| | Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . | |
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Victor D. Lopez Four Star Member
Number of posts : 984 Registration date : 2012-02-01 Location : New York
| Subject: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sat May 26, 2012 1:23 pm | |
| A Texas 17-year-old honors student thrown in jail for a day for truancy for missing classes because she works two jobs while attending high school to care for her two siblings after their parents abandoned them and had 10 "unexcused absences," being too exhausted to attend school. You can't make this stuff up!
From the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/texas-honor-student-thrown-jail-missing-school-article-1.1085027 |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sat May 26, 2012 2:12 pm | |
| Wow. That is an incredible story. Especially for me. I taught my entire career at two campuses, both in the same district, where the situation Miss Tran seemed to be in was not uncommon. The campuses where I taught were designed specifically to help such students succeed, and we had some pretty outstanding successes. I taught in the Aldine District, the second largest in the Houston area. That might be part of the difference.
Willis is a very small town a few miles north of Houston: one high school, two middle schools, and not many more elementary schools - mostly rural, very conservative, I understand. I wouldn't call it typical. Small town judges can have a lot of power. It would be interesting to see how it turns out.
Ann |
| | | Victor D. Lopez Four Star Member
Number of posts : 984 Registration date : 2012-02-01 Location : New York
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sat May 26, 2012 2:53 pm | |
| I hope the young woman gets what she deserves--likewise the judge when he faces re-election. |
| | | dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sat May 26, 2012 4:45 pm | |
| Florida has public online high school - just for such situations. You can go to school on your own hours. |
| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sat May 26, 2012 9:37 pm | |
| The judge ought to try helping instead of hindering. He should be removed from his high and holy seat. This is insane. |
| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sat May 26, 2012 11:04 pm | |
| I watched the clip. My remarks would not be too kind if I chose to write them. |
| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 8:18 am | |
| Does anyone in Texas receive public assistance? Seems like that should have been the approach.
Last edited by alice on Mon May 28, 2012 7:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 9:58 am | |
| Of course they do, but public assistance involves a lot of red tape, and there are many who see using it as a cop-out.
I learned much about that as a teacher of young people with similar problems.
The main thing that I see is that this took place in a very small town. I don't know the exact population, but from what I have heard, I would guess it to be somewhere around 1000. This judge would have a lot of power. And while I applaud the comments about seeing to it that he is not re-elected, you have to remember that he got elected, in this community, probably because many of the residents would agree with his decision.
We ran into it so often, even in the middle of a big city, in an urban area. A "low-rent" area, to be sure, but one where many residents had, um, somewhat limited perspectives?
Public schools, even in good times, do not have the financial means to take care of these kids. And these times are not good times (they were, during a good part of my time there). What our district did was to hire a permanent employee who was an expert in getting grant funding. She spent many long hours advising us, at the campus where I taught my last eight years - a campus that held classes from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm. It was through those grants that we were able to set up a "night"-care program, which included the young parents, and, whenever they were willing, the grandparents, and involved hands-on parenting classes for elective credit. And in other grants, the funds to provide every student with computer/internet access (with a heavy firewall and lots of supervision, before anybody gets excited).
There were many people who did not approve. Many of them were upset because we were "encouraging adolescent sex" by finding a way to help these unmarried parents with no means to care for their children.
Maybe they would have been wiser not to have them, but the innocent children were a done deal, and the young parents, when you actually got a chance to talk to them, were pretty "innocent" as well. Otherwise, they would not have had children (note: I did not say "have sex," two very different things.)
For better or worse, they were the state's problem, and in the long run, it becomes much cheaper, if you want to look at it from that perspective, to spend the money to educate them, so that they can become self-reliant, than to have them on the welfare and/or prison roles for their lifetimes.
Ann
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| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 10:04 am | |
| And, just a BTW, those numbers, like the max of 10 unexcused absences, could have easily been set aside by the principal. My own nephew had severe allergy problems, and went far over that number with no consequences. I cannot help but think that the fact that my brother and his family lived in one of the finer subdivisions, and that his mother did not work (because there was not need) had something to do with that.
Ann |
| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 11:07 am | |
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| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 11:46 am | |
| When one speaks of caring for others, people begin to use the word, "socialism". It is usually a cop-out. In the past the buzz word was communism - a communist plot. This may seem off-subject, but it is related. Our so-called Christian society is not Christ-like. It is said that if people are poor, it is their own fault. If they don't have a job, it is their fault. Bullshit. The society has catered to the rich who are looked upon as the job-providers. At one time this may have been true, but times have changed. Now it is everyone for themselves. Greed appears to have become God. I was once a GOP supporter. I have documents that support this as follows: Republican Presidential Task Force Life Member This is to certify that at the behest of President George Herbert Walker Bush an American Flag was dedicated in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol for: Mr. Abe F. March
Republican Presidential Task Force Abe F. March Charter Member Honor Roll – signed by Ronald Reagan ,November 15, 1989
(A picture signed by Ronald Reagan Richard Nixon George Bush, Jerry Ford)
The Republican Leadership of the United States Senate hereby accepts for membership Mr. Abe F. March as nominated by The Honorable Arlen Specter, in the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, in recognition of extraordinary commitment to the advancement of the ideals and principles of this great nation. Signed: Senator Bob Dole and Senator Phil Gramm.
In summary, when I speak out against the GOP, it is not bashing. It is stating what I believe to be true. |
| | | alj Five Star Member
Number of posts : 9633 Registration date : 2008-12-05 Age : 80 Location : San Antonio
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 1:10 pm | |
| The only thing I have a problem with is the term "Christian Society." Not all Christians are conservatives, nor are they all Republicans. Many of us are liberal progressives and Democrats. Ann |
| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 2:14 pm | |
| Many Christians, now, act like Devils. They are unloving, unkind and downright mean. They have taken the name of Christ in vain. Jesus said not to offend children. We are not "Christian" when we neglect and mistreat children.
Last edited by alice on Sun May 27, 2012 6:25 pm; edited 2 times in total |
| | | joefrank Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8210 Registration date : 2008-11-04 Age : 75 Location : Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 6:07 pm | |
| 5/27/2012 Abe... I applaud you !... Cheers..Joe.. |
| | | dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Sun May 27, 2012 8:50 pm | |
| Abe - I am with you. I served as a political intern as a Republican in Washington, D.C. I am distressed that people use the name of Christ totally out of context with the life he lived and the words he spoke and the philosophy he taught. Uppermost in his teaching was caring for the less fortunate - as a requirement - an expectation of those to whom much is given. He also cared for the children and women and those with disease and pain and suffering. NEVER did he say it was their own fault. He also expected people to treat each other as they wished to be treated. No, Christ would not recognize many of those who claim to be Christians. He did not teach that there was one way to God or one right dogma or teaching. He didn't set out to create the Catholic Church in all its wealth and political power. That was a creation of men. Christ spoke in fields and from rocks.
I've forgotten much of my Biblical learning, but those important things I remember. I know the Bible pertained to times in which it was written though the philosophy for living in peace and harmony is timeless. Many of the rules are out of date and churches pick and choose the ones that fit their dogma. The Bible is full of contradiction even in its own time. The chapters were not even all included. It is a powerful work and certainly inspired, but I do not believe it is the only path to God. So long as blood runs red in the entire human race, all are brothers in birth from a common spiritual source that does not condemn but creates beauty and expects people to live in harmony not hatred. |
| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Mon May 28, 2012 7:40 am | |
| The hateful email forwards I get about President Obama are very revealing--it is ridiculous that most are from church goers.
The most recent one suggested that the upcoming election was so very important and if we were Romney supporters to show our support by driving with our headlights on in the daylight and if we were Obama supporters to drive with our lights off at night.
So far I have resisted the strong urge to reply there may be no voters left to worry about an election. |
| | | Victor D. Lopez Four Star Member
Number of posts : 984 Registration date : 2012-02-01 Location : New York
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:07 am | |
| Alice,
Haters hate. This is true of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Communists, Fascists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics, on and on, ad nauseum, ad infinitum. No party is immune from hypocrisy, dirty tricks, and unabashedly shameless conduct, to say nothing of galloping stupidity. We simply notice hateful speech and immoral/antisocial/absurd/hypocritical conduct and comments from those with views different from our own much sooner than the identical conduct from those with whom we agree. It is an unfortunate part of the human condition that prefers polarization to unity.
We allow ourselves to be manipulated and turn a deaf ear to the clear dissonant notes emanating from people and politicians we like. The unvarnished truth is that there is much to criticize in both our 43rd and 44th presidents if we are honest in our assessment of their notable successes and failures. We don't have to like them both (though I do, as people), but demonizing either is simply not fair. I have been very, very angry at both of them many, many times, and appreciative of their strengths and even personal courage at others. I like one much more than the other, (which one is irrelevant), but would rate neither as a particularly good president. People will bristle at my last statement from both sides of the aisle. Tough. I don't need an I.Q. in the gifted range to see the truth in that, and neither do the vast majority of Americans who are not hardened partisans.
And whoever succeeds President Obama in one or in five years will likely be no less of a disappointment. We get precisely the leadership we deserve. |
| | | Abe F. March Five Star Member
Number of posts : 10768 Registration date : 2008-01-26 Age : 85 Location : Germany
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:31 am | |
| Well said, Victor. I believe we all get what we deserve. I base that on our actions. What we put out comes back. |
| | | dkchristi Five Star Member
Number of posts : 8594 Registration date : 2008-12-29 Location : Florida
| Subject: Re: Here's a disturbing story from today's news . . . Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:12 am | |
| According to my minister, that is the law of physics and the universe - all matter remains though it changes in form. It just keeps changing; but it doesn't change in quantity. Eventually it all comes around.
I guess when I receive hate mail from those who are sanctimonious it riles me a bit more for its hypocrisy.
Until the monetary system of elections, the terms of representatives, and the performance measurement criteria change, we will continue to be governed by those who are willing, not necessarily with the needed skills.
In my meager jobs, I was once considered a change agent, a person who turned around failing organizations. I found the trick was working harder and smarter than anyone else and finding common ground with the players or getting them to leave. The President can't get rid of those who get in his way; but his political party could work harder to make that happen. |
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