I received an e-mail yesterday about a couple of Major League players' new contracts. I didn't see the figures until this AM.
$254 million for 10 years????? And, last week, the Tigers gave a utility player $4 million for two years (I actually like the player, but c'mon....)
So, where is the "greed" there? I know baseball is a "business," but it's, in essence, only a game. Where are the protests? After all, 1000 families could be given $25,000 a year for 10 years.
I know, I know...this is different. As one of my AC classmates has cited, "situational ethics and principles." That can explain away a lot of hypocrisy, can't it?
Friday, December 9, 2011
Heh Heh
One of my favorite bumper stickers read, "No Blood for Oil." It was during the early days of the Iraq War and was pasted on the bumper of a huge SUV doing more than 80 mph down the freeway! I saw something that rivaled that in Las Vegas last weekend. Some guy, laden down with what looked like ample drink, was wearing a button that read, "99%." Yep, exactly!
Who'd have ever thought a liberal arts education would have to be defended? I guess I should have seen it coming. "Going to college" is now primarily a means to get a job. Those with degrees in English and Philosophy and other liberal arts subjects are considered mostly unemployable. In the high schools, History isn't important. So, here we are, with the governor of Fla wanting to spend state dollars on higher education for more science and high-tech studies, not "[to] educate more people who can't get jobs in anthropology." And, he's not the only one. Check out your nearest campuses and see where the money goes--new buildings and facilities for business, science, and technology. Note all the computers going into your local schools. I have nothing against these disciplines. I do have difficulty accepting that education's primary purpose is to "get a job" for a graduate. And where has all this de-emphasis on liberal arts got us? We have doctors who are brilliant, but can't sympathize or communicate with patients. Imagine a liberal arts major designing airplane seats, ones in which a person can actually comfortably sit. And what engineers plan a grocery store parking lot (with shopping carts that roll!) on a hill? Perhaps we need more anaestheologists who were Fine Arts majors, banking executives who were English majors, and real estate managers who were Psychology majors? (I picked those because I graduated with some of them.) Maybe there would be just a little more consideration for all of us....
Who'd have ever thought a liberal arts education would have to be defended? I guess I should have seen it coming. "Going to college" is now primarily a means to get a job. Those with degrees in English and Philosophy and other liberal arts subjects are considered mostly unemployable. In the high schools, History isn't important. So, here we are, with the governor of Fla wanting to spend state dollars on higher education for more science and high-tech studies, not "[to] educate more people who can't get jobs in anthropology." And, he's not the only one. Check out your nearest campuses and see where the money goes--new buildings and facilities for business, science, and technology. Note all the computers going into your local schools. I have nothing against these disciplines. I do have difficulty accepting that education's primary purpose is to "get a job" for a graduate. And where has all this de-emphasis on liberal arts got us? We have doctors who are brilliant, but can't sympathize or communicate with patients. Imagine a liberal arts major designing airplane seats, ones in which a person can actually comfortably sit. And what engineers plan a grocery store parking lot (with shopping carts that roll!) on a hill? Perhaps we need more anaestheologists who were Fine Arts majors, banking executives who were English majors, and real estate managers who were Psychology majors? (I picked those because I graduated with some of them.) Maybe there would be just a little more consideration for all of us....
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Marvels
Unable to sleep on the return plane ride from Las Vegas, I was left with my thoughts. (Don't you feel sorry for me?) Staring at the only thing I could see (the cabin lights were out and my overhead wouldn't turn on), the in-flight information such as the map of our trip, speed, temperatures, etc., I was struck by this: What was I doing, with 270 other people, more than 7 miles in the sky, traveling at 636 mph in a long steel tube?????? I know air travel is commonplace, even ho-hum in 2011. But, seriously, think about that: 270 people, 7 miles up, 636 mph! Wow!
I was reminded of the Wright Brothers, who were successful with their own money, while a Smithsonian-sponsored effort to fly, complete with federal government subsidies, failed miserably. There's a lesson in that somewhere, isn't there?
That said, who designed airplane seats? I was very tired, yet couldn't find any position that was comfortable enough to allow me to sleep. Of course, tie in the last half of the flight, quite bumpy, and I never dozed off. So, I was up at 5:30 AM on Sun and went to bed/sleep at 10:30 PM on Mon. I don't think I've ever stayed up so many consecutive hours. I think I'm still dragging a bit.
And, one last thing, obesity isn't a handicap. How many wheelchairs impeded others' in moving through the airport, wheelchairs pushing obese people? And, several of us, tired at the late hour, noted before the flight the number of grossly obese people. Each of us noted, "I'm not sitting next to that guy...." The few of us who were talking about it, grousing, were fortunate enough not to draw an obese seat-mate. But there was a tiny woman who wasn't so lucky, smooshed into her seat next to a window. I know, I know, "Obese people have rights." Yep, they do. But so do people who aren't obese. I do nothing to infringe on their rights, but they, in this seating situation, do infringe on mine. Airlines have luggage size limits--weight, length and width--for carry-on baggage. There should also be limits for people, requiring the purchase of two seats if needed. (And, being obese shouldn't qualify one for a handicapped parking sticker!)
I was reminded of the Wright Brothers, who were successful with their own money, while a Smithsonian-sponsored effort to fly, complete with federal government subsidies, failed miserably. There's a lesson in that somewhere, isn't there?
That said, who designed airplane seats? I was very tired, yet couldn't find any position that was comfortable enough to allow me to sleep. Of course, tie in the last half of the flight, quite bumpy, and I never dozed off. So, I was up at 5:30 AM on Sun and went to bed/sleep at 10:30 PM on Mon. I don't think I've ever stayed up so many consecutive hours. I think I'm still dragging a bit.
And, one last thing, obesity isn't a handicap. How many wheelchairs impeded others' in moving through the airport, wheelchairs pushing obese people? And, several of us, tired at the late hour, noted before the flight the number of grossly obese people. Each of us noted, "I'm not sitting next to that guy...." The few of us who were talking about it, grousing, were fortunate enough not to draw an obese seat-mate. But there was a tiny woman who wasn't so lucky, smooshed into her seat next to a window. I know, I know, "Obese people have rights." Yep, they do. But so do people who aren't obese. I do nothing to infringe on their rights, but they, in this seating situation, do infringe on mine. Airlines have luggage size limits--weight, length and width--for carry-on baggage. There should also be limits for people, requiring the purchase of two seats if needed. (And, being obese shouldn't qualify one for a handicapped parking sticker!)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Snow
Yesterday AM was the first measurable snow of the winter. We had about 2-3" on the grass and maybe 1-2" on the road. Bopper said he had a bit more up in White Lake. It was very pretty.
Anyway, it was Round One with the shovel. I won the round, pretty easily and enjoyed it! The snow was pretty wet and heavy, but only 1-2" on the driveway. I didn't even have on gloves; I was done that soon. Almost finished, a neighbor drove by, rolled down his window, and yelled, "Hey, man! What are you doin'? It'll be melted by this afternoon." Maybe it would and maybe not. But, that wasn't the point of shoveling, was it?
I also noted some things never change. Out running or driving with the Codester, I noted that some people just won't clean the snow from their car windows. They brush off the front and don't touch the back or sides. Oh, well....
Anyway, it was Round One with the shovel. I won the round, pretty easily and enjoyed it! The snow was pretty wet and heavy, but only 1-2" on the driveway. I didn't even have on gloves; I was done that soon. Almost finished, a neighbor drove by, rolled down his window, and yelled, "Hey, man! What are you doin'? It'll be melted by this afternoon." Maybe it would and maybe not. But, that wasn't the point of shoveling, was it?
I also noted some things never change. Out running or driving with the Codester, I noted that some people just won't clean the snow from their car windows. They brush off the front and don't touch the back or sides. Oh, well....
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wed AM
Interesting how leopards never change their spots. Clarence Page is one of them. He takes the Reps on the Super Committee, indeed, all Reps who favor spending cuts over higher taxes, to task. It's their fault the SC didn't succeed because they refused "to cut a deal." Yep, curioser and curioser. Why is it that the Reps always need "to cut a deal," never the Dems? How about, for once, the Dems don't get everything they want? In fact, how about Americans getting something they want, not some half-baked "compromise," "bi-partisanship," or whatever new name is used to call that hooey? This Page guy cites some poll, but not naming it, that claims Americans are willing to pay higher taxes and cut spending to reduce the deficit. Maybe, maybe not...but I don't know of many people who want higher taxes, unless they are on the "other guy." And, of this, "higher taxes and cut spending," the history of the past four or five decades has been "a deal," one which the Dems have lied. They get an agreement for more taxes and reduced spending, then renege on "the deal." They don't reduce spending, merely going back to the dolts who keep agreeing to "deals" the Reps must know aren't being kept. Fools, all of them.
BTW, I got a laugh out of the "cartoon" on the same page. OK, it wasn't a cartoon, but a photo that accompanied the column. Its caption read, "Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget." Yep, that's really the old committee's title..."Responsible." Heh Heh.
I see Barney Frank is leaving the House. No doubt he'll be lionized by the media. There's no choice. To point out how much he hurt the country would be "homophobic." Bah! The guy is a major reason for, at least, the housing trouble. Just check his record on it, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Or, perhaps, I am wrong, that there was nothing wrong with the housing market, Fannie, and Freddie, among other things. He's another guy who is addicted to spending other people's money because he knows what's good for us better than we do. I wonder why there's been no investigation, no real investigation, into Fannie and Freddie, esp the high salaries and bonuses their obvious less than capable managers received.
Here's another one of those "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" stories. Actually, it's a bunch of them, from George Will. At least half a dozen states, maybe more, and who knows how many local gov'ts have shut down kids' lemonade/Kool-Aid stands because they didn't procure the necessary licenses from whatever bureaucracies. Imagine that, telling kids they can't have their lemonade/Kool-Aid stands because the gov't is there to protect us from them (and from us)! How can we let the fools continue with this crap??????
I had a talk with a guy a few weeks ago about the Wayne Co mess, the "patronage" among politicians and their friends, the "cronyism" that is so lambasted everywhere else. I was assured that Ficano "is OK," that he wasn't like his predecessor(s). Hmmm.... So, in yesterday's newspaper comes this--he has 85 "at-will" appointees who make at least $100,000. Where to start? Let's see, that number, 85, is more than Detroit, Oak Co, and Macomb Co combined. Oh, you say, but Wayne Co is larger than those. OK, let's toss in the number of "at-will" appointments by the state/governor. Oh, if we do that, the number in Wayne Co is still more than all the other combined. Hmmm.... $100,000 a year? Gee, I wonder what it is that these guys do. What is it they do that, say, Bittinger and Kittle couldn't do--and did do, for a far lot less money? What ever happened to the Founders' concept of citizen-servants or even Frederick the Great's "first servant of the servants?"
First, they came after the communists, but I wasn't a communist, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Gypsies, but I wasn't a Gypsie, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Jews, but I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing.... Then they came after the lemonade/Kool-Aid stands, but I didn't have a lemonade/Kool-Aid stand, so I said nothing. I'm not being frivolous or irreverent here, but mindful of the Dutch editor who said of the censorship over the Muhammad cartoons, "I was too busy enjoying my freedom to do anything to protect it." Yep, that's us. As long as we can watch the NFL on CBS, Dancing with the Stars, the Simpsons, I guess we're OK. Death, slow death, by gov't is for the other guy.
More from Will: Yale is offering a course on "How people with disabilities are portrayed in fiction." Huh? Study after study shows that our college grads, yes even our Ivy Leaguers, don't know a lot. So, this is being offered. And the part of the course description Will adds is funny, if it wasn't true. Will reminds us that Obama has said ATMs have cost us many jobs and that Jesse Jackson Jr claims I-Pads are "responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs [including] all of the jobs associated with paper." And these elitists think they are smarter than the rest of us?
In the education dept, Rahm Emanuel sends his kids to private, not public, schools, admitting he made the choice, not as the mayor of Chicago, but "as a father." Hmmm, there's one for thought. And, in a Seattle school, Easter eggs are now called "spring spheres." Yep, there are our teachers, too. How much can a flight from Denver to Ely, NV cost? Ignoring who might actually be making that flight, the federal gov't contributes almost $4000 to subsidize passenger service, that's each ticket!, between the two "hot spots."
Good joke, he adds. "A Spaniard, an Italian, and a Greek go into a bar. They drink until dawn. Who pays the tab? A German." I suppose, with some of the talk going on in DC, soon the punch line will be "An American."
Out to run before the kids get up.
BTW, I got a laugh out of the "cartoon" on the same page. OK, it wasn't a cartoon, but a photo that accompanied the column. Its caption read, "Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget." Yep, that's really the old committee's title..."Responsible." Heh Heh.
I see Barney Frank is leaving the House. No doubt he'll be lionized by the media. There's no choice. To point out how much he hurt the country would be "homophobic." Bah! The guy is a major reason for, at least, the housing trouble. Just check his record on it, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Or, perhaps, I am wrong, that there was nothing wrong with the housing market, Fannie, and Freddie, among other things. He's another guy who is addicted to spending other people's money because he knows what's good for us better than we do. I wonder why there's been no investigation, no real investigation, into Fannie and Freddie, esp the high salaries and bonuses their obvious less than capable managers received.
Here's another one of those "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" stories. Actually, it's a bunch of them, from George Will. At least half a dozen states, maybe more, and who knows how many local gov'ts have shut down kids' lemonade/Kool-Aid stands because they didn't procure the necessary licenses from whatever bureaucracies. Imagine that, telling kids they can't have their lemonade/Kool-Aid stands because the gov't is there to protect us from them (and from us)! How can we let the fools continue with this crap??????
I had a talk with a guy a few weeks ago about the Wayne Co mess, the "patronage" among politicians and their friends, the "cronyism" that is so lambasted everywhere else. I was assured that Ficano "is OK," that he wasn't like his predecessor(s). Hmmm.... So, in yesterday's newspaper comes this--he has 85 "at-will" appointees who make at least $100,000. Where to start? Let's see, that number, 85, is more than Detroit, Oak Co, and Macomb Co combined. Oh, you say, but Wayne Co is larger than those. OK, let's toss in the number of "at-will" appointments by the state/governor. Oh, if we do that, the number in Wayne Co is still more than all the other combined. Hmmm.... $100,000 a year? Gee, I wonder what it is that these guys do. What is it they do that, say, Bittinger and Kittle couldn't do--and did do, for a far lot less money? What ever happened to the Founders' concept of citizen-servants or even Frederick the Great's "first servant of the servants?"
First, they came after the communists, but I wasn't a communist, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Gypsies, but I wasn't a Gypsie, so I said nothing. Then they came after the Jews, but I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing.... Then they came after the lemonade/Kool-Aid stands, but I didn't have a lemonade/Kool-Aid stand, so I said nothing. I'm not being frivolous or irreverent here, but mindful of the Dutch editor who said of the censorship over the Muhammad cartoons, "I was too busy enjoying my freedom to do anything to protect it." Yep, that's us. As long as we can watch the NFL on CBS, Dancing with the Stars, the Simpsons, I guess we're OK. Death, slow death, by gov't is for the other guy.
More from Will: Yale is offering a course on "How people with disabilities are portrayed in fiction." Huh? Study after study shows that our college grads, yes even our Ivy Leaguers, don't know a lot. So, this is being offered. And the part of the course description Will adds is funny, if it wasn't true. Will reminds us that Obama has said ATMs have cost us many jobs and that Jesse Jackson Jr claims I-Pads are "responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs [including] all of the jobs associated with paper." And these elitists think they are smarter than the rest of us?
In the education dept, Rahm Emanuel sends his kids to private, not public, schools, admitting he made the choice, not as the mayor of Chicago, but "as a father." Hmmm, there's one for thought. And, in a Seattle school, Easter eggs are now called "spring spheres." Yep, there are our teachers, too. How much can a flight from Denver to Ely, NV cost? Ignoring who might actually be making that flight, the federal gov't contributes almost $4000 to subsidize passenger service, that's each ticket!, between the two "hot spots."
Good joke, he adds. "A Spaniard, an Italian, and a Greek go into a bar. They drink until dawn. Who pays the tab? A German." I suppose, with some of the talk going on in DC, soon the punch line will be "An American."
Out to run before the kids get up.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Under My Government
Decades ago, a Free Press columnist, Judd Arnett, had a frequent column entitled "Under My Government." In it, he solved the problems of, if not the world, at least our United States. So, here goes my version of "Under My Government."
College athletes would have to be bona fide students, not sham students. I heard an interview with an Amherst professor at halftime of a Jeffs game a few weeks ago. He said something like, "Amherst players have to take the same classes and do the same work as everyone here." Yep, that's how it should be. If they can't handle it, find someplace else to play, but not at a college. People, namely professors, coaches, and alumni, if caught helping players to evade this academic responsibility should be charged with fraud or some other crime. The same goes for college administrators who aid and abet, or even look the other way.
Any players, at whatever levels, should be penalized for showboating. Especially so are those who carry on after making a tackle when their team is losing by four TDs. A second violation will result in "disqualification" from participation.
There will be no high school football playoffs. I was reminded of this in an e-mail by one of my college teammates, who was getting set to go to a Thanksgiving Day game, the last one of the season in CT, his old HS vs the biggest rival. What's wrong with ending a season that way? One of my buddies noted how much fun playing in the Rubber Bowl in Akron on Thanksgiving Day. Without the playoffs, the high school football season is 12-13 weeks long, far too much. And what's wrong with not having a champion "on the field?" Why can't people debate what team is best? How much more interesting! In '73, Fordson and cross-town rival Edsel Ford played the last game of the season; both were undefeated and ranked #2 and #3 respectively. What a great game to finish with! FHS won by about 4o points and yet didn't finish ranked #1 in the newspaper poll, the only rankings at the time. What a great conversation starter for years and years to come.
For that matter, colleges would return to the old bowl system, getting rid of this BCS crap. We don't need a "champion on the field." Leave all that to the professionals. We can have voting, by coaches and by writers. Then we can argue all winter, spring, and summer long about how right or wrong they were. That's much more fun.
High school basketball? A tournament? Well, OK, maybe. But, I'd cut the season to 18 instead of 20 games or limit the number of weeks--to play 20 games, a team needs to play twice a week and that includes during the Chris break. And there would be no more 40+ game baseball or softball seasons in HS either. I'd go down the list and pare back the number of contests in all sports if needed.
Recent immigrants to the US will not immediately qualify for welfare. Those who circumvent this law will be deported--after being fined or made to pay back. If they don't have any money, they can pick up papers along the side of the road, pick weeds, etc.
Elected officials cannot tell people what kind of light bulbs to use, what types of televisions to watch, what kind of cars to buy, etc. They should not be able to tell me what kind of food, fast food, I can or can't eat. I'm a big boy and can make decisions for myself.
Elected officials must also follow the same laws we do. For instance, Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner engaged in inside trading based on what they had exclusive knowledge about and did nothing but make money. Martha Stewart and many others went to jail. NO MORE!
Politicians who promise one thing during campaigns and then do another once elected would be prosecuted for fraud. Let a jury of their peers decide their fate.
School administrators will be chosen from among the best teachers, not the worst or, at the least, the most mediocre. And, they will be required to teach at least one class each semester or term so they don't forget what it's like to teach.
"Greed" will be applied to more than CEOs, Big Oil, Wall Street, or Big Bankers. They don't hold a monopoly on greed. What about the Hollywood-types, professional athletes, hippy-rock singers, etc.? They, too, will then be wearing the same label. Gas station owners who charge a dime or more for credit card purchases will have to justify the extra money or be compelled to post a sign reading, "WE ARE GREEDY!" I think we might also do the same for electricians, plumbers, etc. who charge more for a half hour of work than I do in teaching two nights a week.
Public shame and humiliation will return. This will help to hold people accountable and responsible for their actions. It will be illegal to continue with "Let's not point fingers," "Let's not cast blame," "Let's move on," "Let's get beyond this," "Let's not look at the past," etc. Those who deserve blame will be identified and held accountable.
Politicians who cut taxes (or at least make speeches touting tax cuts) in election years, after ranting against them in the past, will have to wear large campaign buttons that read, "Fraud" or "Hypocrite."
That should help get our new gov't off the ground....
College athletes would have to be bona fide students, not sham students. I heard an interview with an Amherst professor at halftime of a Jeffs game a few weeks ago. He said something like, "Amherst players have to take the same classes and do the same work as everyone here." Yep, that's how it should be. If they can't handle it, find someplace else to play, but not at a college. People, namely professors, coaches, and alumni, if caught helping players to evade this academic responsibility should be charged with fraud or some other crime. The same goes for college administrators who aid and abet, or even look the other way.
Any players, at whatever levels, should be penalized for showboating. Especially so are those who carry on after making a tackle when their team is losing by four TDs. A second violation will result in "disqualification" from participation.
There will be no high school football playoffs. I was reminded of this in an e-mail by one of my college teammates, who was getting set to go to a Thanksgiving Day game, the last one of the season in CT, his old HS vs the biggest rival. What's wrong with ending a season that way? One of my buddies noted how much fun playing in the Rubber Bowl in Akron on Thanksgiving Day. Without the playoffs, the high school football season is 12-13 weeks long, far too much. And what's wrong with not having a champion "on the field?" Why can't people debate what team is best? How much more interesting! In '73, Fordson and cross-town rival Edsel Ford played the last game of the season; both were undefeated and ranked #2 and #3 respectively. What a great game to finish with! FHS won by about 4o points and yet didn't finish ranked #1 in the newspaper poll, the only rankings at the time. What a great conversation starter for years and years to come.
For that matter, colleges would return to the old bowl system, getting rid of this BCS crap. We don't need a "champion on the field." Leave all that to the professionals. We can have voting, by coaches and by writers. Then we can argue all winter, spring, and summer long about how right or wrong they were. That's much more fun.
High school basketball? A tournament? Well, OK, maybe. But, I'd cut the season to 18 instead of 20 games or limit the number of weeks--to play 20 games, a team needs to play twice a week and that includes during the Chris break. And there would be no more 40+ game baseball or softball seasons in HS either. I'd go down the list and pare back the number of contests in all sports if needed.
Recent immigrants to the US will not immediately qualify for welfare. Those who circumvent this law will be deported--after being fined or made to pay back. If they don't have any money, they can pick up papers along the side of the road, pick weeds, etc.
Elected officials cannot tell people what kind of light bulbs to use, what types of televisions to watch, what kind of cars to buy, etc. They should not be able to tell me what kind of food, fast food, I can or can't eat. I'm a big boy and can make decisions for myself.
Elected officials must also follow the same laws we do. For instance, Nancy Pelosi and John Boehner engaged in inside trading based on what they had exclusive knowledge about and did nothing but make money. Martha Stewart and many others went to jail. NO MORE!
Politicians who promise one thing during campaigns and then do another once elected would be prosecuted for fraud. Let a jury of their peers decide their fate.
School administrators will be chosen from among the best teachers, not the worst or, at the least, the most mediocre. And, they will be required to teach at least one class each semester or term so they don't forget what it's like to teach.
"Greed" will be applied to more than CEOs, Big Oil, Wall Street, or Big Bankers. They don't hold a monopoly on greed. What about the Hollywood-types, professional athletes, hippy-rock singers, etc.? They, too, will then be wearing the same label. Gas station owners who charge a dime or more for credit card purchases will have to justify the extra money or be compelled to post a sign reading, "WE ARE GREEDY!" I think we might also do the same for electricians, plumbers, etc. who charge more for a half hour of work than I do in teaching two nights a week.
Public shame and humiliation will return. This will help to hold people accountable and responsible for their actions. It will be illegal to continue with "Let's not point fingers," "Let's not cast blame," "Let's move on," "Let's get beyond this," "Let's not look at the past," etc. Those who deserve blame will be identified and held accountable.
Politicians who cut taxes (or at least make speeches touting tax cuts) in election years, after ranting against them in the past, will have to wear large campaign buttons that read, "Fraud" or "Hypocrite."
That should help get our new gov't off the ground....
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
"The Two Most Important Questions"
Bill Bennett the other day claimed that the two most important questions a society can ask of itself are "Who are the teachers?" and "What are they teaching?" I don't know if they are the most important, but they are right up near the top.
And, upon reflection, the answers don't exactly inspire confidence that we are on the correct path. I'll preface my brief remarks by saying there are some great, great teachers out there. I know that from personal experience. And, in fact, I commiserate over their frustration with incompetent and insecure administrators, unprepared and unmotivated students, and a society that rewards celebrity far more than achievement.
But, if I recall correctly (and I don't remember the studies), the teachers of the past 30 years wouldn't have been admitted to colleges 40 or 50 years ago. The education majors of today, with their easy education classes, still have the lowest GPAs of any college major. To answer the first question, those are our teachers (again, recognizing there are exceptions, some great teachers out there).
And they buy into all the crap the colleges, media, etc. throw at them. For instance, how many classes in the schools incorporate "man-made global warming" into their lessons/studies, even though it's purely theoretical, not at all provable (at least it hasn't been yet)? How many claim that carbon dioxide is a "pollutant," when it's actually a vital component of the eco-system? How many echo that FDR was a "great President" because that's what their textbooks and college professors have insisted? The list goes on. What follows from the previous paragraph is that there are no critical-thinking skills; there is no ability or even thought of questioning what is being taught. So, the same stuff gets passed down to current generations of students. What is it the computer geeks say, "Garbage in, Garbage out?"
Speaking of "out," out to take my casserole out of the oven and pop in my berry pie.
And, upon reflection, the answers don't exactly inspire confidence that we are on the correct path. I'll preface my brief remarks by saying there are some great, great teachers out there. I know that from personal experience. And, in fact, I commiserate over their frustration with incompetent and insecure administrators, unprepared and unmotivated students, and a society that rewards celebrity far more than achievement.
But, if I recall correctly (and I don't remember the studies), the teachers of the past 30 years wouldn't have been admitted to colleges 40 or 50 years ago. The education majors of today, with their easy education classes, still have the lowest GPAs of any college major. To answer the first question, those are our teachers (again, recognizing there are exceptions, some great teachers out there).
And they buy into all the crap the colleges, media, etc. throw at them. For instance, how many classes in the schools incorporate "man-made global warming" into their lessons/studies, even though it's purely theoretical, not at all provable (at least it hasn't been yet)? How many claim that carbon dioxide is a "pollutant," when it's actually a vital component of the eco-system? How many echo that FDR was a "great President" because that's what their textbooks and college professors have insisted? The list goes on. What follows from the previous paragraph is that there are no critical-thinking skills; there is no ability or even thought of questioning what is being taught. So, the same stuff gets passed down to current generations of students. What is it the computer geeks say, "Garbage in, Garbage out?"
Speaking of "out," out to take my casserole out of the oven and pop in my berry pie.
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