As the new school year begins, I feel compelled to reach out to our wonderful community for support of all of our local schools.

Natchez has so many unusual qualities that sets us apart from most towns our size.

One of those is that we have three strong private schools in our town in addition to a rather large public school system.

Now, the fact that there are multiple options to educate our children is comforting, but sometimes this can lead to bitter feelings between the parents of each school, particularly the private schools.

As a proud Natchezian, I don’t think this is good for our community.

These three private schools were built around Christian principles.

Leviticus 19:18 reads, “Thou shalt not bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

I encourage all parents to practice this for our upcoming year.

Look, every community has those few that weren’t held enough as infants, and so they compensate by spewing nasty lies anonymously on local obscure blogs to hurt others, usually going after people that don’t socialize in their circle.

Lets not let these poor lost souls hurt our community any more.

It takes one finger, one eyeball and one brain cell to Google the alumni base of these three private schools and recognize they are all outstanding schools.

Some amazing and highly successful people have graduated from Adams County Christian School, Cathedral School and Trinity Episcopal Day School.

We should be proud of that and not be so quick to judge someone for where they choose to educate their children.

Romans 2:1 warns against this.

I’m not brilliant, but I am highly observant, and I have come to some conclusions about our great city.

In Natchez, you can bank in Vidalia, get all of your health care needs taken care of in Jackson, buy all of your vehicles and furniture in Baton Rouge, grocery shop at Sams and Walmart and change churches twice a year and never lose a friend.

But if you register your child at a private school in this town, there is no telling what the aftermath could bring to your family.

The pressure really can be quite nerve racking.

Then, if you feel you need to change to another school for whatever reason, you might not get invited to social gatherings you have attended for years.

I just don’t get it.

I do know Pat Sanguinetti has been headmaster at Cathedral for 11 years and has proven to be one of the best school leaders this town has seen.

I have met Trinity’s Les Hegwood many times, and he is one of the sharpest guys I know. He has great passion for the future of Trinity.

And people that know me know exactly what the future holds for ACCS.

So it’s really simple: If you are going to educate your children in a private school in Natchez, then you have three outstanding options.

So make a choice, and get behind your school and its leaders, while at the same time wishing the best for your neighbor at the school of their choice. So, Roll Wave, Saint Pride and Rebel Nation.

Also, as Christians and taxpayers, lets wish the best for the Natchez-Adams School District as well.

 

David King is the headmaster at Adams County Christian School.