Look around the world, around the United States.  Anyone living in this town has a lot for which to be thankful.

Among our blessings are our local schools.

We complain a lot.  Properly done, that improves schools.  Complacency born of self-satisfaction and arrogance is the enemy of educational quality.

But as the law suits, budget choices, divisiveness, and expulsion hearings swirl around the Board I’m often reminded of the story of the college woman’s letter home.

"Dear Mom and Dad," she wrote.  "Things aren’t going so well.  I flunked my mid-term exams.  I was arrested for drunk driving and the car was totaled.  I’m pregnant and may have AIDS.  Love, Susie."

"P.S.," she added, "None of the above is true.  However, I did get a C in chemistry."

In other words, let’s keep things in perspective.  Let’s count our educational blessings.

• Students.  This may not be Lake Wobegon, "where all the children are above average."  But it’s close.  We have a disproportionate number of kids who are each wonderful in a variety of ways.

• Parents.  Parenting isn’t easy anywhere.  Especially these days.  But our parents, from all socio-economic classes, are aware of the relationship between parental involvement and student success.  And most act on it.

• Teachers.  Our teachers are among the most educated and experienced in the state.  How many school boards need a regular agenda item for "proclamations and recognition?" Teachers Who’s Who selections, grants, national and state awards are routine.

• Business community.  We’re blessed with more supportive business partnerships than I can list. It’s a rare high school graduate who hasn’t been touched by one or more.  The banks alone provide for "Reading Month," "Children’s Art Month," and "Widen Our World."

(Speaking of banks, how many school districts can claim a nationally chartered bank operating out of an elementary school?)

• University.  The benefits to a K-12 system from a major university are endless.  Recently, Human Rights ‘98 Nobel prize winners visiting elementary schools.

• Administration.  Like most superintendents, Dr. Barb Grohe is controversial. But she certainly has her supporters.  And she still reigns as the American Association of School Administrators’ 1998 selection from 15,000 school districts as the national "Superintendent of the Year."  She’s recently been keynote speaker at the National Women’s Conference in Washington and the Iowa Association of School Boards’ convention in Des Moines.

• Test scores consistently above national and statewide averages.  Perhaps more remarkable, the impressive number of students, regardless of ability, who make a full year’s progress (or more) for each year in school.

• Presidential Blue Ribbon, state FINE, and national media awards (literacy as well as technology) for our schools.

• Our $100 million-plus school buildings and grounds in a physical condition that makes us the envy of most districts.

• Community support and partnerships with local social service agencies and law enforcement; "family resource centers," and other efforts to build support around families; the informal cooperation between local governmental units.

• Volunteers by the hundreds, from "minority mentors" to "rock-and-readers."

Be reassured, I haven’t gone complacent.  I haven’t been brainwashed.  I will continue to cajole and complain, to confront and coerce – whatever is necessary.  Before my three-year term is over I want our school board to at least examine – if not steal and adopt – every good educational idea available.

Sarge Shriver, first Director of the Peace Corps, kept a sign on his wall:  "Bring me only bad news; good news weakens me."  It’s a good motto for school board members as well.

But Thanksgiving is coming.  And I didn’t think it would weaken any of us too much to pause and give thanks for the good news about our local schools – even if we did get a C in Chemistry.

Nicholas Johnson is an Iowa City School Board member.