Mid-July Musings

Hot and humid here, very hot and very humid. In fact, K and I agree that it has been more unpleasant, comfort-wise, than at 109 in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago. In fact, I think it's much more unpleasant.

What kind of credibility can Pres Obama have when he comes to Michigan and touts Gov Granholm as "one of the best governors" in the country? C'mon...even state Dems don't believe that. O could have come, done his thing, been pleasant and complimentary, but spare the obviously untrue political malarkey.

One thing that has struck me isn't that 60% of Americans don't approve of what BO has been doing. It's that almost 40% still do! Of course, 40% of the people don't pay taxes at all and another 15% get some sort of gov't freebies, so....

I believe all citizens have the right to vote and should have the right to vote, but it pains me more and more to say it. I wonder--and I'm just wondering, not advocating it--why people who pay no taxes should have the right to vote. After all, what stake is there for them other than voting for people who will continue to make it so they don't pay taxes? That is, voting for people who will continue to make others, not them, pay taxes?

I still don't get the libs' talking points on the Tea Parties. They must be talking points as I've heard the exact same words from different people at different times at different places--the exact same words. "Talking points?" They say, [The Tea Partiers] "have no ideas. They are racists...." Blah, blah, blah. Well, that's a bunch of hooey, malarkey--or worse. Either these libs are blinded by their ideology (And, if they are, why don't they give up their vacations, SUVs, and well above average homes and give their money to whom they think are being treated unfairly? Seems a bit hypocritical to me--OK, more than a bit. Do you think they would even listen to this?), are very stupid, or just aren't paying attention. As I told one a couple weeks ago, "No, [the Tea Partiers] do have ideas. They just aren't the same as yours. That their ideas are different doesn't mean they don't have ideas." Isn't thinking that government has become too big, too intrusive in our lives, an idea? Isn't thinking that gov't should not spend so much money, borrow so much money, an idea? And so on.... I guess if one has a closed mind, even if one is college-educated.... Hey, wait a minute! Aren't most college campuses among the most close-minded places in the country???? Oh, they "prove" how tolerant they are by letting Louis Farrakhan and even anti-Semitic, hate-spewing Islamists talk. But people like William Kristol and Sarah Palin get hooted down, boycotts and sit-ins preventing their presentations. And these are the people being turned out to teach our kids--teach them that only certain people, those whose ideas are in tune with "the anointed" have the right of free speech. Freedom of speech isn't according to ideas that aren't liked by "the anointed." http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2009/12/10/less-free-speech-today-than-in-1964/

I've blogged on this before, but it bears repeating. We give far too many accolades, prizes, awards, memorials, etc. to people who really don't deserve them. I suppose in a way I reflected this about a month ago, when in a bit of a contentious discussion with a teacher, I blurted out, "Stupid people can't be good teachers." Of course, that ended the discussion--and I don't know if that's good or bad. But I meant it and still mean it. By giving awards, medals, etc. to people who don't deserve them, we demean those who really do. After all, if everyone could run a marathon (or a marathon in three hours), what would be the distinction? Where is the reward for hard work, for dedication, not for merely being "concerned," "nice," etc.? Of course, who will stand up and say, "Hey, why is this teacher getting this award? He certainly doesn't deserve it." And, more specifically, if it was me who stood up and said it, we all know what the response would be, don't we? I'd like to thank my fellow teachers for all those 33 years for allowing that to happen.

They, or some of them, did what I heard again last week. "I'll close my classroom door and just teach." The implication is, of course, that teachers will avoid the politics, the stupid programs and policies of administrators, etc. and teach behind the protective doors of their classrooms. well, I suppose that's fine and good, but.... It's silence or passive acquiescence that has allowed the stupid programs and policies, that has allowed inept administrators to institute these things (curricula, giving in on the insane drive toward testing testing testing, no dodge ball or "best friends," etc.), hire equally inept teachers, show no courage or integrity, ignore or merely not even recognize the need for rigor in high quality education, etc. Shame, shame on those who "closed their doors" and allowed this to happen. Again, Pastor Niemoeller: "First they [the Nazis] came for the Jews and I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing. Then they came for the communists and I wasn't a communist, so I said nothing.... Then, they came for me and there was nobody left to say anything." Ah, history isn't important.

I wonder where they get the nerve, the fortitude to do this. It must be that it works with other professors/instructors or that it worked in high school. I guess.... I had a student who asked if I could raise his/her grade to a C from a D. Now, I labored over whether to give a D or an F (for some unknown reason there isn't a D-)! I could very well have rationalized an F, but a D was given. This student wanted a C so her/his student financial aid wouldn't be jeopardized!!!! This student missed more than a third of the classes, completed about half of the essays, and failed the mid-term and final exams, but did marginally, only marginally, better on the quizzes. Any effort, as admitted by this student (but she/he had reasons, not excuses, but reasons, was lacking. So, he/she wanted you and me to continue to pay for his/her classes even though he/she wasn't trying at all? You got it--and you're paying for them. Another student needed an A to get admitted to the college of her/his choice. She/He earned a solid B, a good grade, but certainly not an A. Could I raise his/her grade to an A ("The other instructors did" or so it was claimed and I have no reason to believe otherwise.) so he/she could go to the college of his/her choice? That she/he didn't deserve to go there, when others do and did, apparently isn't part of the deal. I can't imagine going to one of my profs at AC and asking the same. "Gee, could you all give me As so I can go to Harvard Law?" See the paragraph above for a primer.

Out to read about the Wit and Wisdom of A. Lincoln....