Opus 2014-29: Headlines: The Cure for Education

We always want the quick fix.

On Monday my wife had the TV on as I was getting dressed.  There was a story being presented about a law suit being pressed against the L.A. Unified School District involving teacher tenure and seniority policies.  I just caught the general sense of it but I could tell that it was just another political smoke and mirror show.  These people want to look like they are doing something while they ignore the real problem.

Although the teachers have a share in the failure of education, blaming the teachers is like blaming the auto workers of the 70's for the loss of market share to the Japanese.  You can’t make high quality machinery with pot metal parts.  The workers on the line did not design the product or choose the materials that went into them.  It is like blaming the soldiers under McClellan at the beginning of the Civil War for making no progress.  It is like blaming an unmilked cow when the udder runs dry.  There is an old saying, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” 

The problem is not really the teachers.  The problem is not really the text books.  The problem is not lack of funds.  The problem is in voters who continue to elect the same types of people to school boards, legislatures and chief executives.  The problem is you people that continue to vote the same way and expect different results.  The problem is you people who think there is some magic elixir to substitute for hard work and discipline. 

Education needs radical reform.  In California we need to start by throwing out the Education Code and doing away with compulsory education.  Nation wide we need to  impeach activist judges, return federal funds and turn the responsibility for educating children over to local parents.  A basic philosophical change is needed.  We need to put the responsibility to learn on the children.  If they don’t want to accept that duty, fine, let them go play on their smart phones.  Get them out of the class and into menial jobs if they insist on eating.  There will be plenty who want to get ahead in life.  Someday they will wake up and be hungry enough to put in the effort to get ahead.

I have no problem with providing public schools.  Education should be available, but not required.  I am not sure it should be as “free” as it is.  We tend to want other people to pay for what we get. 

I am a public school teacher.  I am lined up at the public trough, sucking down your tax money.  It is no more hypocritical that being a teetotaler and eating in restaurants that serve booze.  At the same time I have never voted for a tax that increases funds for education.  We home schooled our children.  I am a squeaky wheel at faculty meetings.  They get tired of hearing that the emperor has no clothes.

To paraphrase Marie Antoinette, “Then let them go naked.”

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-28: On the Street: Shiny, and Small

I want one.

As I drove down the street a little Obama car, I think they call them “smart cars,” appeared in front of me.  When I got over laughing I realized it was kind of cute.  Maybe there is a place for these little tidbits. Give it a place at the table.  I don’t like it being forced on us.  I don’t like it being subsidized by the government, but I like the choice.  I might get one some day because they are cute and look like they are fun, however, I don’t think they should be allowed on the freeways.  They don’t look like they would be safe and stable enough to play with the big boys and should probably be confined to the city limits.  Maybe a meter that would shut them off if they cross a city limit or country line.  They do look like fun.  Maybe you could keep one in the trunk instead of a spare tire.

I am just not sure which closet to keep it in.  If I brought one home would my wife let me keep it?

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-27: Inspired or Recited?

Christians believe that the Bible is different from any other book.  It is “inspired.”  That means “God breathed.”  There are many questions about what than means in practice.  A few would hold for mechanical dictation.  The gamete runs from there all the way to godly men expressing what they felt.  However you understand it, if you are a follower of Christ the Bible is the source of truth.

Muslim believe that the Koran is different from any other book.  They believe it was dictated to Mohammad.  The title itself means “recitations.”  There is no doubt about the method.  The angel Gabriel appeared to Mohammad and spoke the words.  Mohammad returned home and repeated the words.  His followers wrote them down.  Muslims believe that the Koran is the source of truth.

The two books are different.  Muslims believe that the Bible has been corrupted over the years by Jews and Christians and the Koran was God setting the record straight.  Christian believe that the Koran is based on heretical understanding of the Bible.  Mohammad seems to only be familiar with the gnostic versions that had been rejected by the church.  The two are different enough that they cannot both be right. 

I have read both.  I would suggest that you read both.  See which one you think teaches truth.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-26: From the 21st Row

I had another thought on that last post.  I have seen some people who act without fear because they have faith, others because of ignorance.  The actions may be the same.  The motivations may not.

Most of us have flown in airplanes.  We have experienced choppy weather.  The pilot comes on and tells us to return to our seats and buckle in.  We go through a little turbulence and it seems like the pilot forgot we were buckled in.  When you get desperate you might get up and head for the bathroom.  People understand.

On one flight recently I saw a different scenario.  We were coming in for the landing and we were told to put everything away for landing.  You know the drill:  Seats forward, trays up, bags under the seat.  Half way through the descent an old lady got up and started down the aisle to the bathroom.  She was chased back to her seat by the attendants.  She was not moving because she had faith, but because she was ignorant.  Possibly just not listening.  Sometimes moving boldly is not a matter of faith, but a matter of ignorance.

Listen to the stewardesses of life.  Read the Owner’s Manual.  Think about what you have been told.  Walk in intelligent, informed faith.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-25: From the 20th Row

A couple of years ago Alistair Begg was talking about trusting the airline pilots to fly the plane.  He gave a humorous story of how he always tried to fly the plane from the 20th row.

I thought of how experienced flyers tend to be relaxed and newbies panic every time they hear a rattle or squeak.  Spiritual maturity follows that pattern.  Experience helps us live by faith because we have been through trials before.  We have had our times of anxiety and experience should have taught us that life will go on.  This is one of the benefits of having a mixed congregation that shares about their lives.  Sometimes we can learn from the experiences of others.  If you don’t believe that ask yourself why people watch cooking shows.

Life experience should teach us how to cope.  Unfortunately, some people never learn to relax.  Some people never learn to trust God or other people.  When I used to get into worry mode I would sometimes stop and ask myself how many meals I had missed over the years.  It has been close.  I was down to one can of soup once, but God came through.

So learn to know the difference between times of trust and times when concern is called for.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-24: Do We Really Want to Fix It?

A couple of years ago I was listening to Alastair Begg talking about grieving the Holy Spirit.  I don’t remember his sermon topic.  As often happens my mind took a seed and started to grow in a different direction.

What is the opposite of grieve?  Bless?  That would make sense.  If one action can cause grief then there must be another that can move us toward rejoicing.  Bless is a good word for that.  It would be good if we would live in such a way as to bless the Holy Spirit instead of grieve Him.

This took me to thinking about how we often look at things as if they are opposites when they are not.  We like safe categories.  We like black and white.  We like either/or.  Unfortunately most of life isn’t that simple.  Most of the time we have to make choices based on what is possible instead of what is perfect.  Other times we want to rule out one concept because to look at the big picture requires mental effort and hard choices.

We see this in politics.  Take the current dismantling of our health care.  Most people would admit that things could be done better.  We would disagree on what.  I would say that the government has no place being involved in health care.  At the same time I realize that there is a small group of people who are in real need and have nowhere to turn.  In the past those people have been taken care of by churches, the local community and the county hospitals.  I know this because that was where my family found itself when I was a child.  There may be times when the government needs to force issues such as changing jobs or cancellations of policies because a person starts to need help.  That doesn’t mean we need socialism to rule.

Or take Social Security.  At the current time I am eligible for Social Security.  At least I think I am.  They keep changing the numbers.  It cannot continue the way it is.  Something is going to have to give.  If the special groups making a fortune over manipulating the system would get out of the way there might be a fix.  You could start by stopping the payments to the many people who never really paid in and the types of needs that were not part of the original plan.  We don’t need to either throw it out or let it keep going as is.

Then we have theology.  For instance, grace and works.  They are not opposites, they are fellow travelers.  One does not rule the other out.  Too often different groups emphasize one and exclude the other.  Calvinists tend to emphasize grace and downplay all the verses demanding obedience.  Arminians make the mistake of falling into legalism.  In reality grace and works are both required.

We could probably work out solutions of many of our societies problems if we would enter honest, open, courteous discussions that were truly trying to find what will work.  Maybe we should be looking for leaders who have principles but understand the need for healthy compromise.  Most gun owners understand the need to keep the mentally ill from having guns.  Most pro-life people understand that there are rare cases when a woman will die if the baby comes to term.  I don’t know of any Christians who want to go out and beat up homosexuals. 

There are solutions.

homo unius libri

Opus 2014-23: Touch the Third Rail

What are the third rails of polite conversation?  Religion, politics and money.

Why are these topics so sensitive?  It isn’t because people don’t have opinions.

Sometimes it is because people are so passionate you can’t discuss the topic without anger.  If you have just lost your health insurance and need surgery, you are not going to be able to calmly discuss Obamacare.  If it is the anniversary of the Armenian Holocaust you are not going to be open to a polite disagreement on Islam being a religion of peace. 

More common is an awareness that your position is wanting, thus you would rather not have a discussion that would require openness and honesty on your part.  Sometimes this is what causes the anger.  This shows itself in denial.  Liberals don’t want to admit they are liberals.  They now call themselves Progressives.  They call liberal Republicans “moderates.”  Most Calvinists avoid the term and embrace “Reformed” while ignoring the fact that every new group considers themselves a reformation movement. 

One way to avoid an honest discussion is to throw out derogatory shibboleths.  Thus when someone doesn’t get their way they call you a racist if they are black or a “hater” if they are not.  If they are a liberal you are labeled as “ignorant.”  If they are self centered they label you “insensitive.”  If the guilt and shame are too strong they just refuse to engage.

I have noticed that people with strong rational beliefs are quite willing to discuss things.  I love a good discussion with someone who admits they are a Calvinist.  We can have a great time throwing out scripture and quoting giants of the faith.  If it is done correctly we stay courteous and part friends, even if we don’t agree. 

So check it out.  See who knows what they are talking about and who just wants to get to the next text message about Justin. 

homo unius libri