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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Feb. 12, 2007 at 1:04 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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85 Comments
EDITORIAL: MAYORAL RACE IS ABOUT LEADERSHIP SKILLShttp://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/editorial/16671638.htm
Too bad the Ed Board dropped the ball once again. Just goes to show ya how they don’t want to bite the hand that feeds them. Carlos Mayans IS NOT a leader. Anyone who calls other council members “racist” isn’t fit to be mayor. Anyone who leaks info to the media like a hot knife going through butter isn’t fit to be mayor. Perhaps the Ed Board should ask Mayans to explain the $6000 campaign contributions from the John Dugan family?
“A radical reconstruction of the educational system has the potential of staving off social conflict while at the same time strengthening the growth in living standards made possible by the new technology and the increasingly global market. In my view, such a radical reconstruction can be achieved only by privatizing a major segment of the educational system—that is, by enabling a private, for-profit industry to develop that will provide a wide variety of learning opportunities and offer effective competition to public schools. Such a reconstruction cannot come about overnight. It inevitably must be gradual.
The quality of schooling is far worse today than it was in 1955. There is no respect in which inhabitants of a low-income neighborhood are so disadvantaged as in the kind of schooling they can get for their children. The reason is partly the deterioration of our central cities, partly the increased centralization of public schools—as evidenced by the decline in the number of school districts from 55,000 in 1955 to fewer than 15,000 in 1998. Along with centralization has come—as both cause and effect—the growing strength of teachers’ unions.
Whatever the reason, the deterioration of elementary and secondary schools is not disputable. The system over time has become more defective as it has become more centralized. Power has moved from the local community to the school district to the state and on to the federal government. About 90 percent of our kids now go to so-called public schools, which are really not public at all but simply private fiefs, primarily of the administrators and the union officials.
We all know the dismal results: some relatively good government schools in high-income suburbs and communities; very poor government schools in our inner cities, with high dropout rates, increasing violence, lower performance, and demoralized students and teachers.”
anon are you a disgruntled ex school teacher with a bone to pick with the school system? What is your agenda? What do you want from us?
anon: Who are you quoting? I’m not necessarily disagreeing with much of what has been quoted, just wondering where it came from?
i would like some feed back on what you bloggers think of the practice of grade retention. the school district is recommending to my friend to hold back there 7 year old daughter in 1st grade. I’m not a big fan of the idea, but am curious to hear how other people feel about it.
“At Madbuli’s, a storied bookstore in downtown Cairo, five new titles lined the display window: ‘The Shiites,’ ‘The Shiites in History,’ ‘Twelve Shiites,’ and so on. A newspaper on sale nearby featured a warning by its editor that the conflict could lead to a ’sectarian holocaust.’”
“‘To us Egyptians,’ said writer and analyst Mohammed al-Sayid Said, the sectarian division is ‘entirely artificial. It resonates with nothing in our culture, nothing in our daily life. It’s not part of our social experience, cultural experience or religious experience.’ But he added: ‘I think this can devastate the region.’”
From this fascinating article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021101328.html
I think it’s beneficial in some cases. My daughter was very socially immature and wasn’t doing well in school globally. I made the decision to hold her back a grade and the teachers all agreed that was for the best, I just wish we had done it sooner.
What is wrong with the lag on this board today? Anyone else having problems?
clark,I assume you are talking about USD 259? When the budget was real tight and they were having to cut back on positions each year, 259 adopted a practice in regard to their special education services that was almost akin to the “managed care” you see in private health insurance markets. In other words they wanted to be sure that undeniable necessity was present before special (read more expensive) services were provided.
Statistically, USD 259 had an unusually large portion of kids identified as needing services. Administration officials sought to reduce these numbers of kids getting services. These administrative people failed to recognize that the Wichita public school system attracts families across the state and area with kids with special needs because of the very resources here.
If the friends’ kid is being retained for financial reasons, they would have the right to protest that.
That being said, for some kids retention is a good idea and has value. The school is in the position of having to justify such recommendation. Tell your friends to be “informed consumers.” They and their child have rights that the public school sometimes forgets.
Just my general thoughts on the subject.
maturity is the issue the school district is citing here as well. she does ok on the school work itself. my concern is we live in a small town. its a stigma that follows you. just seems that does more harm in the long run.
clark, IMHO, “immaturity” is not a good reason to ‘hold back’ a student, so long as the student is capable of doing the work. The ‘experts’ tell me (no links here) that if the decision to retain is after the first or second grade, it does more harm than good. I’m not sure that makes sense to me.
Having grown up in a very small town, I have to agree with you on the stigma thing, assuming she has the academic ability to continue with no issues.
thanks p mom and vaughn for the input.
clarke – I think your friend is facing two bad choices – retain or move forward unprepared. I would offer a possible third option – summer school and/or tutoring. Can the child be ‘brought up to speed’ with that? If not then I tend to vote with the school on that.
p-mom – considering that I wrote my (now very out-dated) reply to clarke almost an hour ago … yes …
VT makes excellent points BTW
What was with the local TV news last night? Both Ch 10 (Disney) and 12 (ViaCom) felt the need to run a segment of Australian PM Howard saying that a vote for Obama was a vote for Al Qaeda.
This from a country that has contributed exactly 1,000 troops to the war in Iraq.
Hey, Right-Honourable Mr. Howard, shut up and stay out of our house.
When America wants the opinion of Australia, we’ll ask a kangaroo.
TTBOI update
At the banquet at the prestigious Pennsylvania Hotel accross the street from the famous Madison Square Garden we found out that we didn’t win the vote as the Number One Dog Show in the nation.
Chicago won. We still finished in the top five again, didn’t hear what our final placement was. Kind of llke the Acadamy Awards, an honor to be nominated.
Hank
ben…tutoring is alreading being done. summer school will happen as well.
my friend is meeting with the school about the issue in a couple weeks. she has ask that i go with her for moral support. so i was just trying to be informed and objective on the subject.
i appreciate the input.
Update on the Ark River:
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/breaking_news/16682338.htm
Public meetings will be held this week to discuss plans for increased access to the Arkansas River, as well as to talk about the future of bicycle and walking paths in the Wichita area.
Tuesday, the public is invited to provide input on a master plan to for the recreational use of a 100-mile stretch of the river from Oxford to the Reno/Rice county line.
The plan will offer a blueprint for developing access points along the way for canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing and wildlife viewing.
The meeting will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Minisa Park Shelter, 704 W. 13th Street.
Similar meetings about the project will be held tonight in Oxford at Oxford High School from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and in South Hutchinson at the Mennonite Church, 808 S. Poplar Street, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Oh, by the way, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show will be televised tonight and tomorrow night on the USA network. 7pm to 10pm central time.
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/
For info on the show!
Hank
Well how about that!
The Dixie chicks won ALL FIVE of the Grammys they were nominated for!
Does that mean people accept their politics? Or that it was a MUSIC award? Hmmmm…lemme see.. Grammy’s…music awards?
Rap tries to ignore the clear moral of the story.
It means if all the tighty-righties slam the Dixie Chicks for speaking the truth, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference–they still rock!
The boycotts, the curses, the threats, the “I’ll never buy their albums again.”
A big nothing.
‘Course it doesn’t hurt that they were absolutely right and the vast majority of Americans now agree with them: “I’m ashamed Bush is president of my country.”
Excuse me, but a first grader is being held back because she’s “Immature?” A first grader is immature by definition!
Just making sure ya got the good word raptor!
Hey does anybody know what has happened to the “energy house”?
I speak of the house that was built during the energy crisis of the mid 70’s. It was located on the river at Harry and McClean blvd.
Remember now?
About a month ago, the house disappeared. I do not know if it was removed intact or demolished. It’s just ….gone.
I don’t think it had been open for years. In these times, it would seem wise to update and open the house, not remove it.
Anybody know about this?
Just making sure ya got the good word raptor!
Hey does anybody know what has happened to the “energy house”?
I speak of the house that was built during the energy crisis of the mid 70’s. It was located on the river at Harry and McClean blvd.
Remember now?
About a month ago, the house disappeared. I do not know if it was removed intact or demolished. It’s just ….gone.
I don’t think it had been open for years. In these times, it would seem wise to update and open the house, not remove it.
Anybody know about this?
Well, excuse me too! I went to public school so someone help me with my math.
If a seven year old first grader is held back one year wouldn’t that make her 20 when she graduates high school?
Just wondering.
Also, if her school work is good but she’s just immature, how does making her repeat the first grade with a bunch of children one (or two) year(s) younger than her make her more mature?
I vote for advancing her to the second grade with the info available so far.
Hank
hank…if she was held back a year she would be 19 when graduating high school.
jed..i have made the same comment to the teacher.
Immature? Heck, I know some 60-year-olds who are immature!
;^)
I still vote on advancing her.
Hank
As do I, Hank.
This reminds me a bit of a discussion concerning a niece; when she was ready to enter school (admittedly at the Kindergarten level), the subject of her birth date (August 22) arose [relevant in light of the September 1 cutoff]. She was, in fact, somewhat immature emotionally; however, it was decided to go ahead, as she showed signs of intellectual readiness. Now, I’m proud to say, she is a first year graduate student at Oklahoma State.
Each case is different; again, like Hank, based upon the information available, she ought to be advanced.
Hnak good on you for the placing.
I was held back in the 1st grade, I had every childhood illness except for mumps that year. Missed so much school I had to repeat the year. Plus I had the worst teacher in history too! Great story for later. I was 19 when I graduated, did me no harm either. It is the child and not her age that is important.
Clark,
One of my cousins was held back in first grade (long ago) in a very small school, and it did wonders for him. That’s not to say that it would for all, but it can for some.
I often wished I had held out a year before putting my next-to-youngest in kindergarten. She had turned 5 in July, but sitting out a year wouldn’t have hurt her at all and might have helped her tremendously. She was bright, but she didn’t have the maturity her 2 older sisters had at the same age.
Perhaps your friends should talk it over with their daughter. Kids sometimes have an insight into things you don’t thing they have, and 7-year-olds can be very astute. It might not hurt for all of them (child included) to have a conference with the school employees involved either.
Remember that really embarrassing goof-ball W’s slapping his wife’s a** in public?
You don’t? Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vtfmQ5Audg
Anyway, it looks like he comes by it naturally. Here’s H. W. slapping Terri Hatcher on the a** a couple of times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJZoai2HIeA
Oh, to be rich and a RepubliCON.
Boorish, arrogant behavior is de rigueur.
(As is never using foreign phrases like “de rigueur.”)
So, Grammy awards are now political rewards? People receive Grammy’s based on their politics?
Interesting claim..care to back it up, Capn?
This is clearly a sore subject with you raptor.
Why? You aren’t one of the bushbots. At least I didn’t think so.
Let me help!
Back when the Dixie Chicks spoke on behalf of me and many Americans in saying that they were ashamed that bush was President, it was not widely popular to do so.
Now it is!
Oh…..I guess that didn’t make you feel better….
Oh well.
I saw the Dixie Twits step on stage. I clicked the TV off and read a book.
How did they win anything when no one’s heard their songs? If the radio doesn’t play them – how does anyone know to buy them?
Who here thinks George Soros has a warehouse FILLED to the top with Dixie Twit CD’s?
Hmmmmm…..
Gsheridan was born a STRIP miners daughter!
Dixie Chicks RULE!!!!!!!!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/12/arts/music/12gram.htm...
A link to what the Chicks had to overcome to win their FIVE awards.
But the comments at this link are even better than the one above:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102×2727064
“How did they win anything when no one’s heard their songs?”
Jeez, Gee Sure, I am a rock ‘n’ roller from way back and I bought the Dixie’s CD. The Chicks are some of the best both musically and lyrically. I am hardly a country music fan, but the Dixie’s cross over like few have.
By the way, there is a TON of great music out there that NEVER hits radio – you just have to know where to look for it.
“The Texas trio won record and song of the year for the no-regrets anthem “Not Ready to Make Nice.” ”
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gosh imagine all the awesome songs we wouldn’t have if nobody made political songs in the 60’s.
Wittig’s out on appeal bond. Barbara’s thrilled! Bubba’s brokenhearted! This is news?? And how ???
Gawd, if this Anna Nicole Smith deal isn’t a “White Trash Extravaganza”, I don’t know what is???
When the Dixie Chicks won last night it proved that no matter what your politics are if you are good at what you do people will pay attention. The owners of Clear Channel made it there personal mission to destroy the Dixie Chicks but their true fans never forgot them. If you don’t like them that’s ok but they have a right to make a living and say what they think. The fact that they were right is just a small thing!
This whole Anna Nicole thing is just sad. This is a woman that had zero talent other than the ability to have her breasts filled with silicone and a willingness to take off her clothes for anyone and everyone.
This isn’t even a Marilyn Monroe moment – at least Marilyn was an actress of some, however limited, talent. Anna Nicole had no talent.
The press could do us all a great favor and drop this story to the third page. The bottom line is a sad, talentless woman had a child that even she doesn’t know who fathered and now she is dead through her own mistakes.
Let the curtain come down.
OF COURSE the Dixie Twits won. If anyone on this blog is surprised by that, you just don’t understand the VERY LIBERAL entertainment business.
And if you think they won based on record sales…or talent…
…ditto
Homer Arafat with sardine sandwiches.
Pity the poor paranoid persecuted right!
If something is not hardline conservative it’s a commie plot! The media is liberal! Entertainment is liberal! The sun is in our eyes! The wind’s against us!Damned leftists control what is written on fortune cookies!
Wahhhhhhhhhh.
I saw the Dixie Chicks in Dallas, their last concert. It sold out. I’m so proud of them to stand up and speak out for what they believe in, no matter the price they paid. That’s what being a TRUE American is all about.Sorry you haven’t heard their music, GS. you’ve missed out on some GREAT music!!CHICKS RULE!!!!!
Holy S%*@! The Chargers fired Schottenheimer…this late in the “hiring” season, it’s just crazy!
The Dixie Chicks’ comments were made so long ago, I doubt that had all that much weight in their Grammy’s.
Maybe those who think the DC didn’t deserve it should post who they would have liked to have seen get the awards, instead of griping. At least we’ll have the opportunity to decide if you have any taste at all. ;)
CHICKS RULE! CHICKS RULE! CHICKS RULE!
Talk about sour grapes…the local Clear Channel radio stations weren’t allowed to play the Dixie Chicks for the last 3 years…but today they ALL spent time on air bashing them.It does my heart good to realize that in our country a muti-billon dollar corporation can’t even censure free speech.
RD – “The Dixie Chicks’ comments were made so long ago, I doubt that had all that much weight in their Grammy’s.”
I don’t think so. Note that one song they won with was “Not Ready to Make Nice.” I think that one was a slap at Bush.
I think what this reflects is that even among country music fans Bush is disliked.
Most good music doesn’t get played on radio. most mainstream radio both country and pop just play the same ten songs over and over again all day. And “classic rock” radio kills music, lets only play music thats more than 20 years old, and if an old artist does make a a new album we cant play it because it isn’t “classic” As for entertaiment being “liberal” what do you think creative, artistic people are going to be, even Toby Keith is a democrat.
You are absolutely right, Dingus, that most good music does not get radio air play.
How many of you have heard “Percy’s Song” by Bob Dylan on the radio?
How about Springsteen’s “Racing in the Streets”?
How about “Raw Power” by the Stooges?
How about Eric Anderson, Buffy St. Marie, Terry Reid, Northwind, Catfish Keith, Buddy Guy……..
The list goes on and on and on…
Ya’ll need to get Sirius, I’ve heard music on there I haven’t heard in years and the stuff that didn’t get released mainstream.
How about Chevelle, Crossfade, Days of Fire, Hinder, Audioslave or Old timers like Steve Earle or any bluegrass, John Mellencamp just released a album thats supposed to be his best in years but you won’t hear it on the radio here.
Hey, I heard Crossfade at the Cot on Saturday – they were great – can’t say the same for Legion, but WTH.
Steve Earle does some &*^%$# stuff – but you won’t hear him on the dial.
Bluegrass? You would be lucky to hear a little bit of Alison Krauss and Union Station…
If you want ot hear good music, you have to work for it, bro!!!!!!
I don’t have any problems finding good music. I just feel sorry for some poor schmuck that listens to their 1 or 2 radio stations wondering why modern music sucks so bad. Heck I even like music old obscure music Billy Bragg, Phil Ochs, Peete Segger. And don’t fret about the new stooge stuff not getting any airplay I doubt they did in their heyday either but neither did the Ramones, Sabbath or Zepplin although I wasn’t born until the end of the 70’s so not a 100% sure on that.
You are entirely correct, Dingus.
I go back to AM top 40 radio when megawatt DJ’s like WLS’s Larry LuJack were minor deities.
You were lucky to get 20 minutes of music an hour. Every song was “talked over” by the DJ. One time, a friend and I were in a car and heard two songs back to back with no commercials in between them, and we practically had to pull the car over to the side of the road out of shock.
None of the music we liked was getting played on the radio then. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
No Grateful Dead, no Crosby, Stills, Nash, no Ozark Mt. Daredevils, no Marshall Tucker, no Allman Bros, no Dylan, no The Band, no Todd Rungren, no REO Speedwagon (they rocked then), very little Cream or Doors or Led Zepplin or Who or Yes. Just a few token songs that the music industry decided to make “hits.”
Meanwhile, we got force-fed so much Carpenters and Captain and Tenelle and Steve Miller and Carly Simon and KC and the Sunshine Band and all the other pop schlock to make you wanna puke.
It was a great era for music and horrible time for music lovers–bad radio, bad vinyl albums (sometimes pre-scratched), and limited access to the music people really wanted.
“I think what this reflects is that even among country music fans Bush is disliked.”
True, Ben. The country (U.S.) is waking up.
Backing up the Clarkster– a lot of Springsteen’s best stuff gets no air-play that I can find.
“Land of Hopes and Dreams,” “Youngstown,” or any of his Seeger Sessions album.
You just don’t hear it on corporate radio . . .
Damn, you all made me homesick for Austin again.
….don’t let the screen door hit you on the way out…..
XM radio!
60s channel! Channel 10, America
Bluegrass to newgrass!
And…I can get it off the web with the same account!
Hank
May I suggest Shoutcast.com? If one has the appropriate player software (Winamp, for Windows users; XMMS for Linux/Mac) and hardware (soundcard, speakers), there is an amazing variety from which to select. Bluegrass? Got it; Classical? ditto; C&W -oldies, new stuff, etc; and on and on.
cost?
With XM radio if you have an account for your car you can also get it off the web for no extra cost.
Hank, free. Of course, there are “fee” upgrades to avoid the infrequent ads, but there’s no charge for the basic service.
Hank–I was watching the dog show last night and didnt see you :(
Made me miss my baby all over again when the huskies and the keeshounds were out!
I think I’m ready for a new dog, preferably a puppy. And yes, I know what I am getting into with a youngster. I just prefer that they adopt MY bad habits and not someone else’s. heheheheheeheheh
Thinking of a beagle. Any thoughts?
Maybe another husky or a german shephard. Or a boarder collie. But the beagle is appealing because I’m thinking “short coat” after the grooming nightmare my husky/kees was!
So if you see a cute pup around that needs a home…..
Although, Hank, I’m beginning to wonder about definitions. Trying out a new stream on Shoutcast today; allegedly Bluegrass; most has been, but…they’ve played two (at this time) cuts from an old Procol Harum album. Doesn’t meet my definitons.
Generally, though, what the Shoutcast folks list on the streams as being the genre is correct. I guess this is an aberration.
KFG -I’ll keep my eyes out. Only problem I foresee w/ a beagle is they are very vocal. Not necessarily a bad thing. I’m sure Hank will lean towards a border collie :)If ya get a long coat dog – you could always trim it.
Hey grrl!
Of course I’ll keep you in mind!
I think Beagles are great! They look like a puppy until they die but there is a hell of a dog inside.
However, if you get a Beagle, you need two or three!
You’re on a farm with plenty of room, you might want something a little bigger.
Hank
Actually Julie,
I don’t care much for Border Collies! Beardies rule!
Hank
Yeah Hank, I thought about a fox hound for that same reason, size!
Heheheh Julie. The vocal part doesnt bother me out here. In fact, it would be a welcome change. My last dog would NOT bark unless there was a cookie or a piece of fried chicken used as a bribe.
And then she wanted to SEE the cookie before she barked. Her way of saying “show me your money before we play” :) And she always played for keeps.
She was a smart one! And, as you can see, she picked up my bad habits early!!!!
Hank,I had a collie variety – I was close.KFG -you want pure bred or a mix ok?
The Beardies are going into the breed ring at 11 am our time. By 1pm I’ll be able to tell you a little about the Beardie you’ll see in the herding group tonight.
I’m hoping for a Britannia Beardie!
Hank
A mix is great Julie, depending on the breeds in the mix. Concha was so smart and beutiful because she was a mix. So yeah, I would love another mix.
Good luck Hank. When you have time, what is a britannia beardie? One from the UK? A beardie with a Beatle’s haircut? One that speaks like Madonna? Or Mick Jagger?
Just wondering….
Britannia is the Kennel name of my favorite breeder. Just checked the catalog and there isn’t one entered.
Poo!
Penny Hannigan from Pennsylvania has two entered and Lynn Zagarella from Colorado has one entered. I don’t have a favorite but I have a few I don’t want to win!
If I was a betting man I’d bet on a penny Hannigan dog. Most money. Most political power. Best handler.
Best Beardie is Probably Ch Ragtyme’s Girl Against The Boys.
We’ll see.
Hank
Damn! Taking me about twenty minutes to get a post up!
When we moved the clinic we lost our high speed internet. We’re back to DSL. Crap.
Might as well send you a post card!
Hank
PS Let me know if you want on my mailing list.
The politics…..no newcomers will succeed!Though I almost collapsed of a heart attack when a solid BLACK SHih Tzu won the breed!AND the extensive grooming are why I got out of the dog show thing.
A Shih Tzu can’t be a dog and be a show dog.
Consider a rescue dog KFG. I don’t mean a dog to rescue you! I mean a dog that has been rescued.
On a farm, you can consider dogs not suited to the city.
The politics…..no newcomers will succeed!Though I almost collapsed of a heart attack when a solid BLACK SHih Tzu won the breed!AND the extensive grooming are why I got out of the dog show thing.
A Shih Tzu can’t be a dog and be a show dog.
Consider a rescue dog KFG. I don’t mean a dog to rescue you! I mean a dog that has been rescued.
On a farm, you can consider dogs not suited to the city.
Unfortunately I was right. Penny Hannagan’s Beardie Ch Brigadoon It’s All About You won the breed.
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2007/photos/breed/DN02356701.jpg
It’s a typical Penny Hannigan dog, Over groomed, no performance credits, great handler and a lot of money backing it.
Poo
Hank