mangofirst

Funny! Maybe this is just another example of the application of the "six degrees of separation" theory. O_o I was thinking of Kevin Bacon as I was typing that!

Okay so there are three (I think) bottles on the table at Rodney's and I eat there at least once a week. In commercial terms: I like Sriracha, Louisiana, and Frank's. Can't deal with Tabasco. I like to taste the peppers but not have my taste buds numbed. Which one should I try?

Did I mention that I love it here? :-D mdeneen: I did not think your comments were directed toward my family. Just using a little pathos to support my side. Now, can someone go back and do a quick and dirty recap of the development of this thread? How'd we get from the tooth fairy to here? Fun times.

The use of the words 'alternative education' to descibe those curricula outside the prescribed norm cracks me up. I mean, I suppose the word works since I just defined it in the previous sentence, but when alternatives work better than the standard ways, shouldn't they then become the standard?

And Stew, I'm half redneck half hippie. I should be a flippin' Gemini!

It's that whole utopian society farce. You see, boys and girls, there is e-ville in the world as well as good. This is why communism will never work.

You mean the why? The types of documents released were completely different. Snowden is a whistleblower and Manning is a traitor. Snowden released information that has to do with the American people and -- qualifier here -- from what I've read, the only person he put in harm's way was himself. Manning released information that, while some of it is quite questionable, put many lives in danger. I guess it hits home with me because my husband's name could be in those files which would put not only his life but mine and our daughter's in danger as well. Not cool.

Of course I am referring to the nation culturally. Who cares what's in the old Constitution? It's irrelevant mostly after 200 years. I don't mean irrelevant in people's dreams and fantasies, I mean effectively irrelevant as a national institutional framework. All that matters now is the ludicrous, but appropriately named, "Supreme Court." Really!? Is everyone going to let this go? It is amazing to me the disdain people have of the very document (along with the Bill of Rights) that provided them the freedom and life that they enjoy today. I certainly agree that it is treated as irrelevant by those sworn to uphold it. I didn't realize until we did a Constitution Day ceremony at my school this year that every branch of the U.S. military swears an oath not to protect our country or the people in it, but to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," and "bear true faith and allegiance to the same". The only catch there is that they also swear to obey orders of the POTUS and officers appointed over them...seems like the last few presidents we've had haven't really upheld their own oaths to "preserve, protect and defend" the same.Can we just take a moment to notice the words 'and domestic' up there? Anyone wanna take a swing at defining a domestic enemy for me? The Boston Bomber dude. Chelsea Bradley. Oh yeah, and all the people being spied upon by the NSA. Pffft I have completely different views of Manning and Snowden.

do you want their forum names? Friday is the best day to joke around since … Thursday.Let's not get the NSA involved...oh wait, if you type NSA are they automatically involved? :-D

Or the attitudes of the people toward said leaders.

So what's your solution? What can we do about it? You use the word indifference and I agree. Our forefathers would be ashamed of the apathy shown by the American people regarding the state of our nation. P.S. From what I've read, Chelsea Manning committed treason and she was treated as a military prisoner. Nothing jumped out at me as torture or cruel and unusual punishment if that's what you were referring to...and that Fifth Amendment is a real b for those in the armed services who decide to commit a capital crime.

Of course I am referring to the nation culturally. Who cares what's in the old Constitution? It's irrelevant mostly after 200 years. I don't mean irrelevant in people's dreams and fantasies, I mean effectively irrelevant as a national institutional framework. All that matters now is the ludicrous, but appropriately named, "Supreme Court." Really!? Is everyone going to let this go? It is amazing to me the disdain people have of the very document (along with the Bill of Rights) that provided them the freedom and life that they enjoy today. I certainly agree that it is treated as irrelevant by those sworn to uphold it. I didn't realize until we did a Constitution Day ceremony at my school this year that every branch of the U.S. military swears an oath not to protect our country or the people in it, but to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," and "bear true faith and allegiance to the same". The only catch there is that they also swear to obey orders of the POTUS and officers appointed over them...seems like the last few presidents we've had haven't really upheld their own oaths to "preserve, protect and defend" the same.Can we just take a moment to notice the words 'and domestic' up there? Anyone wanna take a swing at defining a domestic enemy for me?

I just can't even...this is just pretty much perfect, and what I've been saying (in a completely different, less concise, more roundabout way) since I started teaching. Well, maybe. In my dream world, students wouldn't go to English class, science class, history class, etc. if we want to foster the critical thinking lauded by the common core and most likely by whatever comes next, then subject areas should be integrated. If I had the time I would plan it all out, but what with all the other million things expected of a high school teacher from the district, from the state, and on and on, it's purt near impossible. So for now I just use every "teachable moment" that comes along...quick history, science, art, and music lessons...and very rarely math :-P oh and some logic and reason thrown in willy nilly.

I think they are related and I suppose that's where we'll differ. You are presenting a story to your child. The words are coming out of your mouth. Just the fact that you're reading it to your child gives it credibility in their eyes. They imagine the story is real. You could say it's a lie by omission if you never give a disclaimer to your child before or after reading it. I'm trying to figure out just when and how my amazing parents helped me figure out that a story is a story and you can play it out in your mind but it's not reality. "Brie'Anne, we need to have a serious talk...Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and The Cookie Monster are not real." "You mean there aren't really green and blue furry monsters in the real world?" *cries* I do remember my first relationship with death though. Mr. Hooper died and I was very upset. But Mr. Hooper was a human...I think it's okay for a preschooler to cry about that, even if he was playing a character on TV. And by the way, Sesame Street did a bang up job with explaining that whole situation. I had a book about it. :-D

Maynard......... Appreciate the response and your very circumspect approach to parenting your own children. But there is another and perhaps bigger issue here and it is the character of the community and what it accepts as behavioral norms. The girls whose parents failed them were being victimized (I think we agree). The boys victimizing those girls needed something between serious discipline and profound counseling. They all grew into young adults with some very unsavory baggage and who knows how well each of them dealt with it. As for the schools they do have expulsion and they can remove transportation privileges. That was one clear occasion where action was 100% required on everyones part. I can not believe that any parent informed of what those kids were doing would not be deeply grateful for it being brought to their attention. Outrageous behavior is an outrage and it is during those formative years that behavioral boundaries need to be established. Help the schools do this by reporting outrageous behavior. I will not guarantee that anything will be done - but the responsible parent does need to do their part IMHO. I never felt like a victim on the band bus...alas, I did have the couth not to do such things on a bus with small children or in the daylight... :-/

"Now the mom wonders if her daughters will believe other things she and her husband say, if a teacher contradicts them." For the record: in my high school classes, if we ever get into a discussion over an argumentative topic (which believe me, in an English classroom happens at least once a week if not more), I always preface my personal beliefs with a disclaimer of just that..."in my opinion" or "I personally believe." My job is to teach these kids to argue their own side of things, not just to take what I say and regurgitate it. Teenagers actually do have a thought process, however difficult it may be to keep them focused on it.

Now, as for the Common Core (because I'm sure that will come up if it hasn't already), it's just the newest in a long line of trying to stick a bandaid on a gaping wound. Good teachers actually do stick to the basics. The same things that have been taught for hundreds of years. No set of standards will change the way I teach; I will continue to do what I do, only I will find the standard that fits what I was already doing to begin with. That is not to say that I don't learn new and better methods every time I teach a lesson or attend a good professional development workshop (though those are rare indeed). If a teacher can't figure out how to use the standards in that way, they ought not be teaching. Of course, I haven't seen the CC math standards, so I'm only speaking about English and history.

That plaque looks awesome behind the bar :-) Kevin is the man!

While I personally am not always trying "to be a social support network" for my students, teachers do, especially elementary ones, see their students for more hours each week than their parents. You try spending 25-30 (or even 5 like me, the high school teacher) hours a week with human beings under the age of 18 -- keeping them engaged in their learning, keeping them from killing each other -- and get back to me on how we should not bother with including character education and as many "teachable moments" as possible in our daily lessons.What if my having a one-on-one with a kid and telling him why I think he's a great person, or that he is really a bright student when he is focused on his thinking...what if that made a difference? What if nobody had ever told them they were worth a damn, and I did, and they ended up being an integral part of our society rather than the scum of the earth?

Credit goes to Roy and Shelli! I was just along for the ride :-)

In regards to Kevin's story...we delivered a tee shirt that couldn't be more fitting to Mr. Jackie Collie (the "neighbor") this evening. Love it! Sorry for the quality.

Ms. Mango, you are invaluable! Dave Ms. Mango, you are invaluable! Modern translation: Ms. Mango, you Da Bomb! That's modern?

P.S. Rodney already has a Dropcam :-)

I am working on getting a signal booster for inside the building for people's personal cellular data.

Maybe we should try to compile everyone's photos (in full resolution of course) onto one disc for the attendees? Could also include any phone video clips anyone may have. I know dtel was shooting a lot of photos also. Production and mailing costs would be minimal. If you want to try this I could send you a disc with the pictures and you could put into one group, just send me a mailing address if interested. I will PM you with my address.Guys, you might try uploading to a Flickr account to share. Then people can download and make their own CDs. You get 1000gb free, plus there is an option for people to order books, prints, etc. That would eliminate emailing pics back and forth. I can create an account and post link here if you want; just let me know.