OK, there is one (well more than one!) aspect of Christmas that seems to get me going more than other times. Maybe it's because it's more prevalent, open this time of the year.
Why do so many people hug and kiss each other? No, more specifically, why do they assume others want to be hugged and/or kissed?
I suppose they think it's their way of showing affection, that they care. But, if they really "cared," wouldn't they ask the others first?
I am very uncomfortable hugging others. Does that mean I don't care, am not affectionate, etc.? I especially don't like hugs and kisses from casual acquaintances, people I don't really know. Again, maybe they are showing that they think they are more important in my life than I realize or acknowledge. I don't know.
I am especially miffed when I see some hugging and kissing others, because it's trendy I guess, when those some never did it before it became trendy. And, it is more irksome when the hugging and kissing is for others who certainly are not part of their intimate lives.
Hugging and kissing has become so trite that it has become meaningless, except to show how trendy one is, how much one cares. And, I suppose, that is what American life has become, showing how much we care, not really caring.
Just one man's lonely opinion.
Friday, December 21, 2007
The Season
The snowfall, 8-9" last weekend, has made this a very beautiful scene this week. It's fitting for the season. Now, if only the rain can hold off this weekend!!!!
Take some time to thank those who have helped you, who have influenced your life. This might be old teachers/professors, coaches, neighbors who have moved, etc. Take a few minutes to look them up and send them an e-mail or short snail mail note or card.
Remember the less fortunate this season, too. It doesn't hurt to forgo a few presents and make some contributions to children's charities, needy families, homeless shelters, whatever you think needs a hand.
You don't have to be religious to make this a special time.
Take some time to thank those who have helped you, who have influenced your life. This might be old teachers/professors, coaches, neighbors who have moved, etc. Take a few minutes to look them up and send them an e-mail or short snail mail note or card.
Remember the less fortunate this season, too. It doesn't hurt to forgo a few presents and make some contributions to children's charities, needy families, homeless shelters, whatever you think needs a hand.
You don't have to be religious to make this a special time.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Schools, Redux
A couple of good things in the newspapers today and, as usual, some very misguiding stuff. First, the good....
One letter-to-the-editor suggested giving the new state tests to teachers and administrators. If they don't pass, let them retry. If they still fail, get rid of them. Amen! It's about time someone recognized that many of these people belong nowhere near classrooms. And, it will be just desserts for them, too. These were the same cowards (I'm giving them some credit, however just or unjust, for not being stupid in thinking the MEAPs were good things) who refused to stand up for what was best for education. Serves them right now to pay a price for messing up education even more.
Second, Thomas Sowell suggested the "unsayable." He wrote "too many students go to college." Again, Amen! He gives good reasons. Yet our governor and school administrators proceed with "Everybody goes to college!" Sowell suggests those who have this idea "aren't thinking." Well, no kidding. He cites lack of discipline, lack of preparedness, lack of interest among students. He talks about how classes have been diluted for the serious students. He doesn't mention grade inflation, for both the students and the nonstudents. I see it every day I grade papers or try to hold a seminar.
It's too bad that not enough people care to take these stories to heart. They still think those who run the schools actually know what real education is about.
The Free Press is one of them. It suggests cutting state aid for failing school districts is a bad idea, that they are the ones who need it. The Freep, despite my constant reminders, seems to think money spent on education is "for the kids." I did ask the editor to have reporters look into the salaries of school superintendents and other administrators that are higher than the governor's (although she doesn't deserve it) and the Vice President's (neither does this particular one). I asked how the editors of the FP could justify more money for a school district that compensated its superintendent with a package costing more than $500,000 annually--yes, sports fans, more than half a mill a year. No answer, as I expected.
Also, the other day, it was revealed, but not by our vigilant tribunes, the media (newspapers and television/radio), that state test scores are actually lower than they appear, that more students actually failed the tests or failed to me the lowest expectations because the bar was lowered. So, students actually did worse than their scores indicate. How typically dishonest, lacking in integrity for the schools to do this!
Perhaps many don't believe me. All I ask is not to take any administrator's word (nor that of most teachers), but to investigate. Maybe you will decide I'm wrong--that's what American is all about, differences of opinion. But, I don't think an honest investigation will show that.
One letter-to-the-editor suggested giving the new state tests to teachers and administrators. If they don't pass, let them retry. If they still fail, get rid of them. Amen! It's about time someone recognized that many of these people belong nowhere near classrooms. And, it will be just desserts for them, too. These were the same cowards (I'm giving them some credit, however just or unjust, for not being stupid in thinking the MEAPs were good things) who refused to stand up for what was best for education. Serves them right now to pay a price for messing up education even more.
Second, Thomas Sowell suggested the "unsayable." He wrote "too many students go to college." Again, Amen! He gives good reasons. Yet our governor and school administrators proceed with "Everybody goes to college!" Sowell suggests those who have this idea "aren't thinking." Well, no kidding. He cites lack of discipline, lack of preparedness, lack of interest among students. He talks about how classes have been diluted for the serious students. He doesn't mention grade inflation, for both the students and the nonstudents. I see it every day I grade papers or try to hold a seminar.
It's too bad that not enough people care to take these stories to heart. They still think those who run the schools actually know what real education is about.
The Free Press is one of them. It suggests cutting state aid for failing school districts is a bad idea, that they are the ones who need it. The Freep, despite my constant reminders, seems to think money spent on education is "for the kids." I did ask the editor to have reporters look into the salaries of school superintendents and other administrators that are higher than the governor's (although she doesn't deserve it) and the Vice President's (neither does this particular one). I asked how the editors of the FP could justify more money for a school district that compensated its superintendent with a package costing more than $500,000 annually--yes, sports fans, more than half a mill a year. No answer, as I expected.
Also, the other day, it was revealed, but not by our vigilant tribunes, the media (newspapers and television/radio), that state test scores are actually lower than they appear, that more students actually failed the tests or failed to me the lowest expectations because the bar was lowered. So, students actually did worse than their scores indicate. How typically dishonest, lacking in integrity for the schools to do this!
Perhaps many don't believe me. All I ask is not to take any administrator's word (nor that of most teachers), but to investigate. Maybe you will decide I'm wrong--that's what American is all about, differences of opinion. But, I don't think an honest investigation will show that.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
OK, I'm Getting A Headache!
When will we learn? Obviously, I know the answer: NEVER! or at least until it is too late. I was reminded of it when teaching about Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement this AM.
The Muslim crowds are rioting demanding the British teacher be punished (executed?) for calling a Teddy Bear "Muhammad." She could have had public lashings, but "leniency" left her with only 15 days. Yeah, only 15 days. And the mobs demonstrated for greater punishment. Punishment for "Tickle Me Muhammad!?!?"
And then I read of a Saudi woman, gang-raped, who received 200 lashes for it. The Saudi government said it was "an outrage!" Not that she was gang-raped; not that she, the one who was raped, received 200 lashes. The "outrage" was the international (read "Western," since nobody else in the world believes in human rights--that's how Libya--Qaddify?--is on the UN Human Rights Commission) objections to the punishment of the victim.
Toss in the people still giving their business to La Shish and...
...Yep, I'm getting a headache.
The Muslim crowds are rioting demanding the British teacher be punished (executed?) for calling a Teddy Bear "Muhammad." She could have had public lashings, but "leniency" left her with only 15 days. Yeah, only 15 days. And the mobs demonstrated for greater punishment. Punishment for "Tickle Me Muhammad!?!?"
And then I read of a Saudi woman, gang-raped, who received 200 lashes for it. The Saudi government said it was "an outrage!" Not that she was gang-raped; not that she, the one who was raped, received 200 lashes. The "outrage" was the international (read "Western," since nobody else in the world believes in human rights--that's how Libya--Qaddify?--is on the UN Human Rights Commission) objections to the punishment of the victim.
Toss in the people still giving their business to La Shish and...
...Yep, I'm getting a headache.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
