Thoughts on a Thur AM

In this time of economic woes, how can the Detroit Tigers (or anyone?) give a player $50 million dollars, even if it is over four years? And, of course, people will continue to support them, esp if they win. I don't blame the player, whoever he is, or even the Tigers. I think it's the whole game, the system, that is very wrong and misguided. C'mon...$12-13 million a year to play baseball????

Talking about systems or games that are broken, what about college football? It's all about money now, isn't it? I'm certainly in a minority here, but that is discouraging to me. A former UM player was interviewed in today's newspaper (he now has cancer and the story is good one, with his attitude, spirit) and said something that people need to hear, but won't, "Nebraska doesn't belong in the Big Ten any more than Arizona does." Nope, it doesn't. It's not a question, he suggested, of being opposed to change, of being "a fuddy-duddy." I think it's a matter of doing the right things, always. This goes to the BCS system (and does anyone know what it really is?), to the clamors for a playoff, to those who get hired as coaches. In a personal way, it's a shame, because I used to watch a lot of college games, years ago, but rarely watch them now, not even the local teams. Too bad for me....

Good article in Thurs paper from last week (yep, I'm very behind in my reading; things are just zooming by me--I have three or four deadlines of next Wed, too!). The guy, a college prof, decries the lack of "preparedness" (I'd never use that word) high school students are for college. Well, HELLO! Of course they aren't prepared and it's getting worse. I've seen it in the 16 years I've taught in the colleges--and many of the high school students I saw who were accepted and went on to colleges astounded me. Of course, this guy's article will be ignored--by practically everyone. Who's going to pay attention? Students? Parents? High schools, both administrators and teachers? College instructors? College administrators? None of them, not a one. This system is broken, too. A college degree, now, is about equivalent to a high school diploma of mayb 30 years ago. Not only have the high schools watered down everything (curricula, standards, etc.), but so have the colleges. High schools are too concerned with their images, mostly false ones, of improving and their test scores. "Teach to the test" is the mantra. Teachers often have not been through rigorous, quality education programs themselves (and that's not the education schools, but colleges/universities in general!); they don't know their subjects nor the effort required for quality. They have been the most mediocre of students themselves and therefore are cowed/intimidated by the latest silly, counterproductive claptrap coming from administrators, who are often chose from the weakest of teachers. (Add that one up!) Colleges, with their massive construction and expansion projects, have mortgages to pay; they need the tuition. Professors, burdened with political correctness (and most of them fully buy into that, having created much of it) such as self-esteem, affirmative action, etc., rarely give out the grades deserved, the poor grades. (I recall reading Patrick Allitt's I'm the Teacher; You're the Student. It was a good book in describing his class, what he does, his assignments, etc. What was distressing, very much so, was when he admitting that 7 or 8 of his students fully deserved to fail the course, but he wrote, "They'll get the B-minuses." Oh, he rationalized that, but not at all convincingly to me. He's a wimp, pure and simple.) Why would students be concerned? They've been handed grades with little or no effort in high school, come very much unprepared for college work (although they don't think so), and why wouldn't they expect more of the same--good grades for no effort or achievement? In a way, I can't blame them, well, at least not fully. So, when I hear people like our soon-to-be ex-governor loudly exclaim, "Everyone goes to college!" and the subsequent, equally loud cheers, I just shake my head.

Can you believe the TSA patdowns? If those You Tube videos are real...? OK, I understand the need for security. I also understand that a very small percentage of people/travelers undergo the patdowns. But, that's not the point. It's the invasion of our rights, our individual rights. I heard a radio announcer yesterday defend the patdowns, saying they were OK if they ensure our safety. Nope, I don't think so. First, he's supposedly one of those guys who believes in the "founding principles," you know, what the Founding Fathers of the US professed. Well, apparently he forgot this one from Jefferson: "Those willing to give up a little of their freedom to get a little security deserve neither one." And he has overlooked the reason for the founding of this nation, the constant usurpation of rights of colonists by Britain. Oh, we hear in the textbooks and teachers (who don't know any better) about "No Taxation Without Representation." OK, taxes were an issue, but just one, and, by itself, not even the most important one. The Americans were hardly taxed, a very small percentage (about the same as the number being patted down by the TSA!) compared to their fellow British citizens "across the pond." But it wasn't just taxes. It was the quartering of soldiers, usurpation of the right to trial by jury, writs of assistance (open-ended search warrants), etc. You'll get an idea by reading the Bill of Rights. They were witnessing a gradual loss of their freedoms, liberties, a little by little. There was nothing egregious, just small increments. Look at us today. The federal government has mandated we purchase health insurance, wear seat belts, what to use to cook our foods, etc. Little by little....

Ah, but there's still football and isn't American Idol coming soon?????