The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Alex]

I don't know that recess appointments are really something that needs to be covered up. It has a storied history (our second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was a recess appointment not trusted by the senate, was widely considered insane and then attempted suicide before resigning from the court after the senate again refused to confirm him) and Clinton and Bush have, over the last 16 years made it pretty much standard practice, doing it 300 times or so.

But if Reid can keep a quorum in Washington over the Thanksgiving break, then good for him.

[BDBopper]

The GOP Race is over! Huckabee wins!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE

Mike Huckabee - Chuck Norris Approved!

Come on at least admit you got a chuckle out of the ad.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by BDBopper

The GOP Race is over! Huckabee wins!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE

Mike Huckabee - Chuck Norris Approved!

Come on at least admit you got a chuckle out of the ad.

That was pretty good......I like this one:


http://youtube.com/watch?v=tjOuL5qwNIc

[BDBopper]

Those were good ads too.

[wendybeth]

Found this buried near the bottom of the news at the Fox site: McClellan claims White House actually lied to him!.


What a surprise.

[Prudence]

How much do I hate "No Child Left Behind"? Let me count the ways....


I was lucky enough to be part of a "gifted education" program in grades 1-6. (although by grade 6 it was beginning to be watered down, as parents started insisting that their tax dollars paid for it and little Johnny was definitely a genius, even if testing proved him dumb as a post, and therefore little Johnny has to be let into the gifted class - and if he can't keep up with the pace of the other students then they just need to slow down for him.)

So, today's paper brings the following article: Has "No Child" law cheated gifted students?

I hate mainstreaming, I really do. I think kids should be socialized across ability barriers of all kinds. But when it comes down to the brass tacks of learning, children should be taught based on their abilities.

I can't even imagine where I would be today if I hadn't had the opportunity to learn in those environments. Kids already face enough pressure from their peers to not appear to be smart. Do they really need adults pressuring them to stay with the rest of the group and not leap on ahead?

This is the part of the article where I lost it:

In recent years, school systems have gradually embraced the notion that all students, including the gifted, should study in regular classrooms. Alternatives, such as putting gifted children in separate classrooms or schools, or pulling them from regular classes for bursts of enrichment, are widely rejected as undemocratic.

Yup, we should all be as homogeneous as possible, otherwise we're undemocratic traitors.

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I hate mainstreaming, I really do. I think kids should be socialized across ability barriers of all kinds. But when it comes down to the brass tacks of learning, children should be taught based on their abilities.

I'm not a fan of mainstreaming either. I was in gifted programs as well but ours were more of the enrichment variety than seperate classes for each subject. Nothing made me battier than waiting for the teacher to explain, yet again, a simple concept that the rest of the class already got an hour ago for the one person who just couldn't keep up. I don't think it helps anyone really. The kids who get it instantly are bored and the kids who need extra help get ridiculed for holding up the whole class.

Maddy's school is obsessed with test scores. That's it - not learing but what you get on the tests. And not the end of the chapter test the state tests. It makes me wonky.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by katiesue

Maddy's school is obsessed with test scores. That's it - not learing but what you get on the tests. And not the end of the chapter test the state tests. It makes me wonky.

Good thing I'm still not in school. I'd drag the entire class down. Give me subject matter - have a conversation with me and you will know I know what I am talking about. Give me a paper, multiple choice questions and a time limit and I'm fvcked. What's 2+2 again?

[Gemini Cricket]

Not to sound mean or anything... I really don't mean to be mean...
But seeing a full blown picture of Youssif and his scarred up face is really, really jarring to see on CNN.com's homepage. (They just recently took it off.)
I mean, I'm rooting for him and everything. But it's like... click on CNN.com...BAM! Oy!

[MouseWife]

I didnt' see the picture you are speaking of, GC. Glad, too.

But you are right, they over emphasis these test scores. A young girl worked so hard in her class but would fail the tests. I was angry with her mother because she didn't stand up for her, she was angry with her for failing the tests!!! Obviously, either she had an issue with taking tests or else the tests were stupid.

It is a sad day when teachers can't teach. And that they can't take time to have fun with the students. I don't know if they do it now but when my kids were in school, I did help with the testing while the teachers were able to continue teaching. How else were they supposed to test the students and also teach the class? I never understood that.