2 Absurdities In The News Today
2 ABSURDITIES IN THE NEWS TODAY
Absurdity # 1
Black students disciplined more severely because of race?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48318" title="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48318" target="_blank"http://www.worldnetdaily.com/...
It seems that African American and Hispanic students in Seattle are receiving short & long-term suspensions at a rate twice that of other students. The school board is demanding a change in these rates.
“Seattle School Board member Darlene Flynn, chairwoman of the Student Learning Committee, told the paper the district needs to do a better job of lowering discipline rates, especially for black and Hispanic students.
“‘If we're not connecting the dots between academic success and academic suspensions, we're missing a very logical connection,’ Flynn said, suggesting the solution might be to do away with suspensions and expulsions, except for extreme cases.
“‘Maybe this needs to go the same way as corporal punishment,’ she told the Seattle paper.”
I have a big question: Why would anyone of sound mind who aspires to excellence want to serve as a school teacher? (Of course, as I watch the abuse of Sam Alito at the hands of political operatives in Washington, I ask a similar question concerning why anyone of genuine integrity would want to serve in the political/judicial arena?) Parents, blind to their responsibilities to partner with the schools in the welfare of their children, want to blame everyone but themselves for the almost impossible-to-educate state of their offspring. Ignorant political lackeys like Flynn are more than eager to promote such an agenda, and continue to believe more money and more government to be the answers . Sad.
Absurdity # 2
It’s All The Fault of George Bush!
http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=120949" title="http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=120949" target="_blank"http://thetrack.bostonherald....
Sean Penn, who obviously serves as an expert on political matters because he is a Hollywood actor, tells us George Bush is the reason he cannot stop smoking.
To those of Penn’s persuasion, it seems that every problem in every corner of the world, and for that matter every personal challenge, is the fault of……of course, George Bush! Whatever happened to the quaint and old-fashioned and simple idea that you and I are responsible for our own personal choices?
(For a challenging and thoughtful counter to what I have said in this blog, check out TabooTenente at http://tabootenente.tblog.com/" title="http://tabootenente.tblog.com/" target="_blank"http://tabootenente.tblog.com.... However, please leave some comments here before getting lost in what he has to say!)
01.13.06 (10:28 am) [
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posted by:
javageek (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:23 am)
The article implies but does not state that the statistic regarding discipline rates is in line with a statistic for infraction rates? If that is the case, then they need to work with the kids to reduce infractions don't they? The article focuses on reducing the *discipline* rate instead. They even quote a moron who says that the discipline needs to go the way of corporal punishment. Maybe we should just make our teachers wear clown outfits to school too.
posted by:
javageek (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:24 am)
Dittos on the Sean Penn self-responsibility point! I hate his acting as well!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:29 am)
Reply to: javageek
I've watched alot of fine people enter the teaching profession, truly wanting to make a difference. With time they often became jaded and hardened. It wasn't the challenge, long hours, and inadequate pay. It was the lack of support from community and government. I think parents have largely abdicated their responsibility to partner with the community to educate their children. And the government? With mentally anemic leadership like displayed in this article, it really appears to be an impossible situation. I wonder if we should return, in mass, to the education of our children at home and in private schools. I know the poorest and most helpless of our society would suffer the most. But, where is common sense in this matter?
Thanks for you thoughtful comment.
posted by:
goins007 (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:31 am)
only 2?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:37 am)
Reply to: javageek
Where does this hollywood crowd come up with the idea they are astute in political matters just because they can memorize some lines and look good on camera? Sean Penn may be a good actor. Seems I remember that, when he was a teen, he made some pretty good movies. But his political insights deserve no more sway than mine!
When he opens his mouth and spouts off about politics, it makes me want to stay away from his movies. There are some political conservatives in hollywood: Bruce Willis, Tom Selleck...., well it's a short list! But they go about the business of acting and pretty well kepp their mouths shut. Good for them.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:38 am)
Reply to: goins007
Sorry. It's my day off. I could spend the whole day at this keyboard, commenting on one right after the other. Maybe you can pick up the baton and rattle off a few comments on some. Thanks!
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (8:45 am)
Wow... I've watched almost all of the Alito hearings and haven't seen any abuse. I've seen him think it best not to answer certian questions directly for perhaps very sound reasons and some Senators become frustrated with that... but I've seen no abuse on either side, Linsey Grahm's self-serving scolding notwithstanding.
I wonder why Hollywood actors' opinions are automatically seen as invalid by some simply because of their occupation? Oh yeah... I forgot. It's easy.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (9:05 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
Cinservative actors keep their mouths shut? Like Ron Silver and Charton Heston and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan and Sonny Bono and Mel Gibson and Gene Autry and Fred Thompson and Fred Grandy and James Woods and.... Quiet all. Please.
posted by:
sweetsue (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (1:32 pm)
good post...I personally am so tired of everything that is wrong or bad is everyone elses fault but the blamer...is that a word..hehe..anyway..My parents raised me learning right from wrong..good morals and what or how I chose to use those are on me..no one else...its how I chose to live my life..I chose to live by those morals that my parents instilled upon me and my lord...he is in my heart and helps to guide me..I don't always listen..but I then must be the one to suffer for my bad actions...people get a grip...start taking responsiblity for your own actions.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (5:17 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Did you watch Chuck Schumer, of New York, basically asking questions for the sake of the camera, questions he knew were not appropriate and would not be answered? Did you listen to Ted Kennedy as several times he berated this professional and dignified man? I watched as Arlen Specter tried to reign in Mr. Kennedy, and the Senator from Mass. almost became beligerant. I also watched as Judge Alito's wife became so upset that she bagan to cry. And I read the words of Daily Kos, ridiculing this lady. Interestingly, I understand Ruth Ginsburg refused to answer even more than Alito, yet Biden and Kennedy and the rest treated her with great care. And, the majority of the Republicans in the Senate affirmed her, even though she had a proven trach record of liberalism and pro-abortion.
I do not believe mr. Penn's opinions to be invalid. They just have no more validity than the average guy on the street. He may be a brilliant actor, but that does not make him astute concerning politics. One reason I do not watch the awards shows is because of how these guys choose to spout off about their politics. They are being rewarded for their acting, not their politics.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (5:22 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
We'll have to dig up some of these guys. There are some Conservatives in hollywood, but you must admit they are few. The message coming from hollywood, being presented across America, is a consistently liberal message. Thank God I am free to choose what I watch.
Just watched "Killer" starring james Woods tonight. Intersting movie, based on a true story, about a serial killer who was executed at Leavenworth. Killed 21 people. The message was of sympathy, anti death penalty. How about the Green Mile? There is a consistent liberal message coming from our movies, but I guess that is for another blog, another time.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (5:25 pm)
Reply to: sweetsue
Thanks, Sue. Sometimes we agree, sometimes not, but I always appreciate your insights. This "victim" mentality keeps so many from progressing with their lives. I heard an interesting statistic today. 9 out of 10 millionaires today are self-made; not inherited.
posted by:
ruined (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:00 pm)
I live in an area that sees a pretty good mix of white and hispanic population. Statistically, in our area, both races seem to get in about as much trouble. My thoughts... it's all in upbringing. If the parents do not bother teaching their children wrong from right... well, they're going to find trouble. People are so quick to blame race... why don't we forget the race thing for awhile and look at something really basic. Like... upbringing.
As for Penn's smoking issue... I agree. Those were the days when we were responsible for our own actions. However, isn't it just easier to blame somebody? Especially a politician? ;)
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:36 pm)
I saw the whole thing, wtched the repeats each night on c-span... am watching todays now... you watch with an agenda and see what you like. The LAW says that the nominees are to answer what they are asked. But the law doesn't matter, does it? He's conservative and do can do no wrong. I remember the Ginsburg hearings. They were not very contentious as the overall makeup of the court was not on the line. The contentiousness always comes to the fore when the rights of Americans are at stake in the foreseeable future. But, I suppose since we're only talking about the rights of women and minorities (and they don't deserve to be protected as much as unborn tissue) that it really doesn't matter anyhow does it. Bet you heard about the Ginsburg thing on a radio show. Can't imagine who might try to make that irrelevant point to his listeners.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:40 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
You saw Mr Spector and Mr Kennedy arguing over soemthing not having anything to do with how Mr Alito was being treated... I heard not a single question from Mr Schumer that I personally didn't feel ought to be answered. (and that is REQUIRED to be answered BY LAW.)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (6:59 pm)
Reply to: ruined
I do not think race is the issue. Race does not matter. Black, white, hispanic - we are all the same on the inside.
Now, culture is the issue. And I believe many of these young people are severely hindered by their culture. Not all cultures are equal. Some cultural practices need to change. The school system does not need to celebrate unhealthy cultural practices.
Having said that, you are right, the home is the key. A home that values education. A home that honors the two-parent family. A home that values God and church. These are essential, I believe.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (7:09 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Oh, but Kennedy was on a pell-mell pursuit of dirt about Judge Alito, some obscure papers about some club he was member of some 35 years ago. They did pour over the papers late into the night, and found nothing. I'm sure Ted was disappointed.
It seemed that Schumer just kept barraging questions, rapid-fire, not for the purpose of dialog but just to injure the recipient.
It seems you too quickly justify the discrepancy between the treatment of Alito and that of Ginsburg.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (7:16 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
My news sources:
I watch the Today Show most mornings.
I read the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
On the internet, I check out Newsmax, Drudge Report, WorldNetDaily, and MSNBC.
As I travel, I'll listen to Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and sometimes AirAmerica.
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (7:45 pm)
One thought comes to mind....insane.
We are alot alike in our news sources...that is a good thing.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.13.06 (7:57 pm)
Reply to: preceptlady
I can only take a little bit of Limbaugh. Now, Boortz is challenging, when he stays off the "Fair Tax" thing. I actually like Al Franken on AirAmerica. Entertaining. And, Drudge is my best news source on the internet.
posted by:
TaBooTenente (
reply)
post date:
01.14.06 (6:29 am)
dave,
thanks again for your comments. i made a long, blathering response, and you can check it out if you ever get about 30 years of free time and need something to do.
anyway, i'll try to go gently here:
when a public system is suspending or expelling a significant percentage of a single, cultural population, it seems obvious to me that you need to try to understand why that is happening.
if the goal of a public school system is to provide education to everyone, to make education accessible to everyone, then you need to structure both the curriculum and the manner of discipline that offers the best chance at educating the most children.
what seems important to me regarding the article you quoted was the need to re-evaluate the disciplinary system. no one proposed a solution where black students would no longer be punished for disruptive behavior; there was only a sense that suspending and expelling so many students wasnt changing the problem.
first, you might say you are expelling these students for the sake of other students . . . but if you stick to this policy, and the overwhelming majority of expelled students are underprivileged, underparented black kids, you're going to end up with a homogenous collection of white boys--which strikes me as an embarrassing failure.
then, you might say, then, that it is the parents who are at fault, rather than the school system (you referred to atlanta's system on my blog) or the money spent by the school system. of course this is true to some extent, but if the parents received the same school experience that the child is receiving, then you should know what to expect--nothing should come as a shock.
then you might say that this is a cultural issue--or more specifically, that it is the CULTURE that is tainted, rather than the system that tries to accommodate the culture. you mention a lack of male role-models, and you mention the hip-hop culture as examples.
first of all, i think it is very dangerous to suggest that black culture doesn't encourage male role-models. why do poor, uneducated black families in inner cities tend to lack male role-models? because poor black male students are more likely to have fathers who were poor black male students, who in turn also had fathers who were poor black male students---
if the original question was whether or not this seattle school should stop punishing black students for misbehaving, then there would be no debate: the answer would be no; of course not; never.
but that's not the question, and i dont think your quoted article implied any such question.
the question is HOW to discipline students from a population which has never been equipped to form a support network, a network which might allow being suspended or expelled to actually be a deterrent. something that could make things change.
(yes, believe it or not, that was the short version. i shame myself, sometimes.)
tbt
posted by:
TaBooTenente (
reply)
post date:
01.14.06 (6:54 am)
the sad part is i didnt even mention mr. penn!
it's an interesting thing, that you find yourself agreeing with me on this idea, while i find myself agreeing with you, for the most part. so it goes.
while i'm willing to believe that bush is responsible for many of the world's problems (sorry, couldn't resist), sean will have to face up to his own smoking problem (and some of his other problems, too).
i mean, look at GW: the story goes that he quit cocaine and no longer drinks alcohol--and he has to live in the same house as himself! if penn can't deal with quitting marlboros while reading tea-leaves ithousands of miles away in bangladesh, then that's his own bad look-out.
but still . . . what do you do when you get a zillion unshaven strangers poking microphones and cameras in your face every day? you're going to slip up some time--though not everyone will slip up by punching out a camera man. (remember the good ole days when he was doing the madonna thing? now that was nearly kinda sorta almost newsworthy stuff!)
i wasn't at the anti-war rally that this article referred to, where he stated that his bush-related stress prevented him from kicking the nicotine habit. penn may very well be a bit nutty--which i for one believe--and sometimes he may be a dope--which i hold to be self-evident--but he's not dumb. i'll suggest that sean knows that he is addicted to smokes, that he realizes that addiction is the reason he has a hard time quitting. yes, i'll suggest that sean penn doesnt really believe GW is responsible for sean's own failure to quit.
again, i wasnt there, but i suspect he was joking. if we keep snapping photos of the guy, keep squeezing him until he speaks into the tape recorder, we're going to be able to find something to rip out of context we can use to make fun of him.
tbt
posted by:
21CC (
reply)
post date:
01.14.06 (4:23 pm)
hahahaha i cant beleive that second one!!! that's funny...great blog
posted by:
sweetsue (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (3:36 am)
I like the new look of your blog Pastor Dave ^-^
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (5:55 am)
To sweetsue:
Thanks. I had a different picture of myself, but my wife complained I looked too much like a 60's hippie in it. Shoot, that was me in the 60's! So, this one is more "dignified"!
Thanks, Sue.
