Don’t you just love the questions we’re asked? – SCN Encourager 9/13/2013
School leaders and communicators are asked the strangest things.
Nearly every day.
Have you heard this one?
I had to respond to it yesterday.
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“Hi Mr. Page. The athletic office said you’re the person to contact. What extra precautions is the high school is taking for Friday night’s home football game?”
“Extra precautions? For what?” (Was there a Homeland Security alert I missed?)
“You can’t be serious, Mr. Page. You really don’t know? The game is on Friday the 13th… and I can’t believe you’re not taking any special precautions. I’m disappointed.”
“Oh, I understand now. I’m sorry I missed the connection. What extra precautions do you recommend we take?” (Can you believe my answer? I really wanted to say something else, but my superintendent insists on a high level of customer service and empathy.)
“How would I know? You’re supposed to be the experts on this kind of thing. It’s your event. I just want to know if you’re having extra security at the game.”
“And all because of Friday the 13th?” (I stalled a bit. I needed time to plot an escape route.)
“Yeah, Friday won’t be a good day for anything. Driving. Buying a home. Having a wedding. Nothing. It’s bad. I’m worried about a big crowd with families and kids in that stadium.”
“I see your point,” I said, getting my hopes up. “I’ll say something I probably shouldn’t. (– deep breath and pause –) We always have supervision and security at our games. Plenty of it. There are lots of things you’ll never see… and I’m really not at liberty to talk about everything. What kind of safety precautions would they be if I was publicly blabbing about them?”
“You mean…?”
“You got it. Just because you can’t see it.. and I can’t talk about it… doesn’t mean that good security isn’t there. Because it is.”
“So I have nothing to worry about?”
“I really don’t think you do.”
“Even though the game’s on Friday the 13th?”
“Yep, even though it’s Friday the 13th.”
“Well, thanks for taking my call, Mr. Page.”
“No problem. I kind of forgot that it was Friday the 13th myself. I appreciated your heads-up. Good-bye.”
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After I hung up, I wondered why I never looked ahead to our home game schedule and attached any significance to the fact that we were playing on Friday the 13th.
Then it dawned on me.
Our football team has lost 14 straight football games.
Superstitions and bad luck omens stalk the undefeated teams, not us!
I hope you can dodge anything that’s stalking you and can just enjoy your weekend.
Tom Page. SCN
