Biggest D*mn Mess.....And You SETX People, We Got to Do Better.....

" No good Deed goes unpunished. "

I am reminded of the Dutch Anabaptist Dirk Willems who in 1569,  had escaped from jail, and turned around to save the guard who was chasing after him and had fallen through the ice. Helping the guard allowed others to capture Willems, who was later executed for being an Anabaptist. ( You Baptists need to do a little history on your ancestors...Read some of the works of the church history professors at SWBTS.)  

I hate going to Houston. 

Let me repeat. I hate going to Houston. 

We got stuck traveling to Houston on I-10 for 3 hours behind wrecks. 

3 hours.  

Stopped, could not move, in-between the concrete barriers.  

Might not have been so bad, but about an hour in, I needed to pee like a racehorse. 

We finally, got moving, and stopped at the Stuckey's at Hwy 365. We'd not even left Jefferson County. After we " Checked Out the Facilities" we received a phone call from Deb's brother in Houston and he tells us, not to come, it is flooding over here. It was already late and there were more wrecks we had to navigate before we even got to Houston.....

We came on back down 365 to Nome, and drove down Hwy 90 to Major Drive and decided,  let's eat at Pappadeaux's.   

I was surprised at the number of people eating raw oysters. 

It's not a month that has " R" in it. 

Then again, I taught with a man who when he was at university did some research on the mollusks and I never eat raw oysters or any raw shellfish anymore.  And I used to eat them like I had sense....

Then, I was somewhat shocked at how trashy people dress now. I was not dressed up, as we had planned to change when we got to Houston, but good night above, SE Texas, we can do better. Especially you men. You ain't at home pulling a transmission in the backyard. 

I know.....I know......I am from here. I should be used to it by now, but, I still am not..... 

 

 

 

 

 

I Already Was Told I Was Going to Hell.....May as Well, Make Them Think So....

 High Church blog, playing Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi this morning....Fred is looking at me, like...." Don't you got anymore of that Jimi Hendrix?" 

“Growth is the only evidence of life.” 

 

- John Henry Newman

 

John Henry also said

 

“To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant.” 

 

And I am deeper, much deeper in history than the average person, but I ain't leaving the Protestant church.

 

So, you are reading this this morning and saying, " Well, it was going to happen, the Buna ISD is going to push Mr. T over the top, and here we are..... "

 

No, I have to go to the fashionable Galleria section of Houston this evening for an evening as a member of my extended family is converting to a form of Catholicism, well, I have written on in graduate school. 

Follow Kerry Thomas's ( Yes I like to possessive my last name with the spelling Thomas's with a double s.  And don't care, as 3 generations ago, my great-grandfather changed his last name, a story I need to write on some day.)    

 

My wife's nephew is converting to Catholicism tonight at the Cathedral set up for former Episcopalians/Anglicans, to convert to the Catholic Church. The Pope even set up a special  Anglicanorum coetibus to establish  Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham.( It is named after a town in Norfolk, England, and no, the Thomas's have not been to Norfolk.....Perhaps the next trip. I really want to go to Whitby on the east coast, site of part of Bram Stoker's, "Dracula"/   We've beaten Western England to death.).... They have an Ordinaraite Form of worship recognized by the Catholics that is more Anglican in nature. The cathedral is in charge of all churches who do an Anglo-Catholic for of worship in the U.S. and Canada.....Yeah, I know, I lost you. And I am trying to keep it simple and not add footnotes. ( Citations for you uneducated)

 

Since the Oxford Movement in England in the 1800s, there has been a flirtation by some Anglicans/Episcopalians with a form of worship called Anglo-Catholicism. Some of these Anglo-Catholics, stay associated with the Anglicans/ Episcopalians, some go on and convert to the Catholic Church. John Henry Newman an Oxford University Fellow who wrote on this, I won't go into details, was an Anglican priest who converted and became a Roman Catholic priest. Thus my mentioning him in my opening quotes. 

 

And this Cathedral is for those who worship in an Anglo-Catholic style and remain within the good graces of the Pope. 

 

Here is Kerry Don Thomas's view......The priests are allowed to be married in this form of Catholicism. I think the priests are finding a loophole to be Catholic priest and still have sex....That's a hill I will die on....

 

I wrote about this movement in graduate school. And I am just curious.........And don't jump on me because I am going to a Catholic Church. About a half of my aunts and uncles on the Thomas side married Catholic and converted, and I don't see a big deal. Never mind I have ran with Catholics all my life. 

 

So, because of the conversion, it gives us an excuse to attend. And no, the nephew isn't originally Episcopalian, he grew up Baptist. 

 

It should be interesting..... I know, I ain't right.....And I am certainly not converting to the Church of Rome. 

 

And I will get ugly messages just because I darken the door of a Catholic Church... 

 

The real question is this. 

 

What do I wearing?

 

A Brooks Brothers navy blue pinstripe suit? Look like I am about to address the House of Lords?

 

A khaki suit, Ralph Lauren, with light blue Prince of Wales checks? 

 

Or what I leading towards, my favorite check sports coat, a Ralph Lauren Purple, silk/wool combo,  looks academic, bow tie, straw fedora, look I am someone. They will until they see we will be pulling up in a Subaru.  

 

I've already pulled out a couple of combos and had them on Reid's bed to see which shirts, ties to wear with each....We shall see.......This is what happens when you are a fop/dandy and own over 150 ties.....

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Buna Graduation.....And Other Stuff.......

 Man, the computer has decided to play Jimi Hendrix this morning....Fred looked over and closed his eyes like, " Man, that's pretty cool...." 

Graduation is tomorrow night.  I am going to assume it is going to be tomorrow evening in the activity center or whatever it is called now instead of the football stadium. Not going to lie, with a 70% rain chance on Friday.......

I hope for all concerned it isn't that long. I know when Tandy and I were doing it, we kept it under an hour. I know my nephew said that Fort Stockton High had their graduation last week and the graduation ceremony was right at 2 and 1/2 hours and the school really isn't that much larger than Buna.  

Last May, we went to a fancy Northeastern school graduation with a 5% acceptance rate, they got done in about an hour. They even had a Chinese guy playing the pipes.( That's bagpipes for you non-Scotsmen.) And the Vidorian came out in me and I told my wife, " I wonder if Andrew Carnegie is rolling over in his grave?" I really got into trouble when I said out loud in front of the auditorium which is a memorial to Civil War vets with Union soldier statutes in the front.....I said, " I wonder if that Yankee sumofabitch shot at one of my great-great grandfathers. " 

I got dirty looks and  was told to be quiet......

If you have a kid graduating, tell them enjoy right now. seniors often do not understand how much their world is about to change.  

-Stay dry, it is raining it looks like SE Texas for the next week. I know we forget, but this is a wet part of the world from time to time.  

-- Time to time, I wonder what historians will say about this time period 250 years from now....Then again, won't be any of us around to know. And ai will probably write it. 

Then again in 250 years, will anyone even care?

- I know today is the last official day. 

Enjoy summer folks. I have a bad feeling when school starts back in August, we will be looking at a different world, at least economically.  The reserves are keeping oil, right now, from jumping up to $150. to 200......I know I have spoken to someone already talking about cutting back on a vacation/ Maybe go to Padre Island and call it even. 

 

 

The More I Hear About Buna.....The More I am Disgusted....

 
"Man thrives were angels would die of ecstasy, and pigs would die of disgust" 

--Kenneth Rexroth 

I seriously do not know what to do anymore. 

I am often just overwhelmed with information. So much, I often can't reply, or if I do, it is late and often short answers. 

At some point it has to get better. Or, it will just come all apart. 

More and more I am hearing of board members just having enough, and are not running for re-election, and rumors of members having enough that they are allegedly  just not wanting to attend the meetings of the board. They are that disgusted with all that is the Buna ISD in 2026.  

I know the school year ends this week and I wonder how many people will return in the 26-27 school year with their kids? Or how many will look at homeschool or Evadale or Dewyville, Vidor, LCM as worth a look for moving their children?  

Many of you will enjoy the Summer Break and forget about the school district, and in August hop and decide then when and where you are moving or not moving your kids. 

If you are moving, now is the time to be doing your changes. Don't wait too long. 

Now is also the time if you've not already started for teachers in the classroom to find other jobs. The time is short. Wait too long and you'll be back for another year. Perhaps you somehow think it'll be better next year?  I thought that too, it never really changed. I am wondering how much the economy is going to effect teaching jobs in the coming years?

Likewise if you are thinking about running for the school board, time for you to make a decision is soon. It is going to be a mess when you get there and if you plan to run, plan to fight for you think needs to be changed. It is gong to be one of the hardest jobs you have ever encountered, and you must do research on your own, not just let someone "tell you" what is going on.... 

 

" Mr. T, I Hope the State of Texas Takes Over the Buna School"

 I  am getting more and more of these type of messages including a couple and I am paraphrasing here.... What would it take for the Texas Ranger to come in and investigate the Buna Independent School District? And as one message I received put it..." I know it is not what we really want, but in the end, will it save us?" 

I look at both the Houston ISD and the Beaumont ISD and cringe at what is going on there, and go...." Man, do we need that, or somehow an outside auditing source to come in and look at the money/finances instead?"  

I know in Watergate the inside source known as Deep Throat supposedly told Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward to  " Follow the Money."

Of course, when it boils down to it, nearly everything revolves around money. Sad....But true....

_ I know many of you patron and especially parents have "Had Enough" Many of you are starting to file reports with the Texas Education Agency( TEA) concerning actions and possible legal or illegal actions concerning the school district. 

There are people in the community getting stirred up to the point they are doing something about the district, not just complaining, but are going those extra steps. 

I've heard from patrons who are seriously looking at running for the board, and in November, there will be 3 position up for  election.....Now is the time to decide to run. 

- Someone was wondering why I was "griping" about likes on Facebook.  I do not think you know how much it helps readership, especially for my intended audience. The algorithm on Facebook is controlled by the likes, so much and helps me reach viewership. No one 'likes' and the number of hits are down. And I know who likes, loves, etc. the blog. And I SO appreciate it. 

And I know some of you cannot let people know you are reading.  We appreciate your readership. Some someone wrote me this past week and told me that they could not like for fear of what someone " at the church might think of them...."

Don't get me started on the church.....I wrote/am writing a blog on religion in 2026, including Buna and religion.  I am still polishing up, trying not to make too many people mad. Perhaps, I should not even care?  

- I number of you have told me that I need to somehow monetize the blog.  In the past, I had a Pay Pal link on the blog page, but I removed it because people who really should not have been given me a donation, were. I know I give it back to them at Christmas so they could get their kid's gifts, and get a hen, or ham for the holiday. ( I prefer a hen and dressing over turkey.) 

So, if I put a Venmo or Pay Pal wiget on the blog, don't feel like you must donate.  If I get enough to buy Mrs. Thomas and myself a pizza, Fred a bag of 9lives, well, thank you, and if not, thank you for reading. I am certainly not doing this to get paid. I am trying to fight what is more and more looking like a @ Lost Cause.@ 

- I was going to write more information in this blog, but I will save it for a future publication. I don't know where it will lead, and to be honest, I keep receiving information on the future topic, and it is changing what I planned to write. 

- Finally, if there is one thing I need more than anything else, please remember me in your prayers. 

Blog writing is often a hard, pay-less, often thankless labor. 

If I know there are people speaking to the Divine on my behalf, it helps a great deal. I do not think you know how much. I know many of you are not people of faith and if you would just think about me positively from time to time, just knowing you support me, well, it helps, a great deal.  Especially when you are feeling like you are out on that limb alone. 

 
 

 

 

 

I Get Chewed Out " Big Time" By Buna People in the Last Few Days.....

 And there are people reading the title getting so excited they are wetting their pants thinking it is members of the " Clique." (That according to the " Clique" does not exist.) But instead, it is regular blog readers. 

Sometimes I feel like Michael in the " Godfather III" being pulled back in.....BY the way, that is the only decent part of " Godfather III" it's the worst movie of the Godfather Trilogy. 

Again, I get to speak for people who cannot afford to speak openly. And to be honest, there are times I feel like I should not, and this is one of those times. 

The new principal at the high school, while being "sold" as an outsider, actually has ties to the ISD. 

Her father was my principal, my last principal when I was still working, and to be honest, he let me do whatever I wanted to do down in the senior end. It wasn't like I was going to execute an out of control senior, but I really pushed it to the limits until I realized, " Kerry Don, you can retire in 2011, you better not push that envelope too hard and blow it within the grasp of victory" ( retirement)....So, I took my foot off the petal. A little anyway. Those were the old " Glory Days" of what was referred to as the " Cuss Porch." ( There was less cussing going on than most people know. It was a good place to talk with seniors about anything from " Mr. Thomas, am I graduating?" To things as " My sister , (whom I had also taught, ) is dating a sorry, worthless guy, who uses her as a sex toy." He was bringing his friend over to have sex with her...." ( We got her away from the sorry so & so.)

I digress.  

So, we are now hiring his child like they have no ties to the school district......AND.......

Look at the family tree......Look at the board.......How are we doing this? ........Are they really the best choice or is this another " Brother in Law" deal, which the school district is notorious of doing????? 

One of y'all need to say something.  

Even if it is legal, and way I read it, it is not, I have questions there........AND....

It is a bad look. 

Really bad. The elected official should resign. And the patrons of the community should be asking for their resignation....

I am going to talk a little about an event that happened to me right before the school district which I retired from hired me low those many years ago. 

I so wanted the Gov/Eco position at the school I graduated from in the 1970s. I interviewed for it in the early 1990s when it came open. my curriculum vitae( CV) looked good. I had taught AP European History, AP US History, AP Macroeconomics, I had the certification, I had double digit years of experience. My first round of interviews went well. I knew I was going to get the job. 

Between my first and second round of interviews, I found out about another candidate.....They had a surname I did not. They were in the " clique."  

My Mom and Dad are/were ( Dad has since passed) wonderful people. They are in an area not associated with the " Clique." The music world, yes, but political, school, they are not. Never mind my mother taught 4th and 5th grade for 39 years. My Dad, was not a politician. He saw them and phonies, and while he is correct in that sense, it doesn't help in the real world. Sad, but true. It is part of the reason my brother had to move 350 miles away to run for office. Again, sad, but true, he had to make a name on his own, without attachments. 

The district of course hired the other person with " The Name." 

Not going to lie, even though I knew it was coming, I was crushed. I cried alone in the dark for about a week.  

It was 3 weeks later the district I retired from called and went through 3 rounds of interviews. I went in dressed up like a member of the House of Lords, pinstriped suits, and in truth, did not give my best interview. I sort of needed a job, but if I don't get hired here, well, there is another school up the road. 

And dadgum if they did not hire me....A job I expected to stay at for a year, at most.....I stayed 20. Until I retired. My late hardcore Presbyterian Grandfather would say, " You were foreordained."  

You may say, " Well, it worked out for you" but in many cases, it doesn't. And leaves many more questions than answers.  

And they might become the best principal the district ever had....But how it occurred, well it has questions....

As one patron of the community, the ISD wrote me...." I think we have we and more importantly, who we voted for has lost control of the district."  

Another wrote " We certainly are paying a lot in property taxes to be the personal job bank for people with ties to the district." 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay Buna ISD Parents, Patrons....It is your Turn to Get " Chewed Out"

 I generally get upset with leadership at most school districts because say what you want, most of those in the upper echelons of any leadership, they are looking to do two things, move to their next job, make more money. Just like in the business world.  

And say what you want, they will often throw people under the bus in their move towards a better job, more money. I'm sorry, but I have seen teachers, other administrators , even kids and parents tossed under that proverbial bus to improve their position in the education field. I was literally shocked when I first started teaching. 

By the time I got to Buna Schools, I had learned to " game the system" often doing so to try and take care of mostly the kids. 

I made Machavellian moves behind the scene most of you never knew about and trying to take care of my seniors, well, I made plenty of enemies, but so many people in the school business especially in the leadership forget why they are in education.  I almost came to blows( Literally) with believe it or not female teachers who started teaching as a secondary field in the life, and probably should never have been in teaching to start with. They just did not understand the job. They shouldn't have been there. And so many people today just do not understand while, yes, it is a job, they didn't understand there is more to it than doing "just enough" to collect a paycheck.

-  Parents, patrons, you are paying a lot to the school district in property taxes. A shocking amount. 

And so many of you just pay and say nothing. You don't question where in the world the money is going, why certain people are hired, why certain things such as building were promised in school bonds you all voted on never materialized. ( Where is that theater, UIL quality that was to be built in what now is a rock parking lot that extends behind the stage at the activity center. Where did the funding wind up going? Look at the stage next time you are at a ballgame. It is all step up for plays, UIL State of Texas sanctioned plays////UIL Band sanctioned Sight Reading and Concert Contests..... Where is the auditorium? ) ( Allegedly coach threw a fit because he wanted a new court to play that season rather than wait for the activity center to be completed. Band, choir, theater kids, and there are more of them than athletes apparently are second class citizens.) 

I am starting to hear more and more parents upset believing that the entire ai scandal is being being scapegoated. That we will never know the truth. That " Buna ISD is just another government entity hiding the truth." 

So, Mr. Thomas, Govteach, Kerry, Kerry Don, where are we going here? 

I can't do this alone. My job is to point out what is happening. Write opinions. 

It is your job to do something about it. 

Raise Cain.  

Go to school board meeting. Question what is going on. Speak at board meetings. And DO NOT TRUST ANSWERS.....Do some research yourself. 

Run for the board. And if you get elected, don't just " Go along, to get along."  If you don't get elected, run again.....Sometimes you need to keep running. 

As Euripides the Greek philosopher once said, " Question Everything, Learn Something."   

"Sometimes you must break some eggs to achieve a specific goal ; and it may get messy. "