I have finished my protest for today of the continued employment of child abuser Coach Andy Keith at Horseshoe Bend School. I arrived and dropped my kids off around 6:45. The principal and a sheriff's deputy were outside the school when I arrived. I believe we were close to the first people there. Originally I had planned to let my kids participate in the protest but that didn't work out. My son said he didn't want to and I decided not to let my daughter stay with me because I was afraid if I ran afoul of the law then DHR would be called and that would mean big trouble.
After I dropped off the kids I found a place down the street to park, well off school grounds, then walked back and stood on the right-of-way directly across from where people enter and leave the parking lot with a sign that said
"Coach Keith Beats Kids".
Not ten seconds later a New Site police cruiser rode by and I thought, "Well now, that didn't take long did it?" The cruiser drove to the other side of school grounds, parked his car where all I could see was the top of the windshield and the light bar. I figured he was there mostly to direct traffic and I wasn't bothered by him.
As the cars and buses began to roll in and out a traffic jam formed. I guess there is nothing like a protest of any kind in small town Alabama. I imagine a goodish number of the parents dropping off their kids have only seen protesters on TV. As most Tallapoosa County citizens are still largely unaware of what has happened at Horseshoe Bend involving Coach Keith and this child many wore expressions of shock.
Two kids, who looked to be football players, tried to heckle me. One said, "I wish you would go home and stop trying to get people in trouble." I told him that Coach Keith had gotten himself in trouble for abusing that kid and that if anyone goes home it should be Coach Keith. Permanently.
Another one rode by and said "He never beat me" and I said "Should we wait until he does?" No response on that one.
I understand not everyone will be happy about this situation and I also know that young kids and teens may not have the ability to see this situation clearly and in an overall broader sense. I am not mad at the kids and hold none of what they said against them. They are entitled to feel however they like and I am glad to at least see them using their power of expression even if what they are expressing is not supportive of my position. At least they know how to use it if not what exactly to use it for. That comes with life experience.
After about 20 minutes the traffic jam got pretty bad. There was a long line of cars waiting to turn in, a long line waiting to get out and nobody really getting anywhere. The New Site police cruiser pulled up in the turn lane with its lights on and the officer got out and started to direct traffic. I thought he might be about to tell me to move but he didn't. After that jam was cleared the officer pulled into the parking lot next to the road and waited until the jam got bad again. Then he pulled up directly in front of me, got out and started directing traffic again. He looked over and smiled and said "Good Morning" and I smiled and told him I would be out of the way as soon as the morning rush was over. He said, "That's fine." When he got back into his car again he pulled over in front of me, rolled down his window and asked me, "So...it's true then?" I told him yes and that I had seen the photos. He said he had not seen them but was wondering about all of it. I told him about how bad the bruises were and that I had kids in school there and I am concerned. He seemed to understand that position and just kind of nodded his head and told me to have a nice day. Then he pulled up into the school parking lot and that was that.
I stayed on the side of the road for a few more minutes until even the latest stragglers showed up and then decided that was enough for one day. Everyone attending that school now knows that Coach Keith is in some very hot water and it will be the talk of the town for a while to come.
My son called me as I was preparing to leave and said he didn't feel well to please come and get him. He, for months, has had hives, really bad outbreaks and the doctor can't seem to pinpoint the cause. So, I placed the sign in my back window and drove onto school property.
When I walked in the door there stood the New Site police officer, a sheriff's deputy and the principal. While I was waiting on Alex to get his books the principal mosied over and asked me how things were going. He asked what was wrong with Alex and a few other friendly questions. I asked him if my daughter could pick up Alex's homework assignments and he said he would see to it personally. He was so sweet sugar wouldn't have melted in his mouth. I know it must have been really chapping his ass to have to stand there and kiss mine....but that's life sometimes. I will say that I have never had any problems with Mr. Fuller. Every time I have spoken with him on any issue he has always been friendly and helpful. We have even had discussions about the absurdity of No Child Left Behind. I kind of hate to see him caught up in this mess....but, the fact is, he was a witness to the abuse inflicted by this coach and was therefore complicit because he didn't stop it. He should have learned long ago that you ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING even if it means pissing off your friends or co-workers.
As my son and I were leaving he told me that Coach Keith was still there today and that he had come into the office while he was waiting for me to pick him up. Alex said the halls were full of kids and teachers talking about me standing out front protesting and about what this guy has done. Alex said Coach Keith said "Yeah I knew it was coming...I knew it!"
I am sorry that I do not have any photos to share. I was a lone protester today and I have not yet managed to master the art of self-photography. Some new readers coming to the blog because of this story may try and say that since I was all alone that no one else cares about this. I'd like to offer a number of possibilities for being a singular protester before they even get started.
1. Most people have to work outside the home and cannot get off work for something of this nature.
2. Most people here did not even know about the incident before they saw me standing on the roadside this morning with a sign.
3. Many people think it is perfectly alright to beat their kids black and blue.
4. Huge things often start very small and it only takes one person to get the ball rolling.
I won't be back at the school tomorrow due to a scheduling conflict. I will be back on Thursday morning if Andy Keith is still an employee of the school at that time, and everyday thereafter that I am able to protest until he is fired.
Please join me.
