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Stossel on the stranglehold of unions and public education

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Sunday, December 24, 2006 1:32:06 PM
I was listening to a townhall year-end retrospective on key issues and I came across Dennis Prager interviewing John Stossel regarding his series "Stupid in America." It is refreshing to hear such clearly-understood and expressed views on education from such a well-known public figure. He is only carrying water for the fundamental need to educate our kids and not all the other fluff. The interview is a must listen and there's accompanying articles, as well.
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American Lunch

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Saturday, December 16, 2006 2:31:52 PM
I've never seen the movie "American Pie," nor intend to. Inserting genitalia into a desert is, well, just stupid and the idiocy of the movie doesn't stop there. And I love stupid humor. Another one of those fine lines, I guess. So, when an enterprising student imitates what us sophisticated parents laugh at, everyone is disgusted. Why? I thought this ribald form of humor was very fashionable. Which is it?

I, ahem, guess you can't have your pie and eat it, too.
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All I want for Christmas is prosti-tot dolls

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Saturday, December 16, 2006 2:08:00 PM
Remember Bratz? (Forget my providing a link -- you know how to work Google, and I'm no accomplice to that filth) There's nothing to forget, actually. They remain wildly popular. I don't get it. It's easy to understand why a conservative would find them offensive, but come on, feminists! Why the heck are you so blithe to this objectification of women,  especially for girls of such an impressionable age? These things used to matter to mainstream feminism -- but that's back when feminism had to confront it's many conflicts (autonomy versus community, rights of the weakest versus the right to kill the unborn, the value and dignity of every woman versus free sex, and so forth) As always, the pagan (might trumps egalitarianism) values won.

Well, via Michelle Malkin, we have another reminder that we've pushed the envelope a tad more, helping to make street-walking vocations respectable once again. Our family has long banned Bratz from our house, from day one. The occasional well-meaning gift finds its way to our house. We've discussed with our kids what the rub is, and they mostly get it. Of course, come puberty, they'll fully understand. In educating our little ones on human sexuality, it is a train to get in front of, not to merely marvel at its potentially destructive and consuming power, through up hands and say, "let the little devils frolic."

"But, Figgles, you're so judgemental!" That's for another day. (Here's an interesting view on the subject from across the pond.)
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Wanna see a funny photo?

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Friday, December 15, 2006 1:05:41 PM
via Drudge. The only problem is, it's not funny, not at all. This drunk man could have been met a grisly death, and could have harmed others. All unwittingly, I have no doubt. Yet, because he was drunk and in a position of authority, I started looking at the story with a snicker. I finished with a sigh and a blog post.
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Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Saturday, December 09, 2006 11:05:04 AM
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings
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Who's In Charge?

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Saturday, December 09, 2006 9:23:56 AM
Incredible. Even if the 4-year old "rubb[ed] his face in the chest of a female employee" it's extremely difficult to believe this was a "sexual" act.

Let's sit down and (try to) unpack this. As the story points out, unless a boy has been sexually abused (and the symptoms would manifest in ways that I hope the family and school would have accommodated well before this incident -- and thus mooting this issue) a 4-year doesn't think in this way. Even if the kid is copying inappropriate behavior he saw -- at 4, its not the same as a sexual act. Maybe there's disciplinary issues with the child but now the school's inability to act appropriately moots their authority on the matter. I can't tear this apart to put it together in any way that makes the school look good. And, for what ever its worth, the child's dad is apparently actively involved.

Having said that, public education's free fall limits educators and administrator's latitude regarding discipline (as well as defining a common "good behavior" standard.) Going broader, if a significant minority of parents believe that it is a fundamental charge for schools to educate children on condom usage and having better sex -- than what is the common thread of morality? Without this commonality, we again are rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

And, in the meanwhile, 4-years receive inappropriate transferences from hamstrung, frustrated and unqualified teachers. Remind me why we should give public schools more money again?
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Trying... to... post...

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Friday, December 08, 2006 10:57:10 PM
So many.. things to talk about bad stuff that others are doing but...  I got... a plank... stuck in my eye... can't get it out...
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The Waiting Room

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Friday, December 08, 2006 6:34:34 PM
On the wall of the doctor's waiting room, magazines form a monolithic phalanx of weltanschaung: Time, Entertainment Weekly, The Week, FitPregnancy. I eye "Time" for a few pages, but quickly tire of its no surprises drone. I can handle an opposing viewpoint; I enjoy a good debate. "Time" isn't about debate. For them, the matter's settled. They offer their enlightened views for our learning and nourishment.  They present opposing views like historical footnotes from the troglodyte era. Surely no one debates cave paintings, not these days.

Towards the front of the book, I briefly scan a hagiography on Al Gore. In it, the former V.P. assigns those with opposing views on global warming to the same camp that ascribes the moon landing to well-staged fiction. What condescending arrogance posing as a response. I was distantly hoping for an engaging counter, but, instead, flashed back to 2000.

Scanning the wall-rack, I find a Gideon's Bible, and a kid's Bible story book. I love it here. In NYC, I would be surprised to find such books available.

In my pre-procedure anxiety, I repeatly pray; “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living Father, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Today is the Holy Day of the Immaculate Conception. I'm being called right now...

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Public Diseducation

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Thursday, December 07, 2006 4:42:56 PM
Regarding public school and all its attendant nonsense, maybe you've heard the irrational formulation expressed thusly; "Well, my kids won't be exposed to any of this nonsense going on -- I'm volunteering with the PTA!" That sentiment and 10 cents won't buy you coffee, nor educate your kids.

Michelle Malkin (my favorite blog) points to this Queens, NY news article that is sadly amazing. Look at this quote in the original article:

Parent and leadership team member Michael Novak said the books, which are labeled "young adult" by the New York Public Library, are "material that is totally inappropriate for sixth-graders."

Which begs the question: at what age is it appropriate? Ready for more sophistry? Try this:

"You Hear Me?" was suggested for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders by the Columbia University Teachers College's Reading and Writing Project because it is the only anthology with poems written by minority teenagers, [my emphasis] said Lucy Calkins, its founding director.

Talk about the soft bigotry of low expectations, if this pap is considered print-worthy. We satisfy one lesser priority while killing a greater one, not unlike last minute chair arrangements on the Titanic.
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Veins of a leaf, tomatoes and lettuce separate

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Thursday, December 07, 2006 9:00:55 AM
St. John of the Cross saw the profound glory of God in the veins of a leaf. I'm more simple. I think it's cool that you can keep a sandwich more fresh-tasting by keeping the tomato and lettuce on the side until just before you eat the sandwich. Soli Deo Gloria!
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Grrr... Woof! Woof!

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Thursday, December 07, 2006 6:51:32 AM
Pet peeve: unleashed dogs. Like monkies-with-guns. Nothing more annoying than the unleashed dogs during my daily jog. When the owner strains to assure me that "he's friendly!" (and, sure, it IS an elder Labrador -- about as threatening as Gilbert Gottfried) I know it only has downhill to go from there.
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Hot seat

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 8:48:51 PM
Dennis Prager is in the hot seat for recent comments, that, in our current environment, metastasizesd into something provocative. It is radical that a newly-elected congressman doesn't want to use a Bible in his oath of office. My first blush was to think "no big deal," but I get Prager's point: our Judeo-Christian heritage, as encapsulated by the Bible, is the very foundation of our liberal democratic republic. If we don't vouchsafe that fabric, we fray the very fabric of our civilization.
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Is this thing on?

Posted by Brother-bloviate on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 8:26:19 PM
(Tap, tap) Is this thing on? I figured it would be fun to try some light blogging. I'm a busy Husband and Dad and I do a lot of professional writing. I'm looking for a lighter venue to knock out text. I might write about why I enjoy Dennis Prager's show (and not Hugh Hewitt's) or I might write completely self-obsessive dreck that even my Mom would lack the emotional stamina to follow. Or something incendiary Doesn't matter -- I'm just looking to have some fun here and curious to see what happens.
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