Detailed Abstractions » Education

Taliban No Longer Against Educating Girls

Michael S. Langston — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:17:10 +0000

From the Guardian (here):

The Taliban’s leadership is prepared to drop its ban on girls’ schools, one of Afghanistan’s most influential cabinet ministers has claimed….

[Farooq Wardak, the country's education minister] ”What I am hearing at the very upper policy level of the Taliban is that they are no more opposing education and also girls’ education.”

Isn’t that just super nice of them? I wonder if any one asked why the believe they have the divine right to decide one way or the other, but probably not.

Besides, maybe this goes along with other improvements such as the use of female suicide bombers? No matter that even the extremist fundamentalists think religious texts don’t support such actions.

For the rest of us – just remember, these are the people we’re negotiating with…..

Idiots to Censor Mark Twain…. Again…

Michael S. Langston — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:38 +0000

In 1998 idiots everywhere, especially those in MO, with full bipartisan support, clamored for one thing. To see Mark McGwire’s baseball accomplishment of 70 homes run in one year be immortalized in the best way they know how; renaming public works projects, specifically a stretch of I70 in St. Louis.

Yep, it takes a good grasp on reality, a complete understanding of the consistency with which humans fail to properly analyze people, and above all an understanding in the valuelessness of most fads (read: 99%) to have pushed this silly idea in the first place.

But with this firm grasp on reality, and several opinion articles throughout the sports world, MO legislators just couldn’t let the voice of the people go unanswered. So without much hesitation, they eagerly followed the blind and move quickly; utilizing the power of the state to honor one Mark McGwire.

An Ode to Steroids: Mark McGuire Highway Signage

No worries that when the highway was built in the 1950s, it was named after the venerable and brilliant writer Mark Twain. Meh, twas but a worn down speed bump on the lemming run to honor greatness, as evidenced by this facts strange absence in most press accounts… but there’s more.

No worries either that the steroid stories were just getting started, though clearly gaining momentum.

No worries, because time has this way about it. It has that thing… that quality which is always lurking, the quality of a teacher. Whether we humans like it or not, time has an infinite ability to show us the error of our ways. It constantly proves to us that silly actions directed quickly towards cultural fads just don’t have the same end results as deliberate and thoughtful actions directed towards the long term.

& in 2008 time won this battle once again. While 10 years too late, the MO legislators saw in their infinite wisdom to reverse course and rename Mark McGwire Highway back to Mark Twain Highway (here).

I wonder what Mark Twain would’ve thought about all this back and forth of naming a highway? It’s pure speculation, but he likely wouldn’t have cared all that much. If asked, you can almost sense his answer, the short quip, spoken in his long drawl, “Well, at least now it’s named after someone deserving of such acclaim.”

But the problem with idiots is that they have to be constantly challenged. Left to their own devices, the Paris Hilton & Lindsay Lohan interchange isn’t far behind.

Which is a funny thought and unlikely, but idiots given too much free reign can actually make society poorer overall.

Enter Censorship

Really, the last refuse of the despot and idiot alike. This time thankfully it’s not despots we fear, but only idiots as they take aim at Mark Twain… again.

Apparently, unbound by rational thought, educators have been pushing for years and have finally succeeded in getting a publisher to censor Mark Twain.

Please note here – I’m using educator as a place holder only, because this shameful behavior cannot be linked to any real definition of education. Censorship is actually the polar opposite of educating, but that’s no concern as it’s not their goal.

The goal? As with most insidious subversions of thought, the goal is to protect you. Contrary to the popular nursery rhyme, sticks and stones aren’t the only things that can hurt you, so in this case we have to protect you from bad words (see George Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words).

Because they know better than you what’s best for you. They know so much better and understand so much more… and of course care about all of you so very, very much, that they have to ensure this book, with its words, the book they’ve already read, cannot be read by others.

& let’s not forget, this goal is all important. It’s so important that removing or changing words, words with real meaning and real historical context, all in an effort to protect your fragile brain and ears, it is in actuality, paramount. This is evidenced by the proponents’ arguments which completely ignore concerns about the multitude of arguments against this idiocy including concerns about changing the substance of a text when you change the words.

I honestly thought we were past this. It’s pretty difficult to express what I truly think about people who think changing key words written by one of the most celebrated of American writers, in one of the most celebrated of American literary treasures, is a good thing.

But… here we are.

& In the end, really, if anyone should be speaking to the censorship of Mr. Twain’s publications, it should be Mr. Twain himself. & just like all great thinkers, his thoughts about censorship read as though they were planned for this very occasion, over 100 years later.

Mark Twain regarding censorship/ban of his book (here):

There’s nobody for me to attack in this matter even with soft and gentle ridicule–and I shouldn’t ever think of using a grown up weapon in this kind of a nursery. Above all, I couldn’t venture to attack the clergymen whom you mention, for I have their habits and live in the same glass house which they are occupying. I am always reading immoral books on the sly, and then selfishly trying to prevent other people from having the same wicked good time.

- Letter to Denver Post dated Aug. 14, 1902; also published in NY Tribune Aug. 22, 1902 (regarding banning of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the Denver Library.)

Teachers Need Education Too

Michael S. Langston — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:10:55 +0000

During a school assembly for students enlisting in the Marine Corps, two teachers disrupted the assembly by protesting the war (here):

…For the fifth consecutive year, school resource officer Nick Pasquarosa recognized those seniors who had enlisted in the military. “While Nick was speaking, one faculty member held up a sign saying “End war” and another female teacher stood beside her,” said Assistant Principal Ann Knell. “The two faculty members sat down and did not clap during a school-wide standing ovation for those students.”….

It’s truly unbelievable we have such dolts teaching our children. I guess it’s sort of analogous to the blind leading the blind, but in this case the students knew better than the teachers so it’s more like… the blind leading the seeing?

Please don’t misunderstand – I could care less about their actual stance and more about the time, place, manner, and assumptions with which they decided upon this course of action.

First, it’s well known that public schools are NOT bastions of free speech, nor are they paragons of oppression either. But through time and court precedent, educators should (and most likely do) know that the primary responsibility to the children is education. So any free speech that disrupts that process can be prevented and/or punished.

For instance, if I went to school with a pro-drug message, I would be sent home. If I wore a blank arm band in memory of fallen soldiers, I would likely still be sent home, but ultimately win.

Second, and in my opinion more importantly, is the arrogance with which the teachers acted. Keep in mind, that this is their employer giving an assembly which they believe brings value to their students (clients). Yet they still protested? I use the term arrogance, because I think we can safely say they assumed, and possibly correctly so, that they will not be fired.

This is what really gets me. Not only did they believe they were in the right to disrupt a school proceeding, but they seem to believe it’s about freedom. When in reality, if any company in the world decided to gather its employees to spotlight process X, a protest would certainly be met with immediate firings. This would also be true in a private school setting.

Yet these teachers are claiming a right to do this and that it’s a teaching moment. I would submit to them they should use it as a learning moment it should be instead instead of arrogantly attempting to parlay this into a “teaching” opportunity.

(Non)Education in America

Michael S. Langston — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:42:40 +0000

The high school, which erupted over hurt feelings when some wore flag shirts to school on Cinco De Mayo, and then erupted further when an incompetent management structure got involved has apologized.

The statement given ignores any of the real issues. Like all political statements, they even pretend something is true that they know isn’t. Their school & their decisions, are anti-free speech and to pretend otherwise should be seen as the absurdity it is. He then talks about being “proud” of the students for handling the media coverage…

You mean the ones’ who protested, to get media coverage?

…On Thursday, May 6, about 50 students, many carrying the Mexican flag, walked out of classes. The students told reporters that they thought it was disrespectful for the students to wear the American flag on their shirts while others were celebrating Cinco de Mayo….

First, what the hell were they protesting? Maybe it’s just me, but if Joe Friday sticks by the facts it seems it went like this:

Some students wore American flag t-shirts on a Mexican holiday.
Some fragile students complained that they were “hurt” by this.
Incompetent management then forces the students to change or go home.

For all intents and purposes, it seems the idiots protesting won the fight.

But yesterday, according to the statement…. “they (the students) wore purple and white for solidarity”…. so all is well I suppose.

Meanwhile, you still have children who were “taught” in this “teachable” moment that they should never, ever have to be disrespected. I’m unsure where this belief about respect has come, but I believe it’s a dangerous and intolerant belief. I seem to recall when respect was earned, not deserved, but I digress.

It seems logically obvious that true freedom is to allow things you won’t/don’t like. Allowing freedom actually means (please read carefully you spoiled little brats) people are going to do things you don’t really like and there’s absolutely nothing you can or should do about it.

Additionally, on the plethora of things you should be grown up enough to deal with in a free society, speech by way of t-shirts is the least intrusive and offensive thing I can think of. Seriously, I have what some would call a pretty dark sense of humor, and the things I can think to wear if I were to purposefully wanted to disrupt Cinco De Mayo…. well, let’s just say while it make me laugh, my imagination can lead me to t-shirts which might actually be cause for a protest (assuming the school allowed it).

In a free country, not only do we not allow the cops to arrest people simply for demonstrating their beliefs, but we also respect freedom in general. For instance, when some comedian or cartoonist creates something satirical, yet disparaging to the Catholic Church, no one demands protests, no one demands censorship, and no one ever demands death.

Sure, people rightfully offended might debate about it, write about it, might boycott products, but they don’t close schools to protest over being disrespected. They prefer to get their respect through their actions towards helping others, not through mob scenes.

What’s also buried in here, is that no one (especially the “Mexican” students) seems to understand the holiday has nothing to do with Mexican independence and its history is actually a shared American/Mexican holiday for a Mexican victory of one battle over the French. It was a hard fought victory for 4000 barely-trained Mexicans over 8000 well-trained and well-equipped French. So the holiday was never meant to be “celebrated” exactly, as it was meant to be more like a D-Day remembrance. (Mexican Independence day is the 16th of September)

Indeed, to be really offensive students could’ve chosen to have worn French flag t-shirts, not American flag t-shirts.

Back to the history: It was used in early American history, mid-1800s, by Mexicans & Americans in California to tick off the French. Now, I’m all for doing anything that irritates the French, but that obviously died out over time. The holiday, then became almost nonexistent.

However, with money to made…. over the past 30 years or so, corporations & a willing populace have changed everything. The remembrance, which should come from such a bloody, yet surprising victory, was turned into a holiday to sell more Mexican food, beer, and flags; just like St. Patrick’s day might have one time had something to do with St. Patrick, but now serves only as a reason to drink green beer and buy “Kiss me I’m Irish” stuff.

My point: that looking at this from each angle seems to show the American public should be angry at one thing only. How high school kids, in a well-funded school system, in one of the richest states in one of the richest countries in the world are so… frustratingly ignorant of their ancestral history and know nothing about even about the basic idea of freedom itself.

Government Imposed Monopoly Education

Michael S. Langston — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:29:31 +0000

9 charged with bullying Mass. teen who killed self via the AP (here):

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Insults and threats followed 15-year-old Phoebe Prince almost from her first day at South Hadley High School, targeting the Irish immigrant in the halls, library and in vicious cell phone text messages.

Phoebe, ostracized for having a brief relationship with a popular boy, reached her breaking point and hanged herself after one particularly hellish day in January — a day that, according to officials, included being hounded with slurs and pelted with a beverage container as she walked home from school.

Now, nine teenagers face charges in what a prosecutor called “unrelenting” bullying, including two teen boys charged with statutory rape and a clique of girls charged with stalking, criminal harassment and violating Phoebe’s civil rights….

Assuming the facts, this was criminal behavior with or without the heinous result:

…Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel, who announced the charges Monday, said the events before Phoebe’s death on Jan. 14 were “the culmination of a nearly three-month campaign of verbally assaultive behavior and threats of physical harm” widely known among the student body.

…At least four students and two faculty members intervened to try to stop it or report it to administrators, she said….

So far we seem to be good – charge those directly responsible. Now what about those administrators who did nothing?

…School officials won’t be charged, even though authorities say they knew about the bullying and that Phoebe’s mother brought her concerns to at least two of them….

& here is the unspoken problem: government imposed monopoly on schools for which no one is responsible. Thanks to a strong union and forced funding of these failing institutions we end where the adults charged to protect her are not responsible at all.

Maybe it’s just me, but criminal charges seem consistent with the law. Sure, a civil suit will likely exist and be successful. But the end result is the taxpayers who have to support the idiots who allowed this to continue will have to pay for their mistakes.

I’m just saying – it’s possible a justice system which can’t or won’t hold these people accountable combined with a civil system that will punish taxpayers, not the administrators, doesn’t incent future administrators to do better next time.

Maybe there’s a reason they weren’t charged?

…No school officials are being charged because they had “a lack of understanding of harassment associated with teen dating relationships,” and the school’s code of conduct was interpreted and enforced in an “inconsistent” way, Scheibel said…

Oh…. now I get it. They’re not responsible because they’re too stupid to understand kids their jobs.

It seems at least 4 children, 2 teachers and 1 parent knew enough to try to get help to intervene, but since the administrators just don’t understand kids these days – it’s not really criminal.

What would’ve been criminal would be for Phoebe’s parents to keep her home from school, without proving they were educating her consistent with state guidelines.

But what’s not criminal is doing nothing to prevent this little girl from being criminally harassed daily.

*Side note: Bravo to the children that stood up against this behavior. They should be celebrated for doing the right thing and will hopefully be secure in the knowledge that they at least tried. While the adults did nothing, they tried.