Levity After a Tiring Week
Doesn’t matter which side you’re on, this week probably tired you out. Pay homage to that legendary internet time-waster: relax and have a great Saturday night.
Nov 8, 2008
Nov 7, 2008
UPDATE: Analyzing Cumberland Superintendent William Harrison’s Response on Partisan Teacher and Bully
In case you were wondering, “Ed.D.” also stands for “Educrat Dolt.”
Apparently Ms. Harris teaches in Fayetteville, not Asheville, in the Cumberland County system. Not that it matters to me - I don’t care which city or state she’s in. She’s an awful, destructive teacher.
Dr. William Harrison, Cumberland County Schools Superintendent, released an obnoxious yawner of a video statement today about the taped incident. As usual, this school official thinks you’re an idiot. He expects you to swallow his tripe uncritically.
Not today, Dr. Harrison - and not tomorrow, either.
Here’s the video with a transcript, courtesy of Michelle Malkin:
I was shocked when I saw the clip of an interaction between a Cumberland County Schools teacher and her students as posted on YouTube. While neutral discussion of the political process is appropriate, at no time, particularly with elementary students, should a teacher infuse his/her political views into the discussion. Most disconcerting was the military slant that made its way into this discussion. We are a military community, serving over 15,000 military students and their families. We value the sacrifices, not only of the military parents but also those of their families.
We believe that military children are our children, military spouses are many of our employees, and military service men and women are our heroes. We proudly serve our military children and have received national awards for our support of military families.
I was particularly disturbed to see the uncomfortable position in which our children were placed due to the inappropriate actions of one of our teachers. Please be assured that the actions exhibited in this video are not consistent with the vision of the CCS. Moreover, the actions of one teacher do not represent the 7000 employees in our organization.
Once the video was brought to my attention, I immediately launched an investigation. Personnel laws prevent me from releasing information regarding individual employees and personnel action taken. I can assure you that upon completion of the investigation, I will take appropriate action.
Dr. William Harrison
CCS’ Superintendent
Standard stuff here - we’re sorry, it’s an isolated incident, we’d love to tell you more, but we can’t. I’m going to parse his statement.
“I was shocked when I saw the clip of an interaction between a Cumberland County Schools teacher and her students as posted on YouTube. While neutral discussion of the political process is appropriate, at no time, particularly with elementary students, should a teacher infuse his/her political views into the discussion.”
Dr. Harrison, you were shocked because you don’t have a damn clue what goes on in your school district. Get your fingers on the pulse of your schools and teachers, or start delegating properly so your underlings can do it for you.
I understand that Harrison has a large system in Cumberland County and it isn’t practical to know what every teacher does every day. But he’s also got a series of principals, assistants, team leaders, etc. who need to know what’s going on a bit better than they do now. Admit that and fix it - don’t patronize me, taxpayers, parents and other interested parties with some third-rate statement written by someone who may have taken PR 101.
And personal politics? Dr. Harrison, you’ve got it all wrong. One can discuss personal politics - even in a K-12 classroom - while doing it fairly, responsibly and respectfully. Because you and Ms. Harris don’t know how to do it doesn’t mean that others don’t.
I’ve got a ‘Contact’ tab on this site - feel free to use it if you’d like to learn. Lucky for you, I charge less than Vanderbilt did for that useless Ed.D. your attendance and tuition earned.
“Most disconcerting was the military slant that made its way into this discussion. We are a military community, serving over 15,000 military students and their families. We value the sacrifices, not only of the military parents but also those of their families.”
No, that wasn’t what was “most disconcerting.” That Harris’ tirade against the military occurred in a ‘military community’ has no bearing on how awful it was - it’s just a detail.
Most of the conflicts I get into involve defending the dignity of the US military or our government. I’ll be damned if I’ll let some edu-dolt hide behind that dignity to avoid being accountable for his poor administration.
“We believe that military children are our children, military spouses are many of our employees, and military service men and women are our heroes. We proudly serve our military children and have received national awards for our support of military families.”
Really, stop this - it does a disservice to that military you claim to respect.
“I was particularly disturbed to see the uncomfortable position in which our children were placed due to the inappropriate actions of one of our teachers.”
You’re a bad writer, too.
“Please be assured that the actions exhibited in this video are not consistent with the vision of the CCS.”
If the actions of CCS employees fail to be consistent with the ‘vision’ of your district, then there’s a problem fulfilling that mission. You’ve just admitted your own administrative failure, Dr. Harrison, and I hope Cumberland County realizes that.
“Moreover, the actions of one teacher do not represent the 7000 employees in our organization.”
Dr. Harrison and others - let me introduce you to the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect. In short, you read something patently false/inaccurate, then turn the page and revert to trusting the content. Harrison has outlined his system’s total failure regarding Ms. Harrison, then assures us that the failure isn’t repeated 7,000 times over.
It’s a logical mismatch.
I’m not suggesting that all 7,000 CCS employees are clones of Ms. Harris - that’s ridiculous. But do I believe for a second that Dr. Harrison and his staff have a handle on the CCS climate? Not for a second.
“Once the video was brought to my attention, I immediately launched an investigation.”
I’ll rephrase: “Once my professional irresponsibility was exposed, I decided to release a statement in which I pretend to have done my job and in which I commit to the most basic functions of my professional contract.”
“I can assure you that upon completion of the investigation, I will take appropriate action.”
I don’t think you’re capable of it, but I encourage you to surprise me. I’ll believe that ‘appropriate action’ was taken when there’s proof of it.
Good luck and God bless, Cumberland County.
Other takes:
- A Small Corner of Sanity - An Online Oasis for Conservative Thought
- Solomonia
- Bookworm Room » Indoctrinating the new brownshirts *UPDATED*
- I Almost Feel Bad For This Woman, But the Uninformed Get What they Deserve « Trust, But Verify
- Without Objection: WO’s Daily Roundup
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Superintendent: “Appropriate action” will be taken against teacher who lectured serviceman’s daughter
- Reason 142 to Homeschool: Obama Teachers Won’t Bully Kids Who Support McCain « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- UPDATE on “The Beast of Cumberland County” « Mark Epstein
- And it begins… Barack Obama wants to Indoctrinate America’s Children…. : P.U.M.A
Nov 6, 2008
Politics in the Classroom: How Not to Do It, Courtesy of Diantha Harris of Asheville, North Carolina
For an update from Cumberland County Schools Superintendent William Harrison - and for analysis of his statement - check out the new post.
Discussing politics in the classroom is a delicate thing. It’s a bit like open heart surgery; if you know what you’re doing, you can perform miracles. If you don’t, you’re going to cause irreparable damage.
A couple of months ago I heard of a local school district board member who curtly instructed staff that politics are not to be mentioned in the classroom. That stance is absurd and there’s no inherent, justifiable reason for it. Politics past and present can be discussed by any two reasonable, informed parties.
I assumed that this board member’s worry was that some teachers wouldn’t approach the subject honestly or in a disinterested, unbiased way - she was playing it safe. Some teachers can’t be objective because they don’t want to be; others simply don’t know enough about politics and history to engage in a proper discussion of either.
It’s time to meet Diantha Harris of Asheville [turns out Ms. Harris is from Fayetteville in Cumberland County] North Carolina.
Ms. Harris was included in a recent Swedish-language Finnish documentary called From Bill to Barack. She’s shown teaching a class of what looks like ~7th graders. In an interview portion of the documentary, Ms. Harris explains her philosophy for discussing politics in the classroom:
Diantha Harris: “Now I can support whomever I want to support, as long as I don’t browbeat another person for the candidate that they supported. Like I have some students that support John McCain, and when they told me that, I said ah … “that’s good’ and I just moved on. So, I think that everybody is entitled to their own personal opinion.”
Not terribly eloquent, but we get the idea. What Ms. Harris describes is a mix of freedom of and respect for intellectual diversity. This is a fine foundation on which a teacher might build a disinterested discussion of politics in the classroom.
That Ms. Harris didn’t show up for class. The real Ms. Harris lured her students into a degrading, brow-beating indoctrination session that buffed her 13 year old political allies and demeaned her barely-pubescent opponents.
The entire exchange - caught on tape below, with transcript - shows Ms. Harris:
- Demeaning a student for supporting John McCain, with dismissive laments of “Oh no, John McCain… Oh Jesus, John McCain…”;
- Coaching another student on reasons to support Obama;
- Berating a girl whose father is apparently in the military over the “senseless war” and how her dad will be in Iraq for “100 years”;
- Setting same girl up for ridicule from peers, Harris pushes her until girl almost cries.
Here’s the video clip - it’s a harrowing three minutes. The English portion begins 15 seconds in. [Click here if you're reading this in RSS]
… and here’s a transcript, courtesy of Tundra Tabloids:
Diantha Harris: We want to talk about the presidential election. Ok, what I want to ask you, who are you pulling for? Raise your hands.
(Kids seen dutifully raising their hands one states ‘Obama’)
Diantha Harris: You’re pulling for Obama
Diantha Harris: (Speaking to another student) Who you’re pulling for? And if you’re pulling for John McCain, that’s fine say him as well. Who are you pulling for?
Student’s answer: Obama.
Another student: John McCain
Diantha Harris: Oh Lord John McCain!
Another student: John McCain
Diantha Harris: Oh Jesus, John McCain! Ok, Now I want to ask you something. (to the girl who is ‘pulling’ for McCain) Why are you pulling for John McCain. Now it’s ok! But why are you pulling for John McCain?
Student: I think it’s because of my parents are going for him too.
Diantha Harris: Ok, your parents are going for him. (Now to another student) Why are you pulling for Barack? (pronounces it differently) Or Barack?
Student: Because I just want a black president sometime.
Diantha Harris: Ok, you want a black president. Addresses another student.
Student: The reason I want to pick Barack Obama is because he is making good changes, in the good country and stuff like that.
Diantha Harris: So he’s making good changes for our country. (Shaking her head affirmatively) Ok, now can you tell me just a little bit more like, like what type of changes?
Same student: Like, …..not having um, a fight between Iraq, and having soldiers killed.
Diantha Harris: Shaking head up and down) So in other words, B-a-r-a-c-k is going to end that war (shaking head up and down) in Iraq. (Speaking to the classroom) What do you all know about that war in Iraq? Now talk to me, because your dad is in the military!
(Same female student who supports McCain shown noticeably biting lips)
Diantha Harris: Talk!
(Female student shown again but doesn’t speak)
Diantha Harris: It’s a senseless war! (shown staring at her) And by the way Kathy (the girl’s name), the person that you’re picking for president said, (Harris seen shaking head) that our troops could stay in Iraq for another hundred years if they need to! (emphasis added),
(Kathy shown biting lips and looking nervously in silence, while kids stare at her smiling, laughing and smirking)
Diantha Harris: So that means that your daddy could stay in the military for another hundred years!
During an interview later:
Diantha Harris: Now I can support whomever I want to support, as long as I don’t browbeat another person for the candidate that they supported. Like I have some students that support John McCain, and when they told me that, I said ah … “that’s good’ and I just moved on. So, I think that everybody is entitled to their own personal opinion. And we have something in our school system that called ‘Kids Voting’, and in my class….Barack Obama won. (Smiling).
Ms. Harris was in the news once before. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush met with Roy Harris - Diantha’s ex-husband and former member of the Asheville City Schools Board of Education - and our Diantha. A transcript of that exchange is available on the American Presidency Project’s website.
Over the last three months, the level of discourse at that point where politics and education meet has been disappointing and worrying. Public school teachers aren’t all Diantha Harrises, but tendentious, overzealous, underinformed discussions are more common in the classroom than most folks realize.
It isn’t clear what Ms. Harris’ job was in Asheville, though I’d find it odd if she was filmed for a documentary while serving as a substitute teacher. Either way, Ms. Harris needs to find a new line of work.
Teaching is a tremendous responsibility. That’s no secret. If you, as a parent, teacher or administrator, can’t discuss politics or history responsibly, don’t do it yourself. Find someone who can, sit back and learn.
Ms. Harris has embarrassed herself, her school system and her profession - and in that order of importance. But what she taught 15 young kids about political discourse is the real problem. Harris showed these children that it’s acceptable [and a desirable means to an end] to abuse someone into submission over ideology; that it isn’t important to respect one’s views, or engage in discourse that furthers understanding; that intellectual diversity and dissent is to be crushed for political expedience; that a sneering, mean-spirited contempt drives politics.
We’ve heard a great deal about hope, change and goodwill over the last two years. Ms. Harris’ disgusting display undermined the efforts of folks on both sides of the aisle.
Other takes on Ms. Harris:
RiehlWorldView: Harris needs to be fired.
Scoopthis.org: Teacher bullies students who support McCain.
BelchSpeak: Reason 142 to homeschool.
TundraTabloids: Browbeating, with update.
HotAir.com: Hope and Change.
Michelle Malkin: Harris is a child abuser.
Poligazette: It’s extremism.
The Forum: Teacher embarrasses student.
Rhymes With Right: Utterly unprofessional.
Nov 5, 2008
SpendOnLife’s Credit Blogging College Scholarship - $2,000, Under 400 Words
Here’s a rare one - an ad without commercial intent.
SPENDonLIFE.com has announced a blogging scholarship program for students. The topic? The importance of credit and preventing identity theft. A year ago most would’ve said this was a bit of a stale topic, but after a tumultuous financial season, this is a hot, relevant topic.
Who’s eligible? You must:
- have a legitimate blog (blogs consisting of nothing but spam do not qualify)
- be at least 18 years or older
- be a full or part-time student of an accredited college or university
Pretty standard stuff. Have a blog, be an adult, go to school.
And what should you write about?
“To be considered for the scholarship you must write a blog entry on your own blog about credit or identity theft. We are not restricting you on exactly what you must write about, instead we are wanting to use your creativity and researching skills to decide on a more specific topic. We do ask that all entries are less than 400 words. That leaves enough room to communicate an idea effectively but keeps it short enough to keep the reader interested.
Each blog entry must also inform readers on how they can participate in this blogging scholarship. The more people that participate in the program, the more of the general student population that will be exposed to this very important topic.”
So, it’s up to you - find a particular facet of credit/identity security that you find interesting and have at it. 400 words isn’t much at all. A page of 12pt, double-spaced, Times New Roman text is about 250 words. That’s a page and a half for a shot at $2k.
Deadline? December 1st, so you’ve got time:
“All entries must be posted on your blog and submitted to us by December 1st. The winner will be decided shortly thereafter and scholarship monies will be mailed by check to the student by January 1st.”
Once you’ve written your post:
Visit our contact form and submit your:
- full name
- address
- phone number
- blog post entry URL
This is an opportunity worth taking if you’re in school, have a blog and can write a concise, meaningful post. If you can’t, your blog probably stinks and you write bad papers in college.
If you write a post, let me know - I’ll be happy to link to it.
Nov 4, 2008
Why I’m Voting for John Lambert, Jim Seward and Not Bill Magee
I‘m not an evangelical voter, though I’m happy to have any honest discussion about politics. I like information and understanding.
I’m not a secretive voter, either. I don’t mind telling anyone how I vote or why I do it.
As a resident of Otsego County, I’ve got 3 local races to vote on tomorrow:
- Otsego County Judge, Jill Ghaleb [D] vs. John Lambert [R]
- 111th NY Assembly District, William Magee [D], unopposed
- 51st NY Senate District, Jim Seward [R] vs. Don Barber [D]
Otsego County Judge, Jill Ghaleb [D] vs. John Lambert [R]
Mr. Lambert turned in an impressive performance last Monday at SUNY Oneonta. Though the Otsego County Judge handles mostly Family Court cases - about 70% are family cases, I think [***please read the addendum below] - a deep knowledge of Surrogate’s and Criminal Courts is necessary. Lambert’s experience as Asst. District Attorney has prepared him will for the job. While Ms. Ghaleb’s familiarity with the Family Court is admirable, it isn’t enough to warrant a 10-year term as Otsego County Judge.
Ghaleb’s speech at the SUNY Oneonta event was weak. I want a clear, confident, knowledgeable judge on the County bench. Mr. Lambert talked to us like a judge. Ms. Ghaleb talked to us like a kindergarten teacher.
My vote for Otsego County Judge is for John Lambert.
*** Mr. Lambert’s campaign sent a brief explanation of the 70% Family Court figure. I could have been more clear, but what’s above does imply that the majority of cases heard by the Judge are Family Court cases. I referred to the number of cases, not the Court’s commitment to those cases.
In short, it stands to reason that several custody hearings are easier than a single murder trial. They explain it this way:
“In your blurb about John, I couldn’t help but see that you mention that Family Court is 70% of the job. Unfortunately, this statistic is misleading. Ms. Ghaleb wants us to believe the job is 70% family court, but it’s just not true. For example, in county court during a given week there may be 5 family court matters. One a day for the week. In that same week there could be one trial in criminal court. That one trial could take the entire week (usually longer). There are also several steps to a criminal trial that need to take place outside of the court room as well.
So, as far as Ms. Ghaleb’s statistics are concerned, the above scenario would count as 5 family court cases and 1 criminal court case – While the number of family court cases may show a number at or around 70%, the time it takes to run a single criminal trial is actually much longer.
If Ms. Ghaleb’s numbers were true then Otsego County would probably have its own Family Court Judge like many other surrounding counties. Also, if the criminal court aspect was less than 15-20%, then Otsego County would not need a full time district attorney and 4 assistants to handle the case load.”
I’d contend that the numbers are true, just that Ms. Ghaleb hasn’t been clear about the meaning of those numbers. I’ve found her commitment to statistics favorable to her to be disingenuous.
111th NY Assembly District, William Magee [D], unopposed
Though William Magee is running unopposed, I will not vote for him.
I don’t know Assemblyman Magee personally, but he seems like a delightful guy. Unfortunately, Magee could be the posterboy for the philosophy that has turned Central New York into a stale, atrophying wreck.
Check Magee’s questionnaire for the Observer-Dispatch - including his answer of “Yes.” to whether the state Legislature could reduce property tax burdens.
Magee is all over the board philosophically with little for substantial plans. Property tax cuts, yes - school funding from the state? Yes as well, though that tax money has to come from somewhere Magee hasn’t disclosed. He’d like to stop the ‘brain-drain’ but thinks that making New York a “mecca of green” and pushing an ad campaign for hiking and biking will do the trick.
Bill Magee, your platform could be held responsible for 111th District New Yorkers under the age of 35 being damned miserable. I don’t care that you’re unopposed - I won’t give you a vote. It might not be your fault personally, but what you stand for is a problem.
And if I’d known sooner that the Republicans didn’t have a candidate to run against you, I would’ve run against you myself. I thank Assemblyman Magee for his many years of service, but I’d like to see him move along in 2010.
My vote for the 111th NY Assembly District is for no one, despite William Magee running unopposed.
51st NY Senate District, Jim Seward [R] vs. Don Barber [D]
I attended the 90 minute Seward/Barber debate in Oneonta last Monday. It was a clear victory for Jim Seward, who is one of the finest, most benevolent politicians in New York State. I think if Seward moved to Park Slope, even those folks would drop their arugula and pick up an “Another Family for Seward” sign.
Don Barber comes off as a sneaky, dishonest leftist - not to be confused with a liberal. As I wrote about Barber’s school funding ideas, he’s comfortable with a bait’n'switch on taxes and state healthcare.
I like openness and honesty, and it’s why Barber received the lowest grade [D+] of any profiled candidates who submitted an answer.
I sincerely believe what Barber says about wanting universal healthcare for New Yorkers, and in a way, this race will gauge the 51st District’s interest in and support for that issue. Barber does not, however, address the issue honestly in terms of how the fiscal ramifications will impact New Yorkers.
Seward has exercised excellent judgment during his tenure and has balanced well the interests of our District’s businesses and citizens. Seward is responsible, responsive and has progressive ideas for how to keep Central New York’s talented younger generation in New York - like tax credits to forgive student loans over a 10-year period for those who take up residence. I can’t imagine where Central New York would be right now if it wasn’t for the work of Seward and friends.
In this case, I want more of the same - not a shifty leftist bent on bankrupting our businesses to fulfill the agenda of the Democratic party’s social engineers.
My vote for the 51st NY Senate District is for Jim Seward.
