Sand Castle
23rd February 2007, 19:04
I read this article the other day. I was quite upset at what I read, so I decided to respond to it here. I'm sorry if this is the wrong part of the forum to post it in, but the website I found this on was a political site so I assumed it would fit here. Here is the link to the article. Conservative crap article (http://www.politixgroup.com/comm77.htm)
The thrill of another school year is in the air as stores across America hope to put customers in the scholastic mood with strategically placed displays of academic paraphernalia. Little do these merchants realize that these implements of elucidation might not even be used by the progeny of those purchasing these items.
Last year, I published two commentaries about a trend at many public schools where pupils don't get to keep their supplies but must instead relinquish them into a communal stash. You know, each according to his ability; each according to his need. We've heard it all before.
The articles generated a robust response. This paradigm ran so contrary to human nature and common sense that a number thought I had made the whole thing up. Others, sadly, knew exactly what I was writing about as their own offspring had fallen prey to similar forms of sophisticated thievery. There is no set definition for "human nature." Human nature varies from individual to individual. My nature is to wake up, go to the bathroom, etc. in the morning just as your nature is to be so conservative that your back hurts from having your head up your ass. How is it "contrary to common sense?" Common sense also varies, but from situation to situation instead of individual. This makes perfect sense for the classroom. You are not a teacher, you wouldn't know the first thing about running a class and thankfully you aren't qualified to.
Evidence for my argumentation had been culled from the experience of my cousin's child at Patuxent Elementary in Lusby, Maryland --- a school my detractors insisted didn't exist (the building looked pretty solid to me) --- and from supply lists for various schools made available for shopping convenience at local Walmarts. The conclusions were drawn by synthesizing these accounts. For example, unless some elementary students has a really nasty drug habit, why would any school request eight gluesticks and four bottle of glue unless for redistribution among the masses? One school required forty-eight pencils. It's doubtful even Tom Clancy would require that many pencils for any given nine-month period. Elementary schools use more glue than you think. Again, you aren't a teacher and you wouldn't know. Less glue will be used at one time because of "redistribution among the masses." The same applies to pencils. Many teachers spend at least a quarter of their paycheck a month (when payed once a month like my county) on extra school supplies because students are either using too much or don't have any. Why don't you try spending all that money, Mr. Economics?
Some of these schools are growing bolder about expressing their intentions behind these copious supply lists. The most brash thus far has to be that compiled by Annapolis Elementary School, in none other than Annapolis, Maryland.
Beneath the list for a number of classes it reads in bold print, "All supplies are considered community supplies and will be shared with the class." One almost expects those words sprawled across the barn in Orwell's Animal Farm underneath the slogan about all animals being equal with some more so than others. I've read Animal Farm and that slogan was put on the barn when the pigs went on a power trip, it had nothing to do with community supplies. It's called reading comprehension :rolleyes: .
Just as arrogant is the supposition that parents and child will obsequiously comply with these demands simply because someone with a fancy degree pulling down a hefty administrative salary makes them. Since public schools seem so keen on immersing students in a socialistic milieu, it's about time pupils learned a little lesson in revolt. Are you jealous because they make more money and are smarter? You typical cappie :rolleyes: !
But rather than pursuing this along the lines of the Communist model seeking to overturn all legitimate expressions of authority, it would be best to utilize America's Founding Fathers as the overriding example. For as with the citizen's relationship with government, the obedience of students to their teachers ought not be absolute, but rather limited to matters bearing directly upon classroom discipline not infringing upon the jurisdictions of other social authorities, namely parents.
Come the first day of school when these proto-socialist thugs will stand before their classes compelling students to surrender their property for the sake of the community, these students ought to respectfully refuse to comply with this lyceum larceny, clutching their notebooks and pencils in their little hands in defiance. Better yet, since the public schools seem so bent on wallowing in the axioms of Communism, perhaps these pedagogical subversives should be taught how socialist economies really work. And how might that be? Please explain since you know everything else. In socialist countries they have free college education for all those who want it. Or atleast that is what the CPUSA talks about on its website. I talked to a Cuban lady and she said Havana University is free. Look at the great things involving cancer treatment that Cuba has done.
The equal distribution and access to resources for all has always been the grand delusion promoted by compulsory collectivism. In practice, this has ended up meaning all those living under its yoke end up equally miserable. Workers realize there is little reason to exert themselves since there's no opportunity to get ahead honestly. So now you've talked to all these people and know that they're miserable. :rolleyes: Define "get ahead." The purpose of specialization of labor is not to "get ahead", but to be happy doing the jobs you want to do and are good at. In capitalism, many people can't get ahead either, how the hell else would you explain all the people living on the street and begging for money in downtown Richmond, VA or any other city. In capitalism, you have to have a lot of money or be incredibly smart to get ahead. You wouldn't understand that would you? Typical bourgeois.
Students could symbolize this universal truth by refusing to provide any supplies whatsoever. If they do, they should be the shoddiest they can find, like those non-Crayolas that smear across paper. If students don't own their own supplies as the list indicates, you can't really chastise them for not brining to class what the school fails to recognize as the legitimate property of the student. Yes you can. If it is the students responsibility to do so, which I'm sure it is, then the school can get mad. Under US law, elementary school kids are considered to young to have property so how can there be "property of the student"? You preach like you're a great American hero, yet you fail to recognize your own country's property laws. So that kind of terminates itself. If they want to succeed in school, then they will do as the teachers say. You should've learned that by now.
So, did I do a good job putting him in his place?
The thrill of another school year is in the air as stores across America hope to put customers in the scholastic mood with strategically placed displays of academic paraphernalia. Little do these merchants realize that these implements of elucidation might not even be used by the progeny of those purchasing these items.
Last year, I published two commentaries about a trend at many public schools where pupils don't get to keep their supplies but must instead relinquish them into a communal stash. You know, each according to his ability; each according to his need. We've heard it all before.
The articles generated a robust response. This paradigm ran so contrary to human nature and common sense that a number thought I had made the whole thing up. Others, sadly, knew exactly what I was writing about as their own offspring had fallen prey to similar forms of sophisticated thievery. There is no set definition for "human nature." Human nature varies from individual to individual. My nature is to wake up, go to the bathroom, etc. in the morning just as your nature is to be so conservative that your back hurts from having your head up your ass. How is it "contrary to common sense?" Common sense also varies, but from situation to situation instead of individual. This makes perfect sense for the classroom. You are not a teacher, you wouldn't know the first thing about running a class and thankfully you aren't qualified to.
Evidence for my argumentation had been culled from the experience of my cousin's child at Patuxent Elementary in Lusby, Maryland --- a school my detractors insisted didn't exist (the building looked pretty solid to me) --- and from supply lists for various schools made available for shopping convenience at local Walmarts. The conclusions were drawn by synthesizing these accounts. For example, unless some elementary students has a really nasty drug habit, why would any school request eight gluesticks and four bottle of glue unless for redistribution among the masses? One school required forty-eight pencils. It's doubtful even Tom Clancy would require that many pencils for any given nine-month period. Elementary schools use more glue than you think. Again, you aren't a teacher and you wouldn't know. Less glue will be used at one time because of "redistribution among the masses." The same applies to pencils. Many teachers spend at least a quarter of their paycheck a month (when payed once a month like my county) on extra school supplies because students are either using too much or don't have any. Why don't you try spending all that money, Mr. Economics?
Some of these schools are growing bolder about expressing their intentions behind these copious supply lists. The most brash thus far has to be that compiled by Annapolis Elementary School, in none other than Annapolis, Maryland.
Beneath the list for a number of classes it reads in bold print, "All supplies are considered community supplies and will be shared with the class." One almost expects those words sprawled across the barn in Orwell's Animal Farm underneath the slogan about all animals being equal with some more so than others. I've read Animal Farm and that slogan was put on the barn when the pigs went on a power trip, it had nothing to do with community supplies. It's called reading comprehension :rolleyes: .
Just as arrogant is the supposition that parents and child will obsequiously comply with these demands simply because someone with a fancy degree pulling down a hefty administrative salary makes them. Since public schools seem so keen on immersing students in a socialistic milieu, it's about time pupils learned a little lesson in revolt. Are you jealous because they make more money and are smarter? You typical cappie :rolleyes: !
But rather than pursuing this along the lines of the Communist model seeking to overturn all legitimate expressions of authority, it would be best to utilize America's Founding Fathers as the overriding example. For as with the citizen's relationship with government, the obedience of students to their teachers ought not be absolute, but rather limited to matters bearing directly upon classroom discipline not infringing upon the jurisdictions of other social authorities, namely parents.
Come the first day of school when these proto-socialist thugs will stand before their classes compelling students to surrender their property for the sake of the community, these students ought to respectfully refuse to comply with this lyceum larceny, clutching their notebooks and pencils in their little hands in defiance. Better yet, since the public schools seem so bent on wallowing in the axioms of Communism, perhaps these pedagogical subversives should be taught how socialist economies really work. And how might that be? Please explain since you know everything else. In socialist countries they have free college education for all those who want it. Or atleast that is what the CPUSA talks about on its website. I talked to a Cuban lady and she said Havana University is free. Look at the great things involving cancer treatment that Cuba has done.
The equal distribution and access to resources for all has always been the grand delusion promoted by compulsory collectivism. In practice, this has ended up meaning all those living under its yoke end up equally miserable. Workers realize there is little reason to exert themselves since there's no opportunity to get ahead honestly. So now you've talked to all these people and know that they're miserable. :rolleyes: Define "get ahead." The purpose of specialization of labor is not to "get ahead", but to be happy doing the jobs you want to do and are good at. In capitalism, many people can't get ahead either, how the hell else would you explain all the people living on the street and begging for money in downtown Richmond, VA or any other city. In capitalism, you have to have a lot of money or be incredibly smart to get ahead. You wouldn't understand that would you? Typical bourgeois.
Students could symbolize this universal truth by refusing to provide any supplies whatsoever. If they do, they should be the shoddiest they can find, like those non-Crayolas that smear across paper. If students don't own their own supplies as the list indicates, you can't really chastise them for not brining to class what the school fails to recognize as the legitimate property of the student. Yes you can. If it is the students responsibility to do so, which I'm sure it is, then the school can get mad. Under US law, elementary school kids are considered to young to have property so how can there be "property of the student"? You preach like you're a great American hero, yet you fail to recognize your own country's property laws. So that kind of terminates itself. If they want to succeed in school, then they will do as the teachers say. You should've learned that by now.
So, did I do a good job putting him in his place?