"The Heart of the Matter."

Some years ago. Four I believe. There was a celebration. It was a celebration of transition, achievement, exhaustion and exhileration. It was held in the gym of the old Evansville High School or the new Intermediate school. All the local politicians were there as well as the color guard. Former Supr. Albrecht had planned the celebration to aid the transition of young Evansville students to their new school. The end of the construction was in view. Time to take off the hard hats. Time to begin the celebration.

I got to the event a half hour early. Got the time wrong. The gym was empty. I wondered. I was told, "The kids will sit on the floor."

Soon the kids began to file in. Led by the teachers of their class and sat in military precision. They seemed to be making the transition just fine. No trauma that I could see. In fact, they seemed to be taking the new facilities as conquering heros. Yes. It was going to be a real party.

Soon the whole auditorium was filled. Every student in the whole district was there it seemed to me. The band played the national anthem. The Mayor welcomed the dignitaries. Supr Albrecht did the formal welcome and thanked all for their efforts. He tried to explain and then choked up in the effort to explain what the costs of the new building had been, and what the achievement meant for him and the community.

Then he simply said. "Now I would like to turn the program over to Mr. Steve."

The whole auditorium erupted in applause. Mr. Steve walked to the mike and strummed the old guitar to see if it was o.k. It was just fine.

Then he said, "Let's begin with the "The Grove Song." Do you all remember the words?"

"YES," they chanted. YES!

As the song began, I noticed that EVERY child in the auditorium knew EVERY word. As the second verse began, they even began to use hand movements. It was a little like the "hand jive." "Wow," I thought. This is just like an Elvis concert. It's a real happening.

"He must have taught every child," I thought.

Yes, that is the heart of the matter.