Sun PM...

Just when I think I am opposed to capital punishment, a story reminds me to reconsider. A New Orleans father was ordered to pay child support. He vowed he'd kill his ex-wife or child before he did so. True to his word, he murdered his son, 2 1/2 years old I think. Far too many people who should be having kids are having them. That others (can you say "government welfare" and "taxes?) pay for them is bad enough. Then this murder. Where to start? Taking another person's life? Killing a child? For this reason?

And, I fully expect the world-wide Muslim community to protest the recent suicide bombing in Iraq that killed more than 35 people, injuring double that number. Not! After all, at a religious shrine, innocent people, not Americans, I would expect Muslims to be outraged at this. They do follow "the religion of peace," don't they? Or is it only peace for certain people? Is it the followers or the religion which is hypocritical?

Reminds me of the story last week of the Catholic Church, what five centuries later, decide that Galileo was right after all. So, what does that mean? His excommunication, burning in Hell for 500 years, is taken back? We were just kidding? I thought the Pope speaks for God when addressing matters of theology/religion. Because the Church was stupid, close-minded, bigoted, and whatever else, Galileo suffered in Hell--hey, it's the Church's belief, not mine. And what about all those before and even after him, those lesser knowns who were equally condemned (excommunicated) by the Catholics, even burning at the stake!...do they get reprieves from Hell, too? Or is it just the famous people, whose teachings exposed the Church leaders for the fools that they were? Interesting theological questions to ask your priest the next time you chat with him.

I wonder if the film Milk is any good? I have no intenetion of seeing it. I don't like movies. I don't like Sean Penn. The subject doesn't at all interest me. But I do wonder if it is any good. Well, the reviews have been raving about it. Ha--who would have the guts to say a movie about gays isn't good? It may or may not be good, but I wonder about the reviewers....

I see the schools are looking for ways to make education "more accessible" for students. That's code for "easier." More and more students will be able to take online classes. C'mon...use just a little common sense. First, not all learning is just the facts in a class. Other than a few of us, who really remembers what happened in 1066 or the quadratic equation or the chemical symbol for helium? The real key to most subjects is not necessarily the content, but the process, the discipline required to learn, if only for a little while. Educators no longer realize that. Education has to be "relevant" and discipline, process, etc. aren't "relevant." That's what happens when people who've never experienced quality, rigorous education are allowed to make decisions and policies. Second, if cheating is rampant (a recent study found more than 60% of all students admitted to cheating last year--and those are just those who admitted it!) where teachers are at least more visible, can see what's going on, what will happen when they can't? Third, there is something to be said for personal interaction between student and teacher, isn't there? Not everything worthwhile is on the test (of course, our test-happy legislators and educators don't realize that, either, do they?). Fourth, what good is an education if it is "easy?" For instance, runinng a marathon would be easier, available to more people, if we redefined it to, say, running for 26.2 yards instead of miles. So let's do the same dumbing down with education. Let's make it easier, to let more people graduate (standards be damned!). Who cares if the diplomas students receive aren't worth the paper they're written on? Fifth, if one of the goals of education is teaching discipline, hard work, rigor, failure followed by success, won't online courses contradict that? For example, some of my colleagues gripe about low attendance in their classes. Ask them if they use Blackboard and if they post their lecture notes on Blackboard. Oh, they do? Well, hello!!!! Why come to class when notes can be downloaded from the computer? Students don't even have to take notes any more--at least one time they become familiar with material. Of course students love the online courses. It's not hard to reason why. And Michigan is lauding itself for being a "leader" in this foolhardiness. Oops! I just realized I made a cardinal sin, assuming that educators and politicians actually "reason." But, as usual, nobody cares. Just when the coming generations need to learn toughness--what kind of economic times, world situations, etc. do you think we, our on self-centered, selfish selves, are leaving them? Weanies aren't going to be able to cut it.

That said, it's been a great day for me, although the boys didn't like my oatmeal???? They did gobble up the cinnamon rolls and thrown down the hot chocolate.