For Amicus ...

[BlackShanglan]

No comments. Just thought that Amicus would want to know about this one:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/06/16/kansas.school.crisis.ap/index.html

Shanglan

 

[Guest]

I think CNN is down.

Terror alart!

 

[BlackShanglan]

Odd. It works for me.

The terrorists are clearly targeting Chilled Vodka. Possibly through the agency of She-Who-Stalks.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

i dont stalk!

 

[Equinoxe]

i dont stalk!

If it was obvious he was referring to you, what does that say about that?

 

[EnglishMuffin]

shittingbull tomas?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Califirnia has the same kind of problem, mostly because politicians tend to be assholes. They are required by law to have a budget by the end of June and they never meet the deadline. Sometimes they go as long as September with no spending plan at all. What they do is to write promissory notes that are in the form of checks. Most banks will accept them from their depositors so it works out but it is a hassle.

By the way, why is this thread for Amicus? It isn't about evolution vs. religion or anything like that.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Califirnia has the same kind of problem, mostly because politicians tend to be assholes. They are required by law to have a budget by the end of June and they never meet the deadline. Sometimes they go as long as September with no spending plan at all. What they do is to write promissory notes that are in the form of checks. Most banks will accept them from their depositors so it works out but it is a hassle.

Another one of those "if one ran one's private home like the state runs its business ... "

Here, the legislators play a pointless little game every good Friday. They announce some time in the morning that government employees can have a half day, with work ending at noon. They never schedule it ahead of time, so no one can actually do anything with this half day, particularly those with duties that are scheduled in advance. Instead, one is given the dubious gift of a theoretical half day that one cannot use, with the added joy of having all of the secretaries, maintenance workers, and similar non-advance-scheduled folk decamping en masse the second the announcement is made. I don't object to them having a half day, mind you - I just object to our elected idiots leaving the rest of us holding the bag while being taunted with the irony of a half day off somehow entailing a full work day with twice the aggravation of the normal variety.

Typical governmental compromise. Useless to everyone but the legislators passing it.

Shanglan

 

[amicus]

Shanglan:

Thanks for the 'heads up' on the article.

Not quite sure of the precise point. I am an atheist and would be pleased if all public schools were shut down and the ability to tax removed.

Not sure exactly of the make-up of the Kansas Supreme Court, is it like the Florida version; left wing activist judges?

Creationism is religion and most Courts uphold that it cannot legally be taught in public schools.

amicus the appreciative...

 

[BlackShanglan]

By way of explanation to Box and Amicus - I thought that, given Amicus's strong opposition to taxed funding of public education (as we've discussed on other threads), he'd be particularly appalled that the judiciary is now also demanding specific levels of funding and threatening to make things very uncomfortable for the legislators and the constituents if these levels are not met.

 

[Boxlicker101]

By way of explanation to Box and Amicus - I thought that, given Amicus's strong opposition to taxed funding of public education (as we've discussed on other threads), he'd be particularly appalled that the judiciary is now also demanding specific levels of funding and threatening to make things very uncomfortable for the legislators and the constituents if these levels are not met.

Once again, California has a similar law, to the effect that a certain percentage, at a minimum, must be spent on education. I have some qualms about the idea. I am very strongly in favor of public education, at least I was when I was going to school. I received an excellent education in grammar and high school but I believe public schools have deteriorated a lot since then. This is because of social promotion, new math, see-and-say as opposed to phonics, and a variety of other radical experimental ideas. Whatever might be wrong with private schools, I believe they tend to do a better job of educating.

 

[rgraham666]

Shrugs. Not surprised.

Like all autocrats the legislators mentioned know that a secular, well balanced education system is dangerous to their power. Proper education leads to thought and thought leads to them being tossed out of power. If the guillotine doesn't go up.

So of course they're going to do everything they can to put sand n the gears.

 

[amicus]

Incidentally, Shanglan, from the article whose link you pasted:

"..."Families organize their lives around the school system," said Andrea Ewert, a counselor at Hutchinson High School. "When school is in session, children don't only have breakfast here but lunch here, and in many elementary schools, there are after-school programs to keep them in a safe environment...."


Public education is the biggest 'business' in most communities and perhaps even nationwide.

Public education has inserted its nasty tendrils in all aspects of social life, from providing nutrition (along government dictated guidelines) which is a huge force in the market for food, beverage, transportation, et cetera...

Public educations through inschool counselling molds the life of students in many areas such as 'sex education' sexual preference, behavior (determined by school psychologists), 'acceptable behavior', dress codes...et cetera...

With the 'after school' activities provided by public education, it also influences family behavior, schedules, transportation, et cetera...

Strangely enough, the actual content of public education has become less factual and more 'social' as activist teachers promote an agenda concerning business, politics, art, science, religion, et cetera...

Even if you blindly follow the 90 percent of unionized teachers, and fully approve of their agenda, it should still give cause for alarm that it is so very one sided.



amicus...

 

[minsue]

Even if you blindly follow the 90 percent of unionized teachers, and fully approve of their agenda, it should still give cause for alarm that it is so very one sided.



amicus...

This has always confused me. The way that many people, amicus apparently included, think that all teachers hold the same beliefs. And that, somehow, they all hold some sort of hidden agenda. I can just see the secret meetings of educators:

What are we going to do for next week's curriculum, Brain?

Same thing we do every week, Pinky...try to take over the world.​

 

[BlackShanglan]

This has always confused me. The way that many people, amicus apparently included, think that all teachers hold the same beliefs. And that, somehow, they all hold some sort of hidden agenda. I can just see the secret meetings of educators:

What are we going to do for next week's curriculum, Brain?

Same thing we do every week, Pinky...try to take over the world.​

*laugh*

I like it

 

[minsue]

*laugh*

I like it

I thought you might

 

[amicus]

Minsue, Shanglan...

Sighs...perhaps look upon public education and the teachers union as sort of a 'church', a 'christian' church within which all accept the existence of god.

Each sect is a little different, each preacher also, but the message is quite the same in Podunk or Bodunk on opposite coasts.

In my career as a newspaper reporter, I attended countless school board meetings, met many teachers and administrators, thus I do not speak with total ignorance of the situation.

You might attend some, especially those in which they determine which 'texts' to use in the classroom, you might be amazed.

On a general level, there is and always has been an intellectual snobbery among the better educated, the artists, musicians and teachers. They do not dirty their hands with the labor of common folk, such as business and the trades, they view themselves 'above' the commonplace and feel an obligation to 'minister' to the great unwashed masses.

They always have and always will, look down their collective noses at all those beneath them who must produce a 'profit' for their labors in order to survive.

Since these intellectual parasites never have to produce, just publish and acquire tenure, they are always a drain on society in general.

It is again, the old Marxist maxim, people are just not good enough to give up their personal rights and liberties and donate all their efforts to the 'glorious' greater good.... will that old saw never die?


amicus the unabashed...

 

[minsue]

Wow. I'm sure I should defer to Shanglan and others more eloquent, but this reeks of so much disdain that it is quite honestly shocking to me (I didn't think you could still do that, Ami ) and I can't help but reply.

Minsue, Shanglan...

Sighs...perhaps look upon public education and the teachers union as sort of a 'church', a 'christian' church within which all accept the existence of god.

Each sect is a little different, each preacher also, but the message is quite the same in Podunk or Bodunk on opposite coasts.

What is the message? You need to spell it out for me because I quite honestly can't puzzle it out.

In my career as a newspaper reporter, I attended countless school board meetings, met many teachers and administrators, thus I do not speak with total ignorance of the situation.

You might attend some, especially those in which they determine which 'texts' to use in the classroom, you might be amazed.

Scare quotes around texts?? For which subject do the the books not qualify? Science? Math? Literature? Or is it all of them?

On a general level, there is and always has been an intellectual snobbery among the better educated, the artists, musicians and teachers. They do not dirty their hands with the labor of common folk, such as business and the trades, they view themselves 'above' the commonplace and feel an obligation to 'minister' to the great unwashed masses.

Sweet jesus christ, A! How DARE they try to teach children!?! This is so fucking condescending and just bizarre! "Minister to the great unwashed masses"??? Do you mean by teaching? What the hell else should they be doing in there?

They always have and always will, look down their collective noses at all those beneath them who must produce a 'profit' for their labors in order to survive.

Are those who work with their bodies the only decent people in this world? Are you sure you aren't talking about yourself when you refer to snobbery??


Fuck it. I can't even respond to the rest. Just imagine a page of expletives. That's all I've got left. I don't know how I managed to let you get under my skin, but I have. I am absofuckinglutely dumbfounded by you this time.

 

[BlackShanglan]

What hey, Minsue - Let's take over the world by teaching them to read and appreciate poetry! That'll teach those blue-collared masses of the seething unwashed.

Sorry. Much though I would like to defend the honor of the teaching profession, I've set myself a limit on arguing against vague, unsupported generalizations couched in a sneering tone that evidently disdains the use of evidence. I'm full up for today, so I shall tickle goose feathers instead.

 

[BlackShanglan]

for the gosling. Sorry, I was typing my previous while you were typing yours. I think it's a perfect response, and particularly liked ...

Sweet jesus christ, A! How DARE they try to teach children!?! This is so fucking condescending and just bizarre! "Minister to the great unwashed masses"??? Do you mean by teaching? What the hell else should they be doing in there?

I did wonder myself how one could see snobbery in an attempt to share one's good fortune. I thought snobbery was when one tried to shut others out of it. But tch - let me remember my limit.

*tickle* Are geese ticklish on their feet?

 

[minsue]

What hey, Minsue - Let's take over the world by teaching them to read and appreciate poetry! That'll teach those blue-collared masses of the seething unwashed.

Sorry. Much though I would like to defend the honor of the teaching profession, I've set myself a limit on arguing against vague, unsupported generalizations couched in a sneering tone that evidently disdains the use of evidence. I'm full up for today, so I shall tickle goose feathers instead.

I like your idea much better....

 

[amicus]

I paraphrase a line from West Wing, "If someone is shooting at you, that means you are doing something right!"

Lovely loquacious lilly livered liberals licentiously lumber leeward.

(grins)

amicus the alliterate (now if I could have only done that acrostically in in Cinquain)

(chuckles, gee this is fun!)

 

[BlackShanglan]

I paraphrase a line from West Wing, "If someone is shooting at you, that means you are doing something right!"

Lovely loquacious lilly livered liberals licentiously lumber leeward.

(grins)

amicus the alliterate (now if I could have only done that acrostically in in Cinquain)

(chuckles, gee this is fun!)

That's why I'm not shooting at you.

 

[amicus]

Oh, I think you are, just blanks...

 

[BlackShanglan]

Oh, I think you are, just blanks...

I wouldn't want you to feel neglected. I know you're only really happy when under fire.