Today I’m sharing some school-related absurdities. Then we’ll have some fun from the comic strips. First off, however, how about a sweet roll to go with you beverage of choice while reading. Mine will be coffee.
In a letter to the editor in The Dallas Morning News some time ago, Eddie Mitchell from Waco offered an interesting take on why so many kids are out of control in the classroom and teachers are limited on how they can respond. Eddie reminded those of us that when we were in school in the late 50s and 60s the whole school atmosphere was different. “We were socialized to have internal controls over our impulses.”
I have said this before and it bears repeating, since I agree with Eddie. When the social emphasis shifted from self control to “self-expression and self-aggrandizement” we saw the beginning of the surge in classroom misbehavior. Students were no longer taught to respect teachers no matter what. Students were no longer taught that the teacher was the ultimate authority in the classroom no matter what.
Then when parents started siding with their children over the teachers, and it was no longer the collaborative approach to education, but became parents against teachers. Too sad. Eddie finished his letter with: “A general relaxing of all standards of behavior in society took virtually all control and authority in the classroom from the teachers.”
Next up is something I found incredibly hard to believe. Apparently, teachers have been using this racist math test since the 90s, and more recently an Alabama teacher gave it to her students. I am posting a picture that a student in that Alabama school took of the test. It’s hard to read without zooming in, but here is just one question from the test: “Tyrone knocked up 4 girls in the gang. There are 20 girls in his gang. What is the exact percentage of girls Tyrone knocked up?”
According to Snopes.com, this started as a joke on the Internet, “The L.A. Math Test” but some teachers have used it since. I don’t think it is funny at all, and how hair-brained are the teachers who used it in the classroom.
This is just plain awful anyway you look at it. If you are interested, you can see the whole news story and a larger image at Daily Kos
Another absurd school story comes from Plano, Texas where seniors will not be allowed to wear the National Honor Society emblem at the upcoming graduation ceremony. The school has a policy of prohibiting the wearing of any club or organization’s regalia at graduation ceremonies. In explaining to students and parents who object to the exclusion of the NHS emblems, which the students work very hard to achieve, the school officials said it is because it might make other students feel excluded.
This is the same ridiculous practice as that of giving trophies to every kid who plays in a soccer tournament, so nobody will feel bad about not winning.
Please! Students who work harder than others to achieve NHS status, should be allowed to proudly wear the emblem as they walk across the stage. And kids who win a soccer tournament should be the only ones who get a trophy. If you get a trophy for not winning, what is going to motivate you to work harder next season and win that tournament?
Now a few Friday Funnies
This from Pickles:
Earl and Opal are sitting together on the sofa. Earl is reading the newspaper. Opal says, “Last night I dreamt I won an Oscar for a small acting role. I was so happy. But then there was a huge backlash about me beating out Angelina Jolie.”
All this time Earl is not reacting. he just keeps reading his paper. Opal continues, “Everyone in Hollywood hated me. it made me wish I’d never won that stupid Oscar.”
Earl finally looks up from the newspaper and says, “Fame is a fickle mistress.”
This from Bizarro:
A unicorn gets on an elevator and asks the man next to the control panel for the thirteenth floor. The man says, “There’s no such thing.”
This from Peanuts:
Charlie Brown is sitting at his desk at school. He says, “A spelling bee? They’re going to have a city-wide spelling bee?”
In the next panel he considers, “I should enter it… That’s the sort of thing I need to do to gain self-confidence.” Then he smiles. “I thnk ill raise my hand and volunteer. It’ll be good for me… I think I’ll just raise my hand and volunteer….”
In the next panel Charlie Brown says, “My hand won’t go up. It’s smarter than I am
This is the kind of support everyone who aspires to greatness needs from Luann:
Luann and her friend Bernice are having one of those girlfriend moments in Luann’s bedroom. Luann is looking at a magazine and asks, “Why are some people just ‘it'”
Bernice says, “Excuse me?”
Luann continues, “Why do some people get all the talent and looks and success?”
Bernice says, “Oh I dunno I’m just lucky I guess.”
Luann Ingres that last comment and says, “I mean look at this spread on Taylor Swift. She’s gorgeous. She’s multi-talented. She wins every award. She’s smart and sensible and everyone loves her! She’s a totally it girl. Meanwhile here I am. Futzing along in my boring, useless little life. I am 100% it-less.”
To which Bernice responds, “Really? I’d say you’re full of it.”
I hope it doesn’t take you as long to get the punchline from Luann as it did for me, and congratulations to Greg Evans for the Honorary Doctorate Degree he received this May from California State University.
That’s it for me, folks. Have a great weekend.
The craziness in schools means it’s now really up to a child’s parents to teach him how to behave, to properly respect their teachers, and to focus on getting the best education possible. It appears a lot of parents aren’t up to the task.
My morning beverage is coffee and a sweet roll would taste very nice. Thank you, Maryann.
Glad you enjoyed the sweet roll. 🙂 The two absurd school stories really surprised me, especially the math test. Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to, and the current political arena does nothing to give me hope. Sigh….