An Nation of Underachievers

The school Distict in Dallas, TX has changed its grading policy and it is a sad day for education in America if the rest of the nation follows. (see article) Now, let me tell you why this is a bad idea.

When I was in school, I was a lousy student. I couldn't sit still - rarely stopped talking - and was nothing but a headache for my teachers. On the flipside of this, I was a nice kid who didn't get into any real trouble, but I did spend my fair share of time in the Principal's office. Flash forward thirty years and it turns out I'm ADHD, but that's no excuse for my poor performance. Yet, I was never held back. I didn't flunk classes and I was always passed along -- to be the next teacher's problem. This went on for all of grade school and junior high.

Then, I reached high school. For a reason I don't understand, I decided I wanted to take Russian History my freshman year with Miss Willis. Wow, that was a huge slap in the face. I didn't do my homework, I scored poorly on my exams and guess what -- I flunked.

Flunked! Who dare flunk me?

A teacher and a very good teacher. Miss Willis taught me a lesson I haven't forgotten in the twenty plus years since I sat my butt in her class. If you don't try, you won't pass. If you don't pass, you don't learn. If you don't learn, you won't get ahead.

Now, I'm not going to lie and say that I've been the world's greatest student since then. I do all right. I graduated in the top half of my high school class and I've gone on to obtain a college degree. And, I've failed or succeeded because of choices I made. If I studied hard enough, I passed. (Even in Math, which is my worse subject. I worked my butt off to get that C+!)

In Dallas, they always want the student to have a second chance. That isn't teaching their students the life lesson they're going to need in life. It certainly wouldn't have flown in Miss Willis' Russian History class.

So, Miss Willis, who taught history at Waukegan East High School between 1981 and 1985, I don't know where you are, but thanks for flunking me. It's served me well in the 27 years I've lived since then.

God Bless

Who's in charge?

Sorry I haven't been around lately, I've taken a new job and it's kept me a lot busier than my last job. Anyway, moving on...

This weekend I read an article in the Racine Journal Times about Joe Christensen, a sixth grade social studies teacher at Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School. Apparently, for the last four years (and with permission from the School Board), he has been showing the mini-series, "Roots", to his students. The idea being that then the students trace their own roots afterward. Further, before showing the mini-series, Mr. Christensen requests parental permission. Four years ago, he requested and received permission from the School Board as well to show the film.

But, now, the bullheaded School Board is saying that Mr. Christensen was suppose to request permission every year from the Board to show "Roots". And, they won't let him.

The project seems like a great idea to me.

The sixth grade curriculum is suppose to be geography. I can see how tracing your family's roots can tie in, even if the Racine School Board cannot. For example, my mother's grandfather came to this country from County Cork Ireland in the mid 1800's and settled in New York and eventually Chicago. All places I can find on a map. My father's great-grandfather, Henry, came to this country in the 1840's with three of his brothers. The men settled in Missouri and southern Illinois. Again, places I can find on a map.

Learning your family's history in this day and age of divorces can give a child a sense of pride and belonging. Having an innovative teacher make it an assignment gives a kid a reason to enjoy school. It makes learning more than just rote memorization.

But the Racine School Board is full of people who just don't get it. Just see the articles in the Racine Journal Times about the rules they want to pass to limit dissent and take discussions private.

But, getting back to Mr. Christensen, parents came to the recent School Board meeting and supported him. But, our School Board is going to ignore the people who pay their salaries and stand by their ruling.

So, I say, let's recall them, every last one of them. They -- as a collective group -- have proven in recent months that they don't care what taxpayers and parents want. They want to take meetings private. They don't want us to know what goes on in meetings. They don't want dissent among the members of the board. They don't want to listen to the parents about what they support.

So, here I am, in public declaring my dissent. Let's recall them and put in people who have some common sense.

God Bless