Oppressed Oppressor

I have been thinking a lot about history lately; our history as humans, as well as my own history.  Now, I just can not believe that I am a result of  evolution….a  goo-man if you will, Iwould rather believe that I am a created man.  So this ‘our’ history I speak of is the story of divine creation, the fall, oppression through captivity, redemption from captivity only to become the oppressors, back into captivity and oppression….you get the picture.  

My thoughts are occupied with the question into which category I fall into: the oppressed or the oppressor.  And that I suppose depends on your perspective.  Most of the oppression I feel is financial in nature and it is a consequence of my own actions.  In a way I have oppressed myself by not following the instruction manual I was given.  No, I am not talking about a  Dave Ramsey book ( although I think he may have referred to the manual while writing his books).

You don’t have to search to hard to find God’s counsel on banking and it would appear He just doesn’t understand our modern financial institutions.  He would have lenders not charge interest!?!  Exodus 22:25   Can you imagine that?  Doesn’t that raise your ire with the evil banks and mortgage companies?  Wait a minute, what is my part in this…do I have any accountability here?  If I truly believe that interest charging lenders are in opposition of God, what was I thinking when I borrowed money from them?  Whether you believe greed or need was the driving force,  I am now dancing with the devil…working two, sometimes three jobs just to feed the beast I helped to create.

Don’t get me wrong here, it is not the work that bothers me….it is knowing what I could be doing different had I followed the instruction manual.  I would have more time to give to service and more resources to share.  The worst part…..the part that haunts me…..is that I know I broke my Father’s heart.

Regretfully, RT

Demosthenes may have had a point.

When it comes to public education Demosthenes may have had a point.  If one of his students made a grammatical error, he would strike one of the parents.  Now just think about this for a minute…..actually holding parents responsible for their child’s behavior and education?  Unheard of, it is the government’s and it’s educational system responsibility to provide a free education to all of its citizens.  No child left behind right?  I mean parents just need to make sure that their children make it to dance, piano, soccer, cheerleading and every other extracurricular activity on time.

Believe me when I say that I have felt Demosthenes’ pain.  As a mathematics teacher I have heard parents say countless times (okay I could count them but I haven’t) “oh, I wasn’t any good at math either” as an excuse for their child’s poor performance.  Come on, give me a break.  In 7th grade math we are not talking Calculus or Trigonometry here folks, we are talking everyday math skills and a little pre-algebra.  These same kiddos who don’t know their multiplication facts, know the lyrics to hundreds of songs.  It has just not been made a priority at home.  Have you ever heard a parent say; my child can’t read, but that’s okay cause I never learned to read either?  I haven’t either. 

The vast majority of todays teachers are highly qualified and are there because they feel called, oh and the high pay.  We are one of the few nations that try to educate the masses and provide this service free to tax payers and non-taxpayers alike.  I often wonder if because education is basically a handout, it is not valued as it should be.  I mean, if it is truly free then why should one have to work for it at all.  It becomes a right.

No Child Left Behind should be rewritten to incorporate language, guidelines, and consequences for parents of poor performing students.  Then maybe we would see a dynamic change.

Where’s the Tylenol. RT.

Is it just me?

As I walked down the school hallway and heard Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA playing on the morning announcements as an intro to the pledge, I wondered if the irony was lost on everyone but me.  The demographics of this district’s website report that there are over 40 different languages spoken in the homes of its students.  This would imply that not all of the students were “born in the USA”.  The district’s ethnicity summary reports that Hispanic is the largest and fastest growing “minority”.  It goes on to report that all “minorities” combined equal 49% of its student population.  Now what message are we sending to these students and others?  Many were not born in the USA, yet we expect that they stand and show respect for the flag during the pledge?  This, after pointing out the difference between us and them through the words of Bruce’s anthem…  I don’t get it.

Now don’t get me wrong, people who know me wouldn’t exactly call me touchy-feely, but I do think we need to realize the impact of our uttered words.  Those words can be in written, spoken, or song form.  We need to be a lot less egocentric and a little more altruistic in our thoughts, words, and actions.  Wait a minute, that is beginning to sound like a Jewish rabbi I have read about.  And you know what happened when people started following Him.

Enough said, RT out.

Dan Newberry is messing with my Saturday evening…

Okay, I apologize in advance, but here I go again…

There I was sitting on the couch quietly enjoying a Saturday night at home watching college football with my lovely wife and then there it was;  a political ad for Dan Newberry running for state senate saying how he will improve education by implementing “higher standards for schools, and higher goals and expectations for education.”  Give me a break…..

When was the last time Mr. Newberry or any other state senator was even in a school, let alone a classroom.  Do they not realize that Oklahoma already has some of the highest criteria and testing standards for teachers.  I don’t know about your state, but in Oklahoma the state senate has been writing educational mandates and forgetting to fund them.  What qualifies these state senators to do this.  Do they have Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorates degrees in education?  I don’t think so. 

I have said it before and I will say it again now; I believe all US and state senators need to spend time in public schools substituting for at least a continuous week and be held accountable for the student’s mastery of the curriculum which they have taught.  Then maybe they would have a small glimpse of and slight insight into the real problem with education: the brokeness of our society and the plight of the American family coupled with the loss of the “culture of school.”  This would allow them to make education related decisions based on real time data and not their own past experiences.

Dan, I hope to see you and other law makers in the hallways and classrooms of my school soon.

Just the way I see it, RT

Dallas going pink…

The Dallas, Texas public school district is reportedly issuing “pink slips” to nearly 1,100 employees this week due to an $84 million shortfall.  Approximately 550 of those will be classroom teachers.  The students in the classrooms of those 550 teachers will have to be absorbed into other already crowded classrooms.  Now that’s an academically sound move…..      

If we can afford $700 $750 billion to bailout the crooks on Wall Street and the bankers who let their greed run amuck, surely we can afford another $84 million to bailout a school district as large as the one in Dallas.  Who knows, maybe the district could even implement an ethics curriculum and avoid another mess like we are in now.

Seeing pinkish red, RT

Pity from a Perspective of Prosperity and Privilege

Damn Home and Garden TV!  Damn DIY Network!  Damn Home Depot!  Why you ask?  They appear harmless enough at first glance, but they are in league with the prince of darkness himself.  I can’t watch HGTV or DIY without realizing my need to renovate my home and my need to spruce up my landscaping.  Then, along comes Home Depot and seduces you with the promise of low monthly payments.  All of this combined, forms a sense of discontentment and despair. 

 

This distorted self pity comes from a perspective of privilege which blinds us from reality.  All of these “needs” imply prosperity and privilege.  The need to improve a home implies the privilege of home ownership, hence prosperity.  Landscaping is a privilege, just to have a place for a vegetable garden is a privilege.  But we as a nation of consumers can only hunger and thirst for more.        

 

Shouldn’t just having a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and clothes on my back be privilege enough?  Could I be a better steward of what I have been given?  Could I need less and give more?  I think so.  How about you?

 

Check out how much you have been given in comparison with others:  http://www.globalrichlist.com/

 

It is all in your perspective, RT    

Gum Rule

I would like to share with you my thoughts on what is wrong with Public Education, seeing that everyone else seems to be doing so.  It is my belief that all of the woes of public education can be traced back to one issue: The Gum Rule. 

That’s right the Gum Rule.  The gum rule or more specifically the NO GUM ALLOWED AT SCHOOL RULE has always been part of the Board Approved Student Handbook.  Yet on any given day in any given classroom there they are:  Gum chewers, rule breakers, rouge chomppers blatantly flaunting their disregard of the Gum Rule!  When and if this violation of board policy is addressed, consequences are rarely applied.  

Now, let me interject here that I earnestly believe the kiddos in the US are anything but stupid.  With that being said, what lesson do you think they are learning from “getting away” with breaking the gum rule?  You guessed it!  “That the rules and their consequences don’t apply to me.”

This mindset is often transferred to other rules of conduct and academics.  Teachers and administrators are often overwhelmed with trying to encourage, enlighten and educate students not to mention dealing with “big” issues such as fights, weapons, and drugs; that violations of long standing rules of decorum and civility are being over looked and not addressed. 

Academically, if a student chooses not to study and pass, oh lets say their math class, there is no consequence. Even though they have been told that they will not be able to go on the next grade they know they will.  Why?  Because research has found that retention does nothing to improve the educational success of the student.  In reference to conduct; school hallways are becoming mosh-pits that would make visiting sailors blush.    

I reiterate:  What lessons are we really teaching our students, because folks, they are learning them well!!  We are not losing the battle for the culture of education; we are willingly surrendering it without a fight!

Hey, don’t call me a legalist.  I don’t even agree with the Gum Rule.  I encourage students to present reasonable and articulate dialogues to have the Gum Rule removed. However, I will follow and enforce it as long as it is a rule.    However, by not adhering to and enforcing the gum rule and any other rule/policy/law, we as adults are being poor role-models.   Who is watching you?

Looking the other way, RT.

Blowing Smoke

Monday, February 4th, Governor Henry delivered his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature. By all appearances it was well received as it was interrupted over twenty times by applause.  With that being said, I would like to focus on two of his points that impact teachers and education:

1.  Governor Henry stated that he wanted to give teachers a pay increase averaging $1200.

2.  He further stated that he supported State Superintendent of Education Sandy Garrett’s proposal to add 5 instructional days to the school calendar.

Why wouldn’t this get applause?  All of this sounds great at first glance, but……

Let’s give teachers that $1200 pay raise, I know they deserve it and would appreciate it!  Only thing is when you combine that with 5 extra contract days it is no where near a $1200 raise.  Let’s take a look at the net affect of these two proposals on an average (some say above average) teacher’s salary.  You do the math: $36,500 divided by 181 contract days equals $201.66 per contract day.  Add 5 more days at $201.66 per contract day or $1008.30, subtract that from the $1200 “raise” and it is actually only a $191.70 pay raise.

Come on Governor Henry and Superintendent Garrett you can’t have it both ways.  Either give teachers a raise that includes compensation for the extra 5 days or don’t call it a raise.  Being asked to work 5 days without pay just doesn’t set right.  Maybe I am just arguing over semantics here, but it still smells like smoke!    

PUNKs

Once again it is tax season. A time when we stop and reflect on how much our children mean to us.  About $1000 if they are dependents.  That may seem harsh, but as a nation are we truly interested in our children’s well-being?  The influx of PUNKs would suggest not.

Ray Comfort defines PUNKs as pathetic, unwanted, needy kids.  Our society is creating these PUNKs in record numbers.  Parents often take the path of least resistance when raising their children.  Sometimes because they are too self-absorbed.  Other times because they are too busy trying to earn a living in a nation that is giving away the economic base of the masses to profit a few.

Raising a child to be a good person and a productive citizen takes a lot of hard work, sacrifice and yes, even discipline.  Most PUNKs have never learned self-control.  Partially due to the lack of follow through of logical consequences.  As soon as a consequence becomes an inconvenience for the parent, it is often forgotten.  This creates confusion and leads to a disrespect of authority.  Occasionally, for the benefit of the child, parents may need to suffer a little too.

PUNKs have been bombarded by audio-visual stimuli since birth.  This attack on their senses seems to have caused their inability to focus mentally along with an erosion of social etiquette.  Another symptom of this sensual  sortie is academic; PUNKs don’t realize that their stream of consciousness talking and impulsive behavior is negatively effecting their education.  The teacher and anyone else simply become part of the background music/clutter of their lives.

DVDs as babysitters, ten year-olds with cellphones……come on parents.  Think of all the missed oppportunities to really get to know your child and have meaningful dialogue/interaction.  Parents, your child is worth much more than a tax deduction once a year.  They don’t need your money near as much as they do your time.

Thanks for tuning in, RT

Taser Twits

Well, I am stunned!! I couldn’t believe the news report I was watching this morning before work; Police Cadets as part of their “training” were being shot with a taser, you know 50,000 volts. The rationale was that it would make them aware of the effects this device has on it’s victims. Wait a minute here, does this mean the cadets are also going to be beat into submission with night sticks so they know the effects of that? Are they going to be required to be shot with their own weapon to know the effects of that? Is it just me, or this rationale a little weak? It sounds more like boyish bravado at best or an initiation hazing at worst. Niether of these is what I would expect from the professionals we count on to enforce our laws and protect us.

Please don’t get me wrong, I have the highest regard for our fine law enforcement men and women. I rank them right up there with others servinig the higher good, like teachers, but what purpose does this hazing…oops, tasing serve and does it make any sense?

Just something to think about. See ya, R. T.