Category Archives: Education

In what other profession… – Topeka K-12

So, this teacher is in Kansas and is front and center in the war on education and basic logic. His complaint -and it is valid – is that he faces all kinds of hatred and opposition from those who feel that being an expert in his field actually makes him unable to access how his job should be. And he makes some good analogies.

That said, he forgets one thing. Four years ago, the same people damning him – literally – for having an opinion on how he should be evaluated made a hero out of “Joe the Plumber”.

“Joe” was actually named Samuel. Samuel had no plumber’s license, had a history of domestic disturbance, and began the long line of Republicans disrespecting Barack Obama to his face, namely because the color of said face made it seemingly okay to be rude to.

Samuel the unlicensed plumber was making about $40k a year. His complaint was that if he started his own business Obama’s proposed tax rates would bankrupt his small business. His small fictional business.

The higher taxes would kick in at either $200,000 or $250,000 a year. Even with a shitty accountant, Samuel would have had to make at least $400,000 before his tax rate would fall into that range. Most small businesses, particularly new ones, would have a lot of write-offs, like, say, salaries.

So, the unlicensed plumber would have to a) have a business that made 10 times more than he currently was, b) gain clients even though he didn’t have a license, and b) would have to be completely inept at tax accounting.

But people accepted this concept as reality. They made a hero out of an uncertified wife beater.

THAT is the kind of person who does not trust a licensed, trained educator. That is the kind of person whose opinion really shouldn’t matter, but strangely does all the time.

Why Do So Many Have Trouble Believing In Evolution? : 13.7: Cosmos And Culture : NPR

Truth is, this nation thrives on stupidity.

There isn’t a conservative politician alive that doesn’t harp on “elites”. By that, they mean “people who went to college and actually learned something”.

I’m working a temp job, been unemployed for most of the past year and a half, and I’m an “elite” to the GOP.

Why? Because I think. I don’t let child rapist drug addicts tell me what to think on the radio like anyone ingesting hours of Lush Rimjob does every day.

I don’t think a failed quitter of a angry, racist governor of less people than live in my city of Rochester is a hero. Actually, given all the baggage, meth-addled children, illiterate comments, and moronic marketing, I’d almost feel sorry for her.

That’s just literally the tippy top of the pond scum you have to adulate to be a Republican these days. You have to believe that life begins the very moment a drug teenager ejaculates anywhere in the zip code of a ripe ovum. You have to believe the world began somewhere in the book of Genesis and no earlier. The seas are not rising, pizza is a vegetable (not to mention ketchup). Traitors from Jefferson Davis to Oliver North are heroes.

And so on.

But worst of all is the disdain of education. Kids are not supposed to learn how their bodies work. And they certainly should not learn that there are more than two genders. History only matters when written from the perspective of wealthy, mostly white, landowners. Slavery had no bearing on the Civil War breaking out. Etc.

And now this bit – again – with evolution and “Creative Writing”, err, “Intelligent Design”. Look, believe whatever makes you make sense of the world. That said, science exists. Don’t like science? Try this test.

You know what else started off as a theory? You know, like evolution? Gravity. You refuse to believe in theories, go climb up a tall mountain, or a building I suppose. That said, if a building, don’t use the elevator. Evil science made that.

Step out at the top and jump.

That simple.

God might save you, I’ll definitely allow for that, but that theory that Galileo and Newton and others worked on proving is probably going to turn you into mush on impact.

And that, at least, would solve a problem, if not make you change your mind.

9/11 Coloring Book: Is it Appropriate for Kids? – Parenting.com

Conservatives only like education as a means to brainwash children. Case in point? A 9/11 coloring book that promotes lies and tries to make the reader hate all Muslims.

Hell, I’ve said it before, if going to a strip joint and drinking beer the night before hijacking a plane makes you a Muslim, then that’s probably not apparent to most Muslims who have been doing a whole lot more pious things.

Apparently that makes blowing up a federal day care and trying to assassinate a member of Congress the hallmarks of a good, white Christian boy.

Nutjobs are nutjobs. The end. Trying to make others hate people for the color of their skin or who they worship is its own sin. Probably a venal Lake o’ Fire type sin. At least I would hope some deity would see it that way.

As for trying to sell this bullshit to children? That’s just pure evil.

Other Countries Pay Their Teachers More. And We Want To Start Paying Ours Less? | The New Republic

Compared to the civilized world – which we are moving away from in alarming ways – we don’t pay our teaches enough. Nor do we give them the proper respect. Nor do we try to recruit the best people for the job.

And now we’ve got Republicans trying to punish those who do the job despite the low level of respect for the work they do? I may be unemployed but I’m kind of glad I got out of the field.