I would vote for him

[country lady]

PotterWatch, I'm curious why you home school and then disagree with the sentiments put forth? It seems to be an opposite viewpoint in that you approve of these schools today yet choose to take your children away from the influence. IMHO, the schools are a mess and something has to change. My grandmother would never believe that some schools today have nurseries or students actually use the "f" word to their teachers. A person doesn't have to agree with Dennis Prager or anyone else to see our schools and society are in crisis. I have only seen Dennis Prager once while surfing so I can't comment on his views.

 

[PotterWatch]

Quote:
I agree that our school system needs to change in some way, but I don't think it has anything to do with the viewpoints in the posted statement. My problem with our school system has to do with NCLB and the fact that it is simply impossible for a teacher to customize the education experience for each of the children in their classroom. I feel that teachers are often stifled in the current system and I feel that I can do a better job with my own children in my own home. I am lucky enough to have the ability to keep my children home and guide them on their path to love learning. I don't homeschool for religious reasons or because they teach sex-ed in school, I homeschool because I like the flexibility it offers my children.

I think that celebrating our differences is an important part of our nation, not pretending they don't exist or worse, actively discouraging people from celebrating their culture. To me, the message that is really coming forth in the posted statement is one of intolerance and hate.

*Edited for spelling

 

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
I agree that our school system needs to change in some way, but I don't think it has anything to do with the viewpoints in the posted statement. My problem with our school system has to do with NCLB and the fact that it is simply impossible for a teacher to customize the education experience for each of the children in their classroom. I feel that teachers are often stifled in the current system and I feel that I can do a better job with my own children in my own home. I am lucky enough to have the ability to keep my children home and guide them on their path to love learning. I don't homeschool for religious reasons or because they teach sex-ed in school, I homeschool because I like the flexibility it offers my children.

I think that celebrating our differences is an important part of our nation, not pretending they don't exist or worse, actively discouraging people from celebrating their culture. To me, the message that is really coming forth in the posted statement is one of intolerance and hate.

*Edited for spelling

Very well said. We tried homeschooling because the school has limited resources. Definitely not because of religion or fear of exposing our children to life. 5 special needs kids proved to be too much though. Besides we live 5 miles from other kids and the kids really need some exposure to other forms of life. If we lived in a regular neighborhood or had children nearby we would probably still home school. As it is they get speech therapy and some special ed at school.

I fully disagree with the standardized testing they are doing in public schools. The kids miss out on a lot. Expecting every mother to stay home and school her children just isn't very realistic. As for the principal. He represents what we seem to be getting in to office these days. It's a real sad reflection of our society. Fortunately he represents a rather small minority. Unfortunately it's also a very vocal minority and very squeaky hinge in our political system.

 

[Dunkopf]

Since Latinos are very quickly becoming the majority everyone should learn to speak Spanish. It's the language of the future.

Actually what has happened to America is the result of airplanes.and communications. We're actually part of the World. I know it sucks but we just have to put up with it. There are still countries in this world that are trying very hard to stay isolated. Iran comes to mind.

 

[TrystInn]

Not impressed with this guy, he's going to end up costing his school and his school district lots of money defending lawsuits. He's going to be very lucky if he doesn't end up fired with his license pulled.

Dear Sir,

First off, you have to care about the racial makeup of your students. They have different struggles, different challenges and different histories. A public school that ignores Black History month, Latin History month, etc. is one where homogenization is more important than the very qualities that have created our students. I am a very proud Irish American, Jewish American and Feminist American. These gave me not only a unique perspective as a student, a few of them helped me get into and pay for college. Would you rob students of those opportunities?

Secondly, ESL classes are federally mandated in order to give ESL students better working usage of English. Ironically, this often requires that we actually communicate with the student in their own language to teach them English, not to mention other subjects such as Civics. Good luck and get out your checkbook, sir.

Third, fine. I'd love to see teachers stop wearing polyester and bras that are too small for them. Sansa belt trousers ought to go, too. They undermine our authority. Where I see trouble is your use of the term "sacred". Sacred and secular are antonyms, which means since you are teaching at a secular school you ought to leave the sacred to those with clergy training and limit it to sacred institutions chosen by the families themselves.

Fourth, again with the religious terms. "Holy" has no part in a secular school. You are paid with public funds to run a public institution for public students. Best learn that quickly.

Fifth, really no self-esteem programs? Your teen pregnancy, smoking, delinquency and suicide rates will skyrocket. Those programs work and work well, with the notable exception of D.A.R.E. - which actually raises drug use.

Sixth, yep teen pregnancies again. Are you trying to keep an adoption agency busy? History is taught with perspective, something you seem quite narrowly unimpressed with. Races, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity and minority religious have been persecuted in this country and we must teach that history honestly and with respect. Are we to ignore the Japanese interment camps on American soil? Slavery? Civil rights? Gitmo?

I would ask sir, what you hope to accomplish with this other than political gain? I notice you haven't thrown out the athletic programs or the extra-curricular ones. These programs remove desperately needed funds from academic programs and distract students time and attention.

Ah, but then, football has always been thoroughly American. Except when it was created in Europe (hint: we call it soccer).

 

[Mattemma]

Not sure how I feel about this person,or that I would vote for him if he was running.I think he has some good intentions,and I look forward to seeing how the students of his school do.A president is just one in many who set the tone for a nation.This man has set the tone for his school,and hopefully it will turn out well.

I like the testing. I did it when I home schooled.It is done at the Montessori school the kids go tonly thing bad about it is that the public schools need to prep for the test,so they can get a good rating for their state funds.If it was just a test to see what the kids remember then that is fine,but even then it is just a test which can have different results every time you give it.

For kids being with kids I am so so on that one.I have tried a lot of schooling options and even when the kids go to a school building they have little to no contact with classmates outside of school.You really need to nuture those friendships wherever you start them up.

As for the spanish I don't mind it at all.I love hearing people speak their native languages out in public.Every so often I will hear hungarian(which I know) and get so excited to be able to *listen in*. I keep telling my kids to get some basic spanish under their belts.It is embarrassing that most people(in other countries)know 2 or more languages,but Americans often seem resentful at being asked to learn another language.We go all around the world and expect people to understand our english...and most times they do!

I do agree though that if you live in a country (not vacation) then you MUST learn the language. I have met people here 10+ years that can barely speak english.That is sad.

I still feel America is the land for all.You can still be an American and speak any language in public(but know english!),be of any religion, any culture,and any race.It's all good if you do good towards others.

Maybe schools should cut out all celebrations and just have days off.Kids should be able to take off for religious/cultural needs as long as they do that make up work.Unlikely I know.Shoot, I get the third degree if I call my kid off sick!

Again best wishes for this man and his school.

 

[Farmerboy16]

Quote:
I would never learn to speak Spanish in our country. Why? Because we are the English speaking country, I will not be force to change my way just for the Latinos, they do not respect us enough to learn English to communicate with us. Instead they expect us to learn Spanish, and put Spanish words with our English words everywhere to communicate with them. If they what to come to the U.S.A in the first place, they will have to learn our culture AND our language, most of them are just to lazy to learn English.

 

[rufus]

Quote:
LEARN! You have nothing to lose by learning the language.

For what it is worth, Spanish has been spoken in the southwest for about four hundred years. English has only been spoken here for about a hundred and twenty years.

If you are in business or agriculture, you just about need the language. Know your customers and be able to communicate with them and your employees. Try it, you will like it.

I think the best way to learn it is by listening to the radio and watching the telenovelas.

Rufus

 

[RHRanch]

Quote:
I would never learn to speak Spanish in our country. Why? Because we are the English speaking country, I will not be force to change my way just for the Latinos, they do not respect us enough to learn English to communicate with us. Instead they expect us to learn Spanish, and put Spanish words with our English words everywhere to communicate with them. If they what to come to the U.S.A in the first place, they will have to learn our culture AND our language, most of them are just to lazy to learn English.

Knowing more than one language is advantageous, and regardless of what country you live in, it is helpful to know the most common languages spoken in your region. Last time I checked, there was no disadvantage to only speaking english in the US, so what are you complaining about? The diversity of other americans? Let me explain why your complaint confuses me: For example, everywhere I go, everything is written in english - and sometimes important things are also translated into spanish. How is that a problem for the english speaker? In my college, 3 semesters of foreign languge (any you desire) are required. I selected spanish, and I really enjoy speaking and understanding it.
I think its unkind to broadly catagorize those who don't speak engish when they emigrate here as lazy. Most immigrants come here as adults, often with limited education in thier own language and end up working at jobs which expose them for the most part to others from thier country, limiting opportunities to learn english. These same people often live in neighborhoods which are commonly populated with other people from thier home country, and also do not speak english. Again, little time or opportunity to be exposed to english in thier non-working hours. I have had to take 3+ semesters of spanish to have even a basic grasp of that language and I had the benefit of quality instruction and a tutor - my husband who is fluent in English and Spanish whose parents immigrated to the US, worked and lived in a spanish speaking community and led productive american lives all without being fluent in english. Thier son, had the benefit of our public school system and a brother who had learned english to make him fluently bilingual. My husbands parents made sure he made perfect grades and never missed a day of school, even though they had a 3rd grade education and limited english skills. My husband, the product of non-english speaking immigrants was valedictorian of his school, attended UC Davis and earned 3 BA's and recently completed a Masters.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Just thought I'd point out, that from what I read on this man, he isn't a principal and hasn't ever been one. There seems to be some (very understandable) confusion about that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Prager