EDUCATIONCAL UTOPIA FOR 2011

Well once again it's that faithful time of year when we look back over the past year to survey what we've accomplished and what we haven't. Thankfully I'm not a political figure so I can truthfully say that the pluses outweigh the minuses. The following is a piece that Bob Deal sent to me last year and while I was doing my annual email cleanup, came across it and would like to share it here:


By Dennis Prager

To the students and faculty of our high school:

I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people.
I would like to apprise you of some important changes coming to our school. I am making these changes because I am convinced that most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America have worked against you, against your teachers and against our country.
First, this school will no longer honor race or ethnicity. I could not care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red, yellow or white. I could not care less if your origins are African, Latin American, Asian or European, or if your ancestors arrived here on the Mayflower or on slave ships.
The only identity I care about, the only one this school will recognize, is your individual identity -- your character, your scholarship, your humanity. And the only national identity this school will care about is American. This is an American public school, and American public schools were created to make better Americans.
If you wish to affirm an ethnic, racial or religious identity through school, you will have to go elsewhere. We will end all ethnicity-, race- and non-American nationality-based celebrations. They undermine the motto of America , one of its three central values -- e pluribus unum, "from many, one." And this school will be guided by America 's values.
This includes all after-school clubs. I will not authorize clubs that divide students based on any identities. This includes race, language, religion, sexual orientation or whatever else may become in vogue in a society divided by political correctness.
Your clubs will be based on interests and passions, not blood, ethnic, racial or other physically defined ties. Those clubs just cultivate narcissism -- an unhealthy preoccupation with the self -- while the purpose of education is to get you to think beyond yourself. So we will have clubs that transport you to the wonders and glories of art, music, astronomy, languages you do not already speak, carpentry and more. If the only extracurricular activities you can imagine being interesting in are those based on ethnic, racial or sexual identity, that means that little outside of yourself really interests you.
Second, I am uninterested in whether English is your native language. My only interest in terms of language is that you leave this school speaking and writing English as fluently as possible. The English language has united America 's citizens for over 200 years, and it will unite us at this school. It is one of the indispensable reasons this country of immigrants has always come to be one country. And if you leave this school without excellent English language skills, I would be remiss in my duty to ensure that you will be prepared to successfully compete in the American job market. We will learn other languages here – It is deplorable that most Americans only speak English – but if you want classes taught in your native language rather than in English, this is not your school.
Third, because I regard learning as a sacred endeavor, everything in this school will reflect learning's elevated status. This means, among other things, that you and your teachers will dress accordingly. Many people in our society dress more formally for Hollywood events than for church or school. These people have their priorities backward. Therefore, there will be a formal dress code at this school.
Fourth, no obscene language will be tolerated anywhere on this school's property -- whether in class, in the hallways or at athletic events. If you can't speak without using the f-word, you can't speak. By obscene language I mean the words banned by the Federal Communications Commission, plus epithets such as "Nigger," even when used by one black student to address another black, or "bitch," even when addressed by a girl to a girlfriend. It is my intent that by the time you leave this school, you will be among the few your age to instinctively distinguish between the elevated and the degraded, the holy and the obscene.
Fifth, we will end all self-esteem programs. In this school, self-esteem will be attained in only one way -- the way people attained it until decided otherwise a generation ago -- by earning it. One immediate consequence is that there will be one valedictorian, not eight.
Sixth, and last, I am reorienting the school toward academics and away from politics and propaganda. No more time will devoted to scaring you about smoking and caffeine, or terrifying you about sexual harassment or global warming. No more semesters will be devoted to condom wearing and teaching you to regard sexual relations as only or primarily a health issue. There will be no more attempts to convince you that you are a victim because you are not white, or not male, or not heterosexual or not Christian. We will have failed if any one of you graduates this school and does not consider him or herself inordinately lucky – to be alive and to be an American.
Now, please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country. As many of you do not know the words, your teachers will hand them out to you.

Immediately upon receiving this (thanks again, Bob) I forwarded it to all of the county School Superintendents in the surrounding area here in South Florida. Had to redo the "N" and "B" language to get past the politically correct email review server but finally did receive confirmation that it had been forwarded to all of the addressee's for their review and reply.
Haven't heard a thing and that was over a year ago..............guess I shouldn't hold out hope any longer.

AMERICA......PAY ATTENTION

Next week our government comes back to work ........ yeaaaaah......or should I say they come back to Washington to "occupy" the chambers of government and attend the numerous Christmas parties until it's time for them to go home for the holidays and for some it will be a permanent, going home.
Now, looming on the horizon for our countries' financial well being:
Tuesday the unemployment benefits for about 2 million Americans run out..............!
Friday the money to fund the American government runs out...........!
At then end of the year the Bush tax cuts (which have never been funded since inception) for ALL Americans run out..............!
On the agenda items that are planned to be dealt with:
The results from the US military report on the affect of repealing "Don't ask, Don't tell" and a new FDA "Safe Food" program.
Guess when they're done and do go home we'll see exactly where WE (the people) fit into their priorities!

THANKSGIVING

Yesterday was our day to give thanks for what we have and those around us that make us thankful. I do have some things that I'm indeed thankful for; my wife, my kids, my work, my friends, my health. Will these all be around this time next year?
Hopefully so, provided the Universe doesn't get fed up with the nonsense that's happening now and take drastic steps. With every passing day the divide between the HAVES and the HAVE NOTS gets wider and wider, quickly approaching Grand Canyon dimensions.
Does it concern anyone else, that there are over 230 Millionaires in CONGRESS?
Does anyone else sees this as a problem?
Does it bother anyone else that the new powers that were just elected into office are more concerned with their game plan for the next election, TWO YEARS FROM NOW, instead of sitting down NOW and try to lay out a plan for the future of the HAVE NOTS? 
Maybe something that could give them something to be thankful on this Day of Thanks.
I'm not too sure but I think that the last time this divide between the classes got to be so big that a whole bunch of them went off and started a new country and told the powers to be in the other one to ....shove it!

What color has American Journalism turned, YELLOW?

What's wrong with us?
First Helen Thomas forced out for off color remarks regarding our supposed ally Israel, who given the chance would start WWIII in the Middle East, using our own military aid packages, just to further their own agenda.
Why is it that when Turkey and Greece went to battle with each other over Cyprus, both countries the recipients of US military aid, they both got called on it? And had sanctions placed against them by our beloved Congress. But when Israel gets heavy handed, as they always do, this country and the rest of the world (well, most of it) recalls up the pleadings of the past for the terrible things that happened in Germany a long, long, long time ago. How many more years do we have to hear about this?
Too bad we don't have the same long term recollection on how the Native Americans were treated a long, long, long time ago.
Then, Juan Williams. Granted his off color remarks were way too right wing for a much more open minded NPR. But his notoriety and presence got the best of him and his belief that he was above the rules. Not much unlike Rush and Glenn.
And now Keith Olbermann. It's OK for GE (the parent company of MSNBC) to give millions to political ideals but not one of their employees? Does anybody really think that these donations really got construed by his listeners as a path that they too needed to follow. I watch his show fairly often and never once heard him ask us to run out and contribute to anybody, let along the ones that he did. He's a political commentator and satirist guys, not the Second coming.
Most of America is more concerned with how they're going to make it to their next paycheck and what happens if they lose their job or have their hours cut back.
Next time, the rush to repeal "Obama Care". Take about taking your eyes off the ball!!