Would You Go Back To Work

 I read an article about vaccinations and the firing of nurses who refused to get them in the state of Maine two or so years ago. As for the vaxx's, nurses at a hospital in Augusta Maine were fired from their jobs for refusing the jab. Now, the hospital administrators are begging them to come back. What a decision these people have. I'm sure some of them if not most have families and the responsibility of paying bills. And, of course, there is the satisfaction of performing their job for which they diligently trained. But, I began wondering if these nurses could control the narrative of the situation.

In 1969 I took a position as head basketball coach and social studies teacher at a high school in northwest Iowa. It was a good gig for a 23 year old kid especially since I had inherited a nice group of basketball players. Anyway, after the 1970 season we had a record of 11-9. You might not think that's too impressive but it was the first winning record for the school in 14 years. Anyway, with all my starters back minus one and a 6'4" kid moving into town the future looked bright. The 1971 team had a record of 17-5 but we were defeated in the tournament in a close game by a team that ended up second in the boys state tourney. All is well and good, huh? Well, not quite. I was fired through the help of the booster club because they thought we should have been State Champions.

The firing was no big deal because I followed the principle that when a person gets fired they always come out with a better job and so it was in this case. I was hired to be an assistant coach at the largest high school in Iowa with a pay increase of $3,000 and in the period of time 3K was a king's ransom.

As it turns out my successor, after one year, didn't fare to well with the team and especially with the booster club. One evening, in April, I received a phone call from one of the upper crust hot shot boosters at the school. He had a question for me: Would I consider coming back as the head basketball coach? I thought about it for a minute and then said, "Yes, I'd come back as long as these conditions were met." I told him, I wanted $12,000 dollars as a salary. I didn't want to be a classroom teacher and I would be the Athletic Director with a no cut contract for the next ten years. I knew what the result would be and I really didn't expect them to cave to my outrageous demands but it was fun laying it on the line. I hung up the phone with a smile on my face and contentment in my heart.

So, nurses of Maine, I'm suggesting you take the proverbial 'bull by the horns' and issue your demands. And it the process tell the hospital administrators you won't even want to coach basketball.