posted on December 26, 2000 08:48:46 AM
For those of us who want to discuss politics, I thought maybe a new list of topics might be in order.
Government funding of private schools-the 'voucher system'
Gun control vs Constitutional rights
Social promotions in public schools
How to get people off the welfare rolls
Federal funding vs state's rights
The role of lobbies in legistlation
Famine-in any of many places.
HMO influence on medical care and costs
The role of the US as 'caretaker of the world'-for or against
Just a few-anybody got something else they'd like to talk about, besides the election? I'm always game for a good, constructive discussion! Just tired, tired, tired, of the election, which is done and over-let's talk about things we could possibly change for the better. Pleeeeaaaasssse?
posted on December 26, 2000 10:13:08 AM
I sympathize entirely with you, Bearmom. That is why I have tried to create political threads with suich diverse topics as wondering how many felonies this new republican asdministation will garner and will it beat the record-setting administration of Ronald Reagan for Most Crimes Committed By An Administration. I also have a political thread on Money that is talking about Flat Tax Rates -- did you read that one? And I speculate on the level of intelligence of people who vote republican in several other threads: nothing to do with this last election.
Still, I can understand how anyone who supports the criminal acts that Bush took in Florida this last election in order to win by any means whatsoever including overthrowing the elcetion results to just want to put it all behind them. But the saying holds true: "If you can't do the Time, don't do the Crime!"
posted on December 26, 2000 10:35:35 AM
Bearmom...nice try, but as you can see, we can't even get through this thread without difficulty.
Moderators...how about a separate board for political chat? That way those that choose to participate can go there without cluttering the RT with rhetoric. A place to kick back, relax, and have fun! Share a story, tell a joke, write a poem, make a friend... hardly applies anymore!
posted on December 26, 2000 10:36:42 AM
Borillar, this was an attempt to change the conversation-not continue the same one. Sarcasm and insults are not necessary, and do nothing but irritate those of us who are trying to be pleasant!
[ edited by bearmom on Dec 26, 2000 10:38 AM ]
Edited again to say AMEN!!!! njzard!
[ edited by bearmom on Dec 26, 2000 10:39 AM ]
posted on December 26, 2000 10:50:28 AM
I think the RT is perfectly suitable for political chat and any other general interest topic that someone chooses to post about. Not ALL topics are going to appeal to ALL people. I don't find it a hardship to avoid those threads where the topic doesn't interest me, nor to abstain from posting to those threads where I have nothing to add, or that make me uncomfortable, or simply don't interest me. Sometimes I follow a thread that does interest me, but don't post to it because I'm more interested in the varying opinions or viewpoints expressed and maybe I don't have an opinion one way or the other. Sometimes I DO post to topics where I don't have anything to "add" but it makes me feel better to "get it off my chest". That's why I like the variety of the RT, topics of all kinds, fun, nonsensical, political, serious,..just about something for everybody. Some people might not like threads about astrology, may even be offended by them for religious or other reasons. So what? That doesn't mean that those of us who are interested in astrology chit chat shouldn't be able to participate in them. Same with political threads..if one doesn't enjoy participating in them, the best thing to do is to avoid them, and participate in the other topics available here.
As you know, the CGs require that your conduct here be guided by the concepts of basic etiquette. Though we encourage spirited debate, many of your recent posts have been very close to being combative and disruptive.
I suggest you review the CGs before you post again.
posted on December 26, 2000 11:01:41 AM
KatyD...avoiding the occasional thread that doesn't interest you does not compare to opening up the RT and seeing at least a dozen or more threads whose titles if nothing else are meant to continue to irritate. Have you taken a look at the current list?
Besides, a separate forum will give krs and Borillar a place to go and compare conspiracy theories without the threat of any republican intrusion.
posted on December 26, 2000 11:11:42 AM
njrazd, yes, I have seen the current list of topics, and I find a wide variety many of interests to me. You say..whose titles if nothing else are meant to continue to irritate. Irritate who? You? Me? I don't find any of the thread titles irritating, but if I click into a thread, and it "irritates" me, I avoid it. It's very simple. Just because you may find too many thread titles "irritating" for your tastes, does not mean that others feel the same. As for "republican intrusion" the only person here that suggested limiting a thread to a certain Party participation exclusively was Carole, and she quickly learned that all topics here are open to all who want to participate. The surest and easiest way to avoid thread topics (or titles) that are "irritating" to you is to simply avoid them. Don't open them and don't participate in them. As for posters who may post about "conspiracies" or the like that you are not interested in, an easy method of avoiding their posts is the "ignore" feature. If you don't read their posts, then you won't worry about getting "irritated".
posted on December 26, 2000 11:31:10 AM
Examples of social promotion? Three teachers in our school were recently forced by the principal to give athletes passing grades. In Texas, if they are failing anything, they can't play for 6 weeks, until the new grades come out.
Another example prevalent in Texas: placing athletes in special education classes so they can pass, and stay eligible for athletics.
Putting students in special education to exempt them from taking the Texas exit exam required for graduation, when the teachers and/or parents are afraid they won't pass it.
Passing a student who has failed the 3rd grade, for example, twice-we are only allowed to fail them in one grade once. Then they are passed on, whether they know the subject matter or not.
There are more, I'm sure, but these are the ones I have seen for myself and know to be fact. As a teacher, I have a real problem with allowing a student to go on to the next grade without sufficient preparation. They say this is to prevent drop outs, but these kids will drop out anyway, when they get to high school and can't do the work. i also have a problem with athletes not being required to do the work, simply because we want to win a football game.
This is something I can get upset about, and something can be done about if enough people protest.
posted on December 26, 2000 11:49:05 AM
The state has tried to put a stop to it for years, but as long as there are parents to kick up a fuss about grades, and communities who want a winning football team at any cost, it will continue.
Forcing a teacher to change grades is grounds for revocation of a principal's certification. But who wants to be responsible for ending a man's career? My principal pulled this on me, recently. I documented it in my grade book,along with the changed grade, and I suspect he has discovered this by now. Grade books are legal documents in Texas, and it is enough to get him fired if I decide to pursue it. He is an ex coach, and a first year principal, so my hope is that he will just learn a good lesson about messing with teachers, when we are trying to do what is right for the kids.
This student is very capable, I asked him for these assignments for 3 weeks, even sent a note home. He just chose not to do them, knowing that the principal would not let me fail him. Next week, the student will receive the 'incomplete' for this semester's work that I gave him, and the fireworks will probably start!
My point is not to fail kids, but to teach them that they are responsible for their actions-and that being an athlete does not relieve them of that responsibility.
Edited to add: these laws and practices were in place before Bush became governor, so don't blame them on him! he made a lot of education reforms I didn't like, but not this!
[ edited by bearmom on Dec 26, 2000 11:51 AM ]
posted on December 26, 2000 11:56:01 AM
I agree 100% with what KatyD has said. If you don't like the topic don't read it. Simple as that.
I have never liked assigned reading lists or topics.I am a free thinker and the things on them rarely interest me. I have been enjoying the political threads a lot. I find them informative and interesting. I really don't enjoy the "my oven broke" threads as much. Although they can be funny.
Seems to me even the topic of your Texas schools could easily become one of those topics that turns political...after all isn't GW in charge down there? [or was until the other day] so most of the ills in your schools directly relate to GW.
Pattaylor..I wouldn't mind seeing a disscussion of the Nafta situation myself.My family has been directly affected by that fiasco several times!
posted on December 26, 2000 11:58:09 AMbearmom: So that's how they get around Mark White's "no pass, no play" now?
When will principals like this one learn that having a high school education might be more important than playing football? To be generous to the principal, (who is saying He'll make more money in the pros), how many of these kids make it that far?
Just saw your last post, and best of luck. It sounds like you have your student's best interests at the forefront, and I hope my kids get teachers like you when they're that age.
Rawbunzel, I'm avoiding going political in bearmom's thread (even though I could discuss Tx politics ad nauseam just on this subject).
[ edited by snowyegret on Dec 26, 2000 12:05 PM ]
posted on December 26, 2000 12:03:09 PM
Perhaps Bearmom would care to expound upon the generalized feeling of relief felt throughout the state of Texas upon hearing the news that the Governor had finally resigned, having successfully cajoled his way through nefarious means and extraordinary expenditures along with the usual false promises into a higher paying job?
posted on December 26, 2000 12:15:02 PM
What KatyD said.
There are many threads I don't read or participate in. Sometimes I don't like the title, but I've learned to open them anyway. Sometimes the title doesn't have much to do with the content, and I find them interesting. Often I just don't have the time to try and read all the threads.
I vaule everyone's opinion here even if I don't agree with what they're saying. Every once in awhile someone I usually disagree with will post something I do agree with.
I'm afraid this election stuff won't go away soon, if ever. I know I won't let it drop. There is much to be done to stop the Republicans from harming our country any more than they have already. I write to my representatives, I post, and I plan to join the protest on Jan 20.
posted on December 26, 2000 12:15:05 PM
Actually, Snowyegret, I am under the impression that bearmom doesn't care if we talk politics as long as we don't discuss the election or GW. These topics apparently are upsetting to her. But to my mind, these are the interesting topics of our times!We have never had this type of election shenanigans so blatently put before us, the American people. Now we are being asked to overlook them and to forget them and to not discuss them? Pooey!It is interesting and I suspect that unless the Republican party gets their wish to lock the votes up for ten year it will get even more interesting!
posted on December 26, 2000 01:22:42 PM
I never said certain discussions should not take place...only that they set up an appropriate forum for them. When the light-hearted threads overran the Ebay Outlook, then they set up the Round Table. If political threads are going to overrun the RT, then maybe a separte forum would be beneficial to those who like to participate in them. They still would be available to anyone who wanted to click on them.
posted on December 26, 2000 01:24:02 PM
Bearmom, this is the second time three days that you've created a thread with the object of attempting to tell other people what they can and can't talk about. If it continues at this rate, at the end of 30 days this forum will be overrun by 15 threads started by you with the sole topic being - stop talking about this election. Perhaps a new forum, where you can post these threads at the rate of one every other day, is in order.
