Good Reading

Good reading today, amid taxi service to basketball camp, a trip to "a park," four loads of laundairy [sic], mowing the lawn, and grading some papers. Between today's and yesterday's newspapers (I'm still not caught up!), there were several good articles, columns, and letters.

Walter Williams had a good one about some of his peeves, large and small. One had to do with the so-called (I'd say self-anointed) intelligent people. He wanted to know how and why they always seem to pick on their political enemies by labelling them "stupid," "ignorant," "not very intelligent," etc. And then he proceeded to point out the many great national and world calamities perpetrated by "smart," "intelligent" people. Ha Ha. Gee I wonder if that is the difference between the Tea Partiers and those teachers and union members who protest--one group is stupid and the other is smart? Again, Ha Ha. He also gets irked by poor grammar--me, too. And, in fact, I read an article in the same newspaper shortly afterward--incredibly poor grammar, misspellings, etc. I might have run out of red ink had I been grading it! I wonder if the columnist was that lousy or the editor was. Regardless, someone should be ashamed. (Oh, I forgot, there is no shame any longer.)

Speaking of columns, the Free Press had a spot on column about the injustice done to a couple who were accused of molesting their severely autistic daughter. The column wasn't necessarily about the false, completely false accusation. (It actually came, not from the daughter, but from an "education-type" who employed a now discredited method of extracting information from someone like this severely autistic daughter. Now, why anyone would listen to an "education-type" is beyond me, but I digress.) The columnist was taking two judges to task, very deservedly so, for their roles in perpetrating this miscarriage. In fact, where are the judicial tenure and review boards in this? If just some of what the columnist writes is true, these judges deserve to be kicked out on their bejabbers--even fined. (Oh, I'm forgetting a lot today. The "government-types" have created an immunity from prosecution in many instances, for themselves.) It doesn't matter, elective or appointive offices, far too many of these people think they are there for their own aggrandizement, for the benefit of their buddies or their parties, etc. They've forgotten their history, what the foundations of this country are. Yet, these are the same Bozos who are trying to "fix" education. Yeah, right.

Speaking of "fixing" education. I haven't received a call from Gov Snyder yet. Apparently, like almost everyone else, he doesn't read my blog. A few weeks ago I called him out, saying "he is out of his league" in dealing with education reform. (I also wrote that I agree with many of the things he's doing.) He's not seeking answers from those who've been through the rigors of quality education. In fact, he's, from what I can tell, consulting more "education-types." And, to underscore that, his tenure law (which if it hasn't passed the legislature, soon will) continues to let administrators determine if teachers are kept. Talk about letting the inmates run the asylum!

Speaking of tenure (aren't these segues great today?!?!?), there were a couple of nice letters about the new law. I think they were written by teachers, but aren't the same old sob stories. "Oh, we work so hard!" "Oh, we're so dedicated!" "Oh, we're there for the kids." Bologna (hats off to Oscar Mayer!)! Ask any worker if they "work so hard," are "so dedicated," etc. and guess what answer you'll get. Anyway, the letters asked legislators to check on their history (see above!), see why tenure laws were created. Of course they weren't enacted to guarantee lifetime positions! And those critics of tenure are dishonest to claim so. The letter writers go on to state that it's administrators who've fouled up the tenure system, by failing to act, either through ineptitude or cowardice, on the spirit of the tenure system. They could have and still can get rid of teachers--and likely for a lot less expense than critics claim. But they don't or can't do their jobs--hey, that's why most of them are administrators. Just coincidentally, while mowing the law today, I thought about a teacher I worked with, one whose nickname was "Cecil B." You can imagine why--she showed two, three, four, or more movies a week. OK, everyone knew this; it was no secret. The nickname was there for all to hear. So, why wasn't anything ever done about it? Why wasn't she told not to show two, three, four, or more movies a week? Was she even asked? (Not to my knowledge and I was dept head for a good number of those years.) Maybe she had a good rationale (although I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have bought it). Where were the administrators? Now, fast forward and remember nothing was said or done to her about the movieplex she ran. After she left, retirement, there were two others who showed just as many movies--almost as if they had pipelines to the local video joint. Again, I'm certain nothing was said to either of them--ever. Why not? That's what these tenure critics need to be addressing, not some law to get rid of a teacher on a whim. Once again, the loons are in control.

It's interesting how people know, everyone knows, government is all messed up. Nobody trusts officials--elected or appointed. Everyone makes fun of or criticizes the IRS, TSA, hey, the list is as long as your arm. Look at all the fools and perverts, cheats and liars. Yet, we're allowing gov't to make "reforms," to "fix" things. Are we stupid?????

There were a series of good letters about a recent liberal convention of Catholics. Both sides raised some good thoughts. First, those in defense of the Church remarked that the Church is the Church. It can't be flexible (you know, "diverse"). Faith is faith. Doctrine is doctrine. Can a religion's followers change their deity to satisfy their wants? That sort of is the antithesis of religion, isn't it? If these liberal Catholics think their religion is wrong, then why are they Catholics? They should seek their religious solace elsewhere. Second, isn't there something wrong with an institution that seeks severe penalties (sanctions, maybe even removal) against those acting to have women or gay priests, but merely transfers priests who molest boys (OK, sweeps the many instances of molestation under the rug)? What kind of God would approve punishment of those asking legitimate (if right or wrong) questions regarding gender and Church participation while not even slapping the hands of agents of that Church who molest boys? Hmmm.... Anyway, a good set of letters that every Catholic should consider.

OK, there goes half an hour of paper-grading time! Drat! Oh well.... Out to get a few more out of the way. Then, a thrilling lecture (I'm sure) about the events of the 1840s and 1850s that precipitated the Civil War.