated in facing the consequences of their mistakes.

A lot of children don't have parents that model accountability
to a higher standard of conduct.

Which is why it is so critically important that schools do
something to fill the void.

Which is why it is so disappointing that,
when I reminded the leadership of the APS about how
important it is that they stand up as role models of
accountability to a higher standard of conduct;

... they just sat there.

There is not a legitimate agenda in the entire APS
that doesn't move forward on the day that character counts
in the Albuquerque Public Schools.

It has to begin at the top; the leadership of the APS must
stand up as role models of the student standard of conduct.

If there is a reason that they have not;
except that they lack the character and the courage
required of role models of accountability
to meaningful standards of conduct and competence;

I cannot imagine it.

And no one in the leadership of the APS can articulate it.

Not Winston Brooks, not school board head honcho
Paula Maes; not Linda Sink, not Brad Winter;

... no one.