Franklin Schools and the Cycle of Abuse...

Experts in domestic violence often discuss the "cycle of abuse" or "cycle of violence." The abuse of public resources follows a similar cycle:

• Abuse – Your abusive governmental official lashes out with aggressive, belittling, or violent behavior. The abuse is a power play designed to show the taxpayers "who is boss."
• Guilt – After abusing the taxpayers, your public official feels guilt, but not over what he's done. He’s more worried about the possibility of being caught and facing consequences for his abusive behavior.
• Excuses – Your abusive public official rationalizes what he or she has done. The person may come up with a string of excuses or blame you or others for the abusive behavior—anything to avoid taking responsibility.
• "Normal" behavior — The abuser does everything he can to regain control and keep the victim in the relationship. He may act as if nothing has happened, or he may turn on the charm. This peaceful honeymoon phase may give the victim hope that the abuser has really changed this time.
• Fantasy and planning – Your abusive public official begins to fantasize about abusing public resources again. He spends a lot of time thinking about what political opponents have done wrong and how he'll make them pay. Then he makes a plan for turning the fantasy of abuse into reality.
• Set-up – Your abusive public official sets you up and puts his plan in motion, creating a situation where he can justify abusing public resources.

No doubt, this cycle will play itself out in Franklin City Schools. 

First, Superintendent Arnol Elam lashes out with aggressive, belittling behavior - using public resources to promote his political message and turning school children into mules to carry his political message to parents.

Second, guilt - this assumes Mr. Elam understood what he did was wrong and is not a sociopath...Let's assume for sake of argument that he does know right from wrong and is not a sociopath. Certainly, the moment those letters went out, he had pangs of guilt, and fear of being called out for his abuse of public resources.

Third, excuses. Superintendent Elam, and his enablers in the Democratic party are blaming the Prosecutor and Governor Kasich for calling attention to the abuse.

Fourth, normal behavior - no doubt Mr. Elam will walk into his office on Tuesday morning and act as if nothing is wrong.

Fifth, fantasy and planning. Superintendent Elam will soon fantasize about using public resources to lash out against the County Prosecutor and Governor Kasich. Undoubtedly he will seek to have the School Board pay for his legal defense.

Finally - the set-up. Superintendent Elam will put his plan in motion, perhaps at the School Board meeting on February 27th. Maybe he'll email the school board: 
jfeltner@franklincityschools.com
csizemore@franklincityschools.com
lraleigh@franklincityschools
hsiens@franklincityschools.com phillard@franklincityschools.com

Or maybe, he'll call them at the board offices: (937) 743-8610 Eventually, he will send out other communications expressing his political viewpoint at taxpayer expense.