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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Opus 2011-296, Tax Dollars at Work: Williams Strikes Again

I have written before about the Williams Act.  This is another judge-generated bit of legislation that is the results of a well meaning fool trying to make up for the fallen nature of mankind.  Some parents sued claiming that their children did not have books, a lack which was keeping them from getting an education.  I don’t know if a jury was involved but the results are definitely the work of a do-good, liberal judge.  Our school has signed on to take the Man’s money and so we are under the Man’s control.

Yesterday I was in the middle of a quiz and a lady walks in with a clip-board.  She identified herself as being sent to check oor compliance with the Williams Act.  She asked the students if they had been issued books.  They all had.  She asked if anyone had lost their book or had it stolen.  Two young men raised their hands.  She told them to leave the room, go to the library and get another one.  There was no reasoning about responsibility or paying for the book.  Just go and get another one since yours was lost or stolen.  You need to understand that these kids don’t want to carry their books to class so they “lose” them daily.  They consider leaving a book laying out in the quad as having it stolen.  None of this mattered.  There were to go get another.  I pointed out that they were in the middle of a quiz.  She said it needed to be done by the end of the period.

I pointed out that they would not need their books today.  I require them to bring them daily and do a book check daily but we were on a short day and we would not actually need them.  She said they needed to go and get one during this period.  I tried again.  Same answer.

So I sent them.  When they came back they had brand new, glossy books that had never been touched by human hands.  All the responsible students had battered books that were falling apart.  I as a teacher had not been able to get one that was close to clean.  These clowns were given brand new ones.

Later that period a second adult came to my room to make sure I had complied.  It was not enough to ask me, he came in and made the students show him the books.  Two adults spending the day at our school, being paid good salaries just to get irresponsible students new books.

If it were up to me I would have a room set instead of sending them home.  My homework is a series of assignments that teach research skills and lead to a term paper.  I don’t give homework out of the book.  The Williams Act requires the kids to carry their books to class every day.  We do not have lockers.  Many of the kids are small.  The books are big.  We also have screening for scoliosis. 

The librarian tells me that the kids also dump their books in the library and expect her to watch them because they do not want to carry them.  Many of the “lost” and “stolen” books were sitting there waiting to be picked up.

You wonder why education is a mess.  It is the product of a government committee full of people who want to do good.

Another day of your tax dollars at work.

homo unius libri

8 comments:

  1. I always remember a quote that said, "Aren't you glad we don't get all the government we PAY for?"

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  2. My son-in-law is a public school administrator. My daughter is a credentialed teacher but is no longer working (she is home-schooling five children). But the point is, I really feel for you, man. You (and my son-in-law) are better men than I. I would have blown my cork. I don't have any tolerance for the mindles, liberal idiots who fill the ranks of useless beauracracies. I would have been fired a long time ago.

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  3. I can't believe I mispelled bureaucracies in the post above. And I can't believe I posted it before I proof-read it.

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  4. And mindless also.

    I'll try to do better next time I comment on your blog.

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  5. As the librarian at our school I'm also responsible for new text books. They loose a book they pay for it, and I triple the price. They only loose a book once.

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  6. Georges,

    What is even more scary is the statement that "people get the government they deserve." Theologically I understand the concept in regard to sin and the individual but under grace the individual can repent. I am not sure I like living with the government that the people of California have elected.

    Grace and peace.

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  7. Ralph,

    When you worry about spelling remember that, as I teacher, I have been taught that poor spelling is a mark of being gifted. Since you also seem to be agreeing with me, we have two proofs of your superior brain power.

    Isn't spell check wonderful.

    Grace and peace.

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  8. Phillip,

    I like your style. Would you consider running for the school board here? If not that, when I become King of Kalifornia, would you consider a post as Minister of Education? How about Secretary of Hard Knocks?

    If I moved down their would that make me an African American?

    Grace and Peace.

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.