March 28, 2018: Del Rio News-Herald * Letter to the Editor * Morning routine





Letter to the Editor,
Morning routine

Father and Son are out in the front porch early Monday morning before the sun rises. 

Father and Son stand facing each other. 

Father takes out his clip board with his checklist and with pen in hand methodically calls out all the items.

Father gruffly barks out: 20 Push-Ups
Son proudly responds: Check

Father: 10 Jump Squats
Son: Check

Father: 10 Pull-Ups
Son: Check

Father: 20 Ab Crunches
Son: Check

Father: 5 Rounds – 20 Yard Sprints
Son: Check

Father: 5 Rounds- 10 Yard Shuttle Runs
Son: Check

Father: 20 Paces Walking Lunges
Son: Check

Father: Moisture Wicking T-Shirt
Son: Check

Father: Battle Trousers
Son: Check

Father: Combat Shirt
Son: Check

Father: Tactical Vest
Son: Check

Father: Tactical Jacket
Son: Check

Father: Tactical Helmet
Son: Check

Father: All-Weather Gloves
Son: Check

Father: Jungle Boots
Son: Check

Father: Ballistic Glasses
Son: Check

Father: Accessories Belt
Son: Check

Father: Tactical Backpack
Son: Check

A jogger passes by the house and sees Father and Son standing on the front porch and then back tracks and while jogging-in-place curiously inquires from Father, “Your son is training to someday be a Navy SEAL?”

Father: Nope, just getting ready for another day at Riverville Middle School.

The jogger is shocked by Father’s response and is left speechless and simply continues on his way jogging down the street sadly shaking his head in disbelief and wondering what the world has come to that schools have now become war zones because when he was in school they were gun free zones. 

Kids nowadays have to arm themselves like they are going into battle because they fear not the teacher or principal punishing them for misbehaving at school, but rather they fear an active shooter entering the classrooms and firing shots intent on mass killing of teachers and students.

Father continues with his checklist items:  Ration Food Pack
Son: Check

Father: Rugged Cell Phone
Son: Check

Father: Homework
Son: Check

Father: Crucifix “Dog Tag Medal”, Combat Prayer Book.
Son: Double Check

They bow their heads to pray.

Marian Casillas, Ed.D. 
Del Rio, Texas