Why we have to.

Why?

It's the most vague question any of us will ever ask, yet it is the most important.

Why did we go to college? Why did we stay home? Why did we choose to go right into the work force? Why did we choose put off responsibility for a while longer? Why did we join the military? Why did some of us get FBI files started on us thanks to exuberant anti-war protests?

Why?

I guess I'll answer some of those questions after a long rant....

Just last weekend my alma mater, Cambridge High School, took on Dover High School in a football game. This may seem unimportant at the moment, but I beg you to grant me some of your time so I can explain.

You see, Cambridge isn't the most privileged district in the area. In fact, most of the school districts in southeastern Ohio are having trouble making ends meat. This is an issue I've addressed before. Dover, however, is an area that does not face any of these problems. In fact, on the back of their football program there is a financial statement that lists the amount of money brought in by their football boosters.

That amount of money easily outweighs the average income of a Guernsey County family, (around $30,000 a year.)

This game was bigger than just sport. It was a class war. Dover, the annual ECOL powerhouse that ran over teams with a powerful spread offense, against an up and coming Cambridge team with a grind it out running attack. Dover, who took the field after running out of an inflatable helmet with a smoke machine, against Cambridge, whose boosters took pride in buying a carport and decorating it in blue and white.

Yet somehow, the fighting Bobcats found a way to out do the Tornadoes. They found something that couldn't be measured with numbers. They found something that almost brought me, an aging football alumni, to tears. They did this...



During the coin-toss, in a strong showing of unity, every senior took the field behind their four captains. As if to say, we're here together.

The 'Cats went on to defeat Dover that night, in a 41-35 thriller.

However, the lessons learned went beyond football.

After that game grown men were on the field in tears. It means something to beat a superior program when your school system is fighting budget cuts, personnel slashes, and much-needed levy renewals. It means a lot.

It's often said that football teams are what passes school levies.

Let's hope so.

Because Cambridge needs it badly. Even if this November's renewal levy passes, the district will STILL have to cut nearly $500,000. If it doesn't pass, that number will rise to approximately $1.4 million. This comes after an earlier round of cuts that totalled around $5 million. You're looking at bare-bones education if we're forced to do that.

If it's not clear yet, we're in trouble. And many of you who read this are CHS alumni. Even more are still registered to vote in Guernsey county. That's why I urge you to do exactly that. If you're at school, get your absentee ballot. NOW. Vote for the renewal levy so the district can work toward getting back in the black. Vote yes so any of us who still have family in the district, like myself, can rest assured that their loved ones are being taken care of. Vote yes because you understand that this levy means more than you or I, and it means more than the few extra dollars a year each of us would have to pay.

You see, one of the first things industry looks at when it's deciding whether or not to come to a town is its education system. If ours is in shambles how do we expect more jobs to be created? How can we expect aid to come our way if we aren't willing to aid ourselves?

Now, let's go back to the original question---why?

Why should you do this?

To me, the answer is simple. Because you have to. Most of you who read this have passed through the Cambridge City School district. While most of you probably have taken issue with the way it was run or is being ran, you cannot deny that during your time there you gained SOMETHING positive. You gained friends. You gained perspective. You gained a new viewpoint on life. You gained the knowledge to find what you wanted out of life. Something.

For that reason alone....you HAVE to. You have to. You have to put forth the effort to support the children of today's district's right to have the same opportunity to find something positive. I don't know how else to say it. I really don't. For years I've been known as a man who could find words to move people. However, when it comes to this cause, I'm afraid it's extremely simple.

Either you get it or you don't.

And if you don't, I'm embarrassed of you. I'm embarrassed of your apathy. I'm embarrassed of your negligence. I'm embarrassed of your failure to do your part. If you're too pathetic to take the time to fill out a ballot, then you are not worth the cyberspace this blog is written on. It may be three in the morning, and that may be a little harsh, but it's the truth.

This fight going to take a long time. But the first step is getting this levy passed. I'm just asking for a little help.