Residents From 20 States File Petitions to Secede From Union

[Phineas Finn]

How is that an example Phin?

Are you referring to the non-challenging course work required or the fact that people who are good at what they do don't generally teach?

It's an example of a total lack of respect for teachers.

[atomic]

A lot of teachers in Baltimore city make huge salaries because they are all "model teachers". What a joke. I know someone who taught in Baltimore City that diid not have a teachinig degree.

Also knew someone from South Carolina that had no grasp of grammar at all and was an English teacher. Person's Undergraduate degree was in Math.

Plenty of problems with the education system.

[Smokey 1]

It's an example of a total lack of respect for teachers.

So my lack of respect is the reason we have problems in education?

I have good reasons for any lack of respect I have for the education system we have here in MD. Respect has to be earned and they have not earned it.

[bmorepunk]

This last election will go down as "The War of Northern Aggression II".

[pickles]

This last election will go down as "The War of Northern Aggression II".

Except VA went blue. As did most of the mid-West. Parts of the SW, and the whole West Coast.

[slapshot]

So my lack of respect is the reason we have problems in education?

I have good reasons for any lack of respect I have for the education system we have here in MD. Respect has to be earned and they have not earned it.

Across the board, or just a few teachers?

My kids had both good and excellent teachers. Can't say they had any bad ones...

A very good friend of mine has been teaching at a low performing HS for nearly 30 years. He says that teachers today are severely handicapped in what they can do in the classroom. Times that he has tried to discipline kids, he's been reprimanded by the principal, and then chewed out by the parents who instantly assumes the teascher (not their kid) is at fault. One time he broke up a fight between two girls....and he ended up as a defendant in a law suite (paid for on his own dime). He says the "crap" that teachers take in these lower-tier schools - from the administrative staff, the kids and their parents - is enough to turn off even the most dedicated teacher. He's now one of the "walking dead", and simply doesn't care anymore....just a few more years until he retires. Complete burn out.

The problem with many public schools, in poorer neighborhoods, is that a sizeable percentage of kids simply don't want to be there, don't see the value of education, and their parents could give a crap (no discipline or guidance at home). This leads to kids that are unruly, disrespectful of authority, and who are empowered by adminsitrators and State/Federal Laws that put the kids rights above everything else. Then, of course, we have the educational philosphy that we need to "teach to the lowest common denominator" = The dumbing down of our public schools.

My point is - In large measure, the problem is not the teacher. But sure, every now and then you find a burnt out teacher (like my friend), who's simply had enough of the crap - from both ends. Oh, and IMO, he earns every penny he makes.

[zenwalk]

It's called an election and we live in democracy. Obama won. Get used to it.

[bmorepunk]

Except VA went blue. As did most of the mid-West. Parts of the SW, and the whole West Coast.

Dude, I'm trying to be ridiculous here. Don't ruin this with information.

[pickles]

Dude, I'm trying to be ridiculous here. Don't ruin this with information.

Haha. My apologies.

[Marshan Man]

Since when did they have to have a degree in their subject matter? And anything less than 36 credits in a subject area will not get you a degree in that subject in any college that I am aware of.

When I taught middle school right after undergrad (97-98, 98-99) you had to have a degree in your subject area. Actually that was all i had, and since I had a provisional teaching license I had to take at least 6 hours of general education credits every year I taught (you're right...the easiest "A"s I ever got...).

Obviously that wouldn't apply to elementary teachers as they generally teach "everything".

[LarryN]

Please use the following link to go to the White House's ”We the People” website and sign the petition to prosecute the advocates of secession for sedition.

http://wh.gov/Xrn6

Also, please forward this link to all of your friends who may be inclined to sign it. We need 150 signatures in order for the petition to become searchable.

Woohooo! Now you have TWO signatures!

[Smokey 1]

Across the board, or just a few teachers?

My kids had both good and excellent teachers. Can't say they had any bad ones...

A very good friend of mine has been teaching at a low performing HS for nearly 30 years. He says that teachers today are severely handicapped in what they can do in the classroom. Times that he has tried to discipline kids, he's been reprimanded by the principal, and then chewed out by the parents who instantly assumes the teascher (not their kid) is at fault. One time he broke up a fight between two girls....and he ended up as a defendant in a law suite (paid for on his own dime). He says the "crap" that teachers take in these lower-tier schools - from the administrative staff, the kids and their parents - is enough to turn off even the most dedicated teacher. He's now one of the "walking dead", and simply doesn't care anymore....just a few more years until he retires. Complete burn out.

The problem with many public schools, in poorer neighborhoods, is that a sizeable percentage of kids simply don't want to be there, don't see the value of education, and their parents could give a crap (no discipline or guidance at home). This leads to kids that are unruly, disrespectful of authority, and who are empowered by adminsitrators and State/Federal Laws that put the kids rights above everything else. Then, of course, we have the educational philosphy that we need to "teach to the lowest common denominator" = The dumbing down of our public schools.

My point is - In large measure, the problem is not the teacher. But sure, every now and then you find a burnt out teacher (like my friend), who's simply had enough of the crap - from both ends. Oh, and IMO, he earns every penny he makes.

No, its not the teachers but the system that I have no respect for. Of course there are some teachers who deserve no respect but most that I know are respectable. If I had time I could tell about my little excursion into teaching and why I have little respect for the system but I have to go out in a few minutes. Maybe later.

[SomeIdiot]

Do you know what I am referring to, when I ask the question of whether any laws had been broken? HINT: Look at the title of the thread.

Where does it say that in the link you provided? The link you provided has nothing to do with what I am talking about, and the petition to seceded from the Union. Here is your link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...-revealed.html

I'll say it again - Start with answering the following question...,have any Federal Laws been broken by people signing this petition? If the answer is no, as I suspect it is, then why would the FBI devote the resources and time to investigate thousands and thousands of people...with no hopes of prosecuting? What you suggest is completely non-sensical.

Investigating inproper and possibly illegal (ie involving the transmittal of classified information) exchanges between some high ranking officials and these woman is not only proper, but well within the FBI's resource limits.

No, no one has broken the law by signing the petition, a question I've already answered.

The Patraeus affair I referenced began with an investigation for allegedly harassing e-mails which were determined to probably not violate the law and yet the investigation continued anyway. It was only after they'd investigated a person who they determined probably hadn't broken the law that the question of whether classified information was leaked came into play.

I did my time as a trial attorney so I forgive you for your naive views about law enforcement. Law enforcement investigates people frequently despite lack of clear probable cause because the system allows them to get away with it. They do this for a number of reasons, ranging from their own personal interests to the fact that even if they don't find anything that confirms their initial hunch, they sometimes find something else like a joint in the trunk or, in circumstances like this, leaked classified information.

I think I'll bet on Martians landing, first.

Pretty pathetic rebuttal after I was able to document my claims but I guess that's what hurt pride looks like. The funny part is that I in fact agree with you that the people signing this petition are fools, but that doesn't mean that the government won't use it or any other bizarre excuse they can come up with to investigate people if they can. Smart people like yourself ought to consider that before totally dismissing the possibility.

[jtowne-swim]

A lot of teachers in Baltimore city make huge salaries because they are all "model teachers". What a joke. I know someone who taught in Baltimore City that diid not have a teachinig degree.

Also knew someone from South Carolina that had no grasp of grammar at all and was an English teacher. Person's Undergraduate degree was in Math.

Plenty of problems with the education system.

Not all Baltimore City teachers are in the model teacher catagorey. I believe that has to be earned but how easily that is earned I am not familiar with. Secondly South Carolina has one of the worst public school systems!

[jtowne-swim]

Across the board, or just a few teachers?

My kids had both good and excellent teachers. Can't say they had any bad ones...

A very good friend of mine has been teaching at a low performing HS for nearly 30 years. He says that teachers today are severely handicapped in what they can do in the classroom. Times that he has tried to discipline kids, he's been reprimanded by the principal, and then chewed out by the parents who instantly assumes the teascher (not their kid) is at fault. One time he broke up a fight between two girls....and he ended up as a defendant in a law suite (paid for on his own dime). He says the "crap" that teachers take in these lower-tier schools - from the administrative staff, the kids and their parents - is enough to turn off even the most dedicated teacher. He's now one of the "walking dead", and simply doesn't care anymore....just a few more years until he retires. Complete burn out.

The problem with many public schools, in poorer neighborhoods, is that a sizeable percentage of kids simply don't want to be there, don't see the value of education, and their parents could give a crap (no discipline or guidance at home). This leads to kids that are unruly, disrespectful of authority, and who are empowered by adminsitrators and State/Federal Laws that put the kids rights above everything else. Then, of course, we have the educational philosphy that we need to "teach to the lowest common denominator" = The dumbing down of our public schools.

My point is - In large measure, the problem is not the teacher. But sure, every now and then you find a burnt out teacher (like my friend), who's simply had enough of the crap - from both ends. Oh, and IMO, he earns every penny he makes.

Your friend illustrates another problem that many school systems create. There are very few teachers who can teach in the lower teir schools for 30 years and bring to the table what needs to be brought every day and reach those kids. The problem is that they have few people wanting to go to those schools and make it difficult to get a transfer somewhere else.

I suggest they offer a contract for tenured and good teachers to take a tour of 4-5 years in one of those schools for a little extra money and a promise that they can be transfered out of them at the end.

[jre]

Hopefully Obama allows the ignorant Texas tea party bigots to follow thru on their pathetic secession threats. America would be a much better place without that hate & bigotry. GOOD RIDDANCE, and don't let the door hit you in the *** on the way out.

It would be truly hilarious to watch Texans come back in less than 2 weeks on their knees begging for re-admission to the union when they quickly realized what a huge mistake they made.

[BlandFood]

Hopefully Obama allows the ignorant Texas tea party bigots to follow thru on their pathetic secession threats. America would be a much better place without that hate & bigotry. GOOD RIDDANCE, and don't let the door hit you in the *** on the way out.

It would be truly hilarious to watch Texans come back in less than 2 weeks on their knees begging for re-admission to the union when they quickly realized what a huge mistake they made.

We've seen this dance before, years ago the animals in the city wanted their own state. Ever hear of Stokley Carmichael? He was a funny, stupid mofo. :shrug:

[songfourone]

Hopefully Obama allows the ignorant Texas tea party bigots to follow thru on their pathetic secession threats. America would be a much better place without that hate & bigotry. GOOD RIDDANCE, and don't let the door hit you in the *** on the way out.

It would be truly hilarious to watch Texans come back in less than 2 weeks on their knees begging for re-admission to the union when they quickly realized what a huge mistake they made.

Got to agree with ya, let them go, hell lets vote them out!!!!!

[dsummoner]

It's called an election and we live in democracy. Obama won. Get used to it.

No, actually we do not.

[SoSad]

So, no Federal loans? Did you attend any educational institution that got Federal or State grants, loans, etc to hire new teachers, or help build infrastructure. Etc.

You may not have taken a single $ from any Government source, but you have still benefitted, albeit, indirectly from Government programs.

Everything was pretty much pulled out of property taxes based on what parents were willing to pay collectively. As for your assertion regarding infrastructure, the government doesn't generate money, they COLLECT money from taxpayers and the taxpayers pay for infrastructure, so my parents paid their 'fair share' which allowed me to ride as a passenger in a car on the road, or are you trying to suggest that as a minor I should have been paying taxes?

Well, California is a HUGE state compared to Maryland, and is the case with public institutions, you have a wide variation in quality. Nevertheless, the University of California system is ranked as one of the best, if not the best public universities in the country...and Cal is almost exclusively populated by home grown products from the state of California (Cal accepts very few out of state students).

Good for California. I was refering to K-12. The schools K-12 in Cali leave a lot to be desired, IMO. I paid for my education after that point.

Sure. Send me all your financial records, IRS filings, etc for the last 10 years, and I will examine.

You made the claim, you support it. This is like starting a thread on a topic and asking me to find you a link to support your own thread.

So, you are capable of considering the fact that you got help from other's besides your family? That's good to hear.

Says who?