The phrase “You learn something new every day” took on a whole new meaning for this guy over the past seven days.
Last week’s column, where I called a handful of Clarkston parents “pathetic” for insinuating their income was a higher priority than their kids’ education was obviously offensive to many readers.
So much in fact that I received dozens of emails and Facebook messages letting me know how wrong I was with every insult you can think of with colorful language. The column was also dissected on Facebook. Did I expect reactions? Yes, but not to the extent I received last week. I also should say that I did receive messages of support from many folks saying that while they may not agree with what I wrote, a column is one person’s opinion, and many people forget that it’s OK to agree to disagree.
I want to address what I have learned in the past week.
Full disclaimer: No, I do not live in Clarkston, so I do not know any of the parents that took issue with what I wrote last week.
That said, just because I don’t live here does not mean that in my nearly two years of working for The Clarkston News I haven’t grown enamored with the local community. In fact, I have put those thoughts in numerous columns in this exact space.
The gist of the column last week – and it’s a column, not a news story, as a column is, again, opinion – was perhaps worded a tad harsh, but what I was getting at was the social media posts and emails we had been seeing where parents and students are struggling with Clarkston schools going 100 percent virtual until at least the end of this first semester. Some parents were clearly struggling so much that it seemed – at least to me – that they wanted to simply say the heck with all of this and get to their job. I see now that was not the case. At all.
I tell you what. Hearing about many parents juggling homeschooling their kids and maintaining a job has given me a newfound respect for these parents – in Clarkston and everywhere else.
And maybe that’s where I was disconnected and not in the same boat with a lot of you. I have the ability to work from home and my kids are older (tenth grade, eighth grade, fifth grade) and have not experienced any major issues with online school. Two of my kids are back to in-person learning while our high-schooler is still online.
Look, this whole year has been brutal for all of us, no matter where we live. We’ve never been in a worldwide pandemic before, and I pray this ends soon and we can get back to our comfort zones.
It’s been a tough year adjusting to changes. I get that.
The past seven days have also shown me that the reason Clarkston has shown to have a great deal of opinionated people is because you all are just so passionate about Clarkston. And I can see why.
Admittedly, I know a lot of you already have your minds made up on your stance on me, and I understand that and 100 percent accept that.
However, just know that I realize we can all be on edge at some point about one subject or another and it’s important not to turn on one another.
It can be difficult, as we all have learned, but the only direction to move is forward.
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and finds time to connect with family and friends, near and far from home.
Looking forward to a great 2021!

— Matt Mackinder