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A Firefighting Parable
Feb. 23rd, 2011 04:52 pm(this is attributed to an anonymous author)
In the town of Hoosierville, there lived a group of 25 dedicated firefighters. They worked tirelessly, protecting the citizens, defending homes, and teaching the people about fire safety. They were effective, with quick response time, and the newest, most efficient techniques in firefighting. They were proud that they were making a difference in the lives of the citizens of Hoosierville. They often spent their own time learning more about firefighting, because after all, they became firefighters to make a difference, not to become rich.
One day, the mayor came to the firehouse to hold a meeting with the firefighters. “You are terrible firefighters,” he said. “You claim to be effective, and yet, homes are still catching fire in Hoosierville.”
The firefighters looked at one another in disbelief. Could this be our mayor, who ran on the pro-firefighting platform just a few years ago? They felt betrayed!
“In order to remedy your ineptitude, I plan to open a second firehouse in town.”
At first, this seemed like a lovely idea. Wouldn’t it be great to have others to share in the efforts? They could work as a team, and the fight against fires. Some members of the community agreed that it was a lovely concept. Soon, however, it became clear that this was an idea that would not help the Hoosierville firefighters, but harm them, as well as the community.
“In order to help the new firehouse get off the ground,” Mayor said, “you will need to make some sacrifices. First, you must provide a fire truck for them, and a building. You will still be responsible for the vast majority of the fires, but they deserve these things. Their funds will be taken from yours.“
The Hoosierville firefighters were appalled. Didn’t the mayor realize that this would not help reduce fires in Hoosierville at all? They needed both of their trucks, and the budget was thin already. Reducing the funds would mean fewer axes, older hoses, and less training. The Hoosierville firefighters agreed to freeze their salaries for a year, in order to keep the jobs of all 25 original Hoosierville firefighters. The Hoosierville firefighters continued working in the community, conducting drills with the students in local schools, performing speed drills with one another, and doing their best not only to fight fires, but prevent them as well.
The mayor held a second meeting, this time, with a new fire chief by his side. “This is your new fire chief,” said Mayor. “He agrees with me that you are not effective, and believes in the hope of the new firehouse.” The hearts of the Hoosierville firefighters sank.
One firefighter spoke up, “Mayor, tell us about these new firefighters.“
“There are five of them. Three of them have had firefighting training.”
Now the Hoosierville firefighters were puzzled. “What about the other two?”
“Oh, that,” the Mayor answered. “They have all seen fires. They have other background knowledge.”
“But no real firefighting training?”
“They will learn on the job,” Mayor said. “They certainly can’t do any worse than the lot of you.”
The Hoosierville firefighters were astonished at the lack of logic shown by their leaders. How could this be happening? They had to give up one of their two trucks for a group of five firefighters, and two had no formal firefighting training at all? How could this be happening?
Some members of the community rallied around the firefighters, understanding their plight, but some, who had house fires of their own, agreed with the Mayor and his new Fire Chief. They protested loudly, “THOSE FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORTHLESS! GIVE THE NEW ONES A CHANCE!”
One Hoosierville firefighter looked at another. Wasn’t that the same citizen whose daughter they had carried out of the house after he had fallen asleep smoking a cigarette? The Hoosierville firefighters were starting to become very angry. They were good firefighters, but they were starting to believe that no one thought so. The new firehouse was not at all successful compared to the original, but Mayor was rallying the community to do the very same thing in other cities across the state. He had begun keeping track of all fires in Hoosierville, regardless of the cause of the fire. That information was used as evidence against the firefighters, although very few of the fires resulted in total loss. From frustration, the firefighters protested.
“DON’T YOU SEE, MAYOR? HOW CAN YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ARE HARMING THE COMMUNITY AND PUTTING US IN DANGER?”
He did not appear to understand. Instead, he gave the fire chief more power, although the new fire chief never stepped foot in the original Hoosierville firehouse. The Hoosierville firefighters did their job as well as they could, but they were very disheartened about current events. They were in a sticky situation. They needed others in the community to understand just how damaging the mayor’s ideas were, but any time they spoke up, they were accused of caring only about money. How could they make the people understand that this was about keeping their families safe?
One veteran firefighter decided to sit down and write a story about their plight, but instead, used education as an example. Surely the people would understand how damaging that could be to their students.
What if public school funds went to smaller, less effective schools?
What if public school teachers lost their voice to speak for needs at the local level?
What if funds in the public school were lost to less qualified institutions, and music and art programs had to be sacrificed?
What if legislators listened to rhetoric instead of the experienced and effective teachers that they should trust?
What if the fire chief were given additional power without knowledge, or any appeal process?
“Yes,” the firefighter smiled. “The people would understand, then, why the Hoosierville firefighters are so upset. It isn’t about money. It’s about the families, and helping people live, thrive, and succeed. That’s why we became firefighters, after all. We just want help and support, and the respect we deserve.”
Please contact your representatives about the current legislation affecting education in Indiana, and find out more about how it will destroy your child’s public education as you know it today. Contact the author at anotherhoosierfirefighter@gmail.com . She still loves firefighting after all these years. To those of you who are firefighters of actual fire instead of ignorance, hats off to you. You do a great job!
The Firefighters of Hoosierville
In the town of Hoosierville, there lived a group of 25 dedicated firefighters. They worked tirelessly, protecting the citizens, defending homes, and teaching the people about fire safety. They were effective, with quick response time, and the newest, most efficient techniques in firefighting. They were proud that they were making a difference in the lives of the citizens of Hoosierville. They often spent their own time learning more about firefighting, because after all, they became firefighters to make a difference, not to become rich.
One day, the mayor came to the firehouse to hold a meeting with the firefighters. “You are terrible firefighters,” he said. “You claim to be effective, and yet, homes are still catching fire in Hoosierville.”
The firefighters looked at one another in disbelief. Could this be our mayor, who ran on the pro-firefighting platform just a few years ago? They felt betrayed!
“In order to remedy your ineptitude, I plan to open a second firehouse in town.”
At first, this seemed like a lovely idea. Wouldn’t it be great to have others to share in the efforts? They could work as a team, and the fight against fires. Some members of the community agreed that it was a lovely concept. Soon, however, it became clear that this was an idea that would not help the Hoosierville firefighters, but harm them, as well as the community.
“In order to help the new firehouse get off the ground,” Mayor said, “you will need to make some sacrifices. First, you must provide a fire truck for them, and a building. You will still be responsible for the vast majority of the fires, but they deserve these things. Their funds will be taken from yours.“
The Hoosierville firefighters were appalled. Didn’t the mayor realize that this would not help reduce fires in Hoosierville at all? They needed both of their trucks, and the budget was thin already. Reducing the funds would mean fewer axes, older hoses, and less training. The Hoosierville firefighters agreed to freeze their salaries for a year, in order to keep the jobs of all 25 original Hoosierville firefighters. The Hoosierville firefighters continued working in the community, conducting drills with the students in local schools, performing speed drills with one another, and doing their best not only to fight fires, but prevent them as well.
The mayor held a second meeting, this time, with a new fire chief by his side. “This is your new fire chief,” said Mayor. “He agrees with me that you are not effective, and believes in the hope of the new firehouse.” The hearts of the Hoosierville firefighters sank.
One firefighter spoke up, “Mayor, tell us about these new firefighters.“
“There are five of them. Three of them have had firefighting training.”
Now the Hoosierville firefighters were puzzled. “What about the other two?”
“Oh, that,” the Mayor answered. “They have all seen fires. They have other background knowledge.”
“But no real firefighting training?”
“They will learn on the job,” Mayor said. “They certainly can’t do any worse than the lot of you.”
The Hoosierville firefighters were astonished at the lack of logic shown by their leaders. How could this be happening? They had to give up one of their two trucks for a group of five firefighters, and two had no formal firefighting training at all? How could this be happening?
Some members of the community rallied around the firefighters, understanding their plight, but some, who had house fires of their own, agreed with the Mayor and his new Fire Chief. They protested loudly, “THOSE FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORTHLESS! GIVE THE NEW ONES A CHANCE!”
One Hoosierville firefighter looked at another. Wasn’t that the same citizen whose daughter they had carried out of the house after he had fallen asleep smoking a cigarette? The Hoosierville firefighters were starting to become very angry. They were good firefighters, but they were starting to believe that no one thought so. The new firehouse was not at all successful compared to the original, but Mayor was rallying the community to do the very same thing in other cities across the state. He had begun keeping track of all fires in Hoosierville, regardless of the cause of the fire. That information was used as evidence against the firefighters, although very few of the fires resulted in total loss. From frustration, the firefighters protested.
“DON’T YOU SEE, MAYOR? HOW CAN YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ARE HARMING THE COMMUNITY AND PUTTING US IN DANGER?”
He did not appear to understand. Instead, he gave the fire chief more power, although the new fire chief never stepped foot in the original Hoosierville firehouse. The Hoosierville firefighters did their job as well as they could, but they were very disheartened about current events. They were in a sticky situation. They needed others in the community to understand just how damaging the mayor’s ideas were, but any time they spoke up, they were accused of caring only about money. How could they make the people understand that this was about keeping their families safe?
One veteran firefighter decided to sit down and write a story about their plight, but instead, used education as an example. Surely the people would understand how damaging that could be to their students.
What if public school funds went to smaller, less effective schools?
What if public school teachers lost their voice to speak for needs at the local level?
What if funds in the public school were lost to less qualified institutions, and music and art programs had to be sacrificed?
What if legislators listened to rhetoric instead of the experienced and effective teachers that they should trust?
What if the fire chief were given additional power without knowledge, or any appeal process?
“Yes,” the firefighter smiled. “The people would understand, then, why the Hoosierville firefighters are so upset. It isn’t about money. It’s about the families, and helping people live, thrive, and succeed. That’s why we became firefighters, after all. We just want help and support, and the respect we deserve.”
Please contact your representatives about the current legislation affecting education in Indiana, and find out more about how it will destroy your child’s public education as you know it today. Contact the author at anotherhoosierfirefighter@gmail.com . She still loves firefighting after all these years. To those of you who are firefighters of actual fire instead of ignorance, hats off to you. You do a great job!