Teragram

Proposition 82

2006-05-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

According to the California Teachers' Association, teachers in this great state promote proposition 82, the preschool initiative. I am long-standing CTA member who does not support proposition 82. Of course I am in favor of free public education for our children, but I've heard nothing about the curriculum or administration of this program. Will the testing frenzy be pushed down little four year olds' throats? Developmental learning is gone from our state standards for kindergarten and I haven't heard it promoted for preschoolers through this initiative. Will our already overwhelmed administrators have yet one more huge program to oversee? Where in our crowded schools will preschool classes be located? Why can't Headstart be bolstered instead of replaced for those most needy of our children?

I agree that preschool children deserve our state's attention. Wouldn't the money be better spent on pre and post-natal education for parents? Think of the possiblilties. We could have in-hospital teachers sharing their insight with new parents. Librarians could offer guidelines, model reading, and give free books to parents and children of preschoolers. Every community could have teachers, nurses, and counselors who would make free home visits and provide classes with advice and goodie bags full of nurture for our little ones. These same people could help make sure that those same children live in a safe and healthy home.

Preschool is a great option for three and four year olds, but a child's first teacher is the parent. Let's make sure those parents have the tools and wisdom to provide a nurturing environment for their children.

Swords or Plowshares?

2006-05-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

So much for the poor, the tired, the huddled masses, as long as they happen to be of the Mexican persuasion. George Bush plans to send 6,000 troops to the Mexican border to guard against any more Mexicans crossing the border. I have no idea how much it costs to guard the U.S. border from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas, but surely it will be in the billions. Here's an alternative plan. How about sharing those billions with Mexico. The Mexican government could surely use all that cash to start an infrastructure work program for Mexican citizens so they could thrive in Mexico. It could be modeled after the Roosevelt WPA program. Instead of buying uniforms, tanks, night vision binoculars, and guns, Mexico could invest in paintbrushes, forklifts, road graders, and construction equipment. Artists, teachers, nurses, and construction workers could be trained and put to work in the noble effort to refurbish Mexico. Hey, now that I think of it, let's bring the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan to rebuild the crumbling society in this country. When the infrastructures of Mexico and the United States are back on track, we'll have thousands of people trained to build rather than to destroy.

Gas Hike

2006-05-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

I've heard several proposed solutions to the "gas crisis" in recent days. Should we give motorists a $100.00 rebate? How about searching online for the cheapest gas stations. Should our oil barron president investigate oil company profits? What about drilling for more of the crude in Alaska?

Here's my sure-to-be-unpopular proposal. Let's raise gas prices to $6.00 per gallon for all but mass transit vehicles. Let's also investigate oil company profits, but that henhouse should not be investigated by the fox himself. Surely we'd have a several extra dollars per gallon. Think of the revenue! We could recreate the mass transit system that once ran this country. Amtrak could be back on track (and on time). Commuters might decide they need to live within reasonable distant from their jobs. Car buyers might finally blow off cars the size of third world houses. We might wake up to the fact that this Texas Tea is not exactly a renewable resource, at least not for the next couple million years. We might not invade another country, causing chaos just to feed our automania.

Encounter at Smart and Final

2006-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely encounter today at Smart and Final. While wandering the aisles with my mega cart, a young man with a store nametag approached me to ask if I was a teacher. It was 17 year old Oscar, a student I had 7 years ago in my special ed. class. At the time Oscar did poorly with reading and writing, having severe language disabilities, and living in a non-English speaking family. He was rather incorrigible, getting into trouble with other children and authority figures at the school. Because of his language disability, he had been yanked from his community in Pomona and bused to the special needs classes in Claremont for his entire childhood.

Oscar was not only a child with disabilities though, he was a funny little boy that loved to play and had a smile that could only warm my heart. He also loved working outside. Not only did it bring him pleasure, he was remarkably good at it. Fortunately we had a little garden outside my classroom that he tended with great skill. He was also very good with tools, so he fixed anything in the classroom that needed attention. My classroom had a lifeskills focus, so there were many occasions for Oscar to work with his hands.

On the weekends, he went to work with his dad who was a gardener. Oscar worked hard, both physically and serving as translator to his father and customers. Child labor? No, Oscar spoke often about this work with fondness. It was his other classroom, and he was an apt student. Oscar is now working part time at Smart and Final, through the high school ROP program. He'll graduate from high school on time in June, then look at options for full time work. Meeting Oscar again meant so much to me. Most of the students I taught in Claremont are lost to me forever, because they were yanked back to Pomona for the rest of their public school years. Most of the stories I've heard have been stories of hardship, some in the crimelogs of the newspaper. Oscar's story is one full of hope. He is a kind and polite young man, working hard to achieve his goals. He's outshone my highest expectations.

What's to become of the Oscars in our school system, both in and out of special education? With vocational ed progams cut in favor of academic drill and kill, and the focus on test scores instead of authentic learning, we are pushing out these alternative learners. Oscar has a lot to give the world: hands-on intelligence, drive, and his laughing smile. He'll make it. In spite of it all. Thanks, Oscar, for reminding me why I am a teacher.

A Martyr in our Time

2006-03-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

The body of Quaker peacemaker Tom Fox was found in Iraq a few days ago. He was part of the Christian Peacemaking Team in that country trying to make a positive change. His own words are much more powerful than any commentary I might contribute. This is his blog site. http://waitinginthelight.blogspot.com/

The Simpsons and the First Ammendment

2006-03-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

A recent poll found that Americans know more about the characters on The Simpsons than they know about the First Ammendment to the U.S. Constitution. While I do think that program has more merit than most of what television has to offer, I find this quite troubling. I suggest that all of us commit this first part of our grand Bill of Rights to memory. Perhaps in doing so, we will commit ourselves to the preservation of this important American ideal. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Real Estate and Test Scores

2006-02-19T10:05:00.001-08:00

There has been much debate about student test scores in the L.A. Times, from the front page to the editorial page. Little noticed in that controversy is the valuable information in the real estate section. Each Sunday the Times features a community on page K2. In addition to interesting information about the communities, the median price for homes and local Academic Performance Index scores from annual school testing are reported. A score of at least 800 is expected on API scores. Here is a sample:
Rancho Palos Verdes median price: $1,165,000.00, average API score: 915
Solano Beach (San Diego) median price: $1,126,000.00, average API score: 900
Fontana median price: $425,000.00, average API score: 690

While there are many factors that influence test scores, the fact remains that until we remedy the economic disparity of our communities, the problems within our schools will continue.

Illegal Human Beings?

2006-02-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

While listening to my local NPR station today, I heard a news item about an attempt to make it a criminal act to be in the United States with out proper documentation. The newscaster went on to say that there was a protest because it would create a hardship for employers. This, while George Bush is trying to reinstate the Bracero program of the 1960s. This would allow employers to hire non-citizens at below minimum wage and not give adequate health or pension benefits. Hey, let's pay back what's due to the aging Braceros long back in Mexico instead of repeating the dastardly deed.

On the Way to Work

2006-02-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

Walking on Maplewood in the Morning

Breakfast smells wafting
Doppler child voices scurrying
Cats huddling at screen doors
Sun peeking low through branches
Hand waving from a friendly car

Feeling the familiar
Dwelling in the moment
I round the corner to the new day.

2006-01-31T16:58:00.000-08:00

Sam Alito is confirmed as Supreme Court justice the same day that Coretta Scott King dies. Such irony.

Why I like Ike

2006-01-26T16:55:00.000-08:00

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things.

Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

---President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952

Letter to the LA TIMES

2006-01-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Editor of the Times:
L.A. Times, January 24 page A10: Lewis Wishofer, Jr. stuffed an Iraqi general face first in a sleeping bag, wrapped him in electrical wire and sat on his chest until he died. The next day he attempted to repeat the deed on others. Sentence: $6,000 fine, reprimand and 60 days restriction to home, office and church.
L.A. Times, January 24, page A12: Daniel Burns splattered blood on windows, walls and an American flag at an Army recruiting station. Sentence: 6 months in prison.

What kind of justice do we intend to spread around the globe?

2006-01-21T13:59:00.000-08:00

This from the Los Angeles Times today: "U.S. Goals Adapt to New Iraq--Disappointed with vote results, Washington is now focused on keeping security forces out of the hands of religious or nationalist parties." So much for building democracy. Kind of like trying to build a tower out of drops of water; you use a lot of force and you still can't make it do what it doesn't want to do. The Bush regime is building something, surely, but it's not democracies. Beyond the dreams of any Muslim extremist, this administration is turning the world away from us and driving multitudes toward active retaliation against insane and vicious global U.S. policies.

2006-01-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain is the sad tale of unrequited love and multifaceted heartbreak. 1963 vintage cowboys find each other in primitive Montana. After the first rough groping tryst this becomes a tender relationship. Unfortunately, due to the time and place, these lovers never have a life together. Both marry women and have families that are deeply hurt. Though we can't know what their relationship would have become had they had the chance to fulfill it, it is obvious that these two cowboys were deeply in love. Times have changed, but surely not enough. While I appreciate my wonderful relationship with my other half, I don't often think about how it would be to ever need to conceal it. Brokeback Mountain is worth seeing, but mostly for the poignant message. Also for the scenery and beautiful cowboy shirts.

Clarence Ray Allen

2006-01-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

Clarence Ray Allen will be executed on Tuesday. Jesse Jackson will not be there. He was not nominated for a Nobel Prize. He seems to have no redeeming qualities. In 1974, Allen arranged for the murder of three people, in order to eliminate witnesses who might testify against crimes he committed. The LA Times had an early picture of him with an assault rifle, tattooed arms, sunglasses, cigarette dangling. He's done nothing in his prison life to merit positive note. Today Allen is 75 years old, blind, diabetic, wheelchair bound and once had a heart attack. I looked away from his photos because he's so unpleasant.

The governor denied clemency for Clarence Ray Allen. He's led a regrettable life and appears unrepentant. I lived in Fresno and can imagine that little store where the horrible crimes occurred.

The argument for clemency has been that it would be uncivilized to execute someone so old and in such poor health.Innocent, redeemed, feeble, mentally disabled, Hannibal, too young, too old, or common criminal, the death penalty is "uncivilized". Let us stop making exceptions and abolish the death penalty in this great state once and for all. As a society, we have no right to take the life of a human being. Anyone's death diminishes us all.

Clarence Ray Allen's 76th birthday will be Monday. He will be executed on Tuesday. No glory, no black men in bow ties, no book credits. A man I would never have wanted to meet, but a human life all the same.

When will peace finally come in these mad times of shame?

Peace through Music

2006-01-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

I spent four days during my winter holiday at a music camp north of Malibu. As well as being in an absolutely lovely spot, it was a wonderful gathering of many musicians. From Italian to Mexican to Spanish and U.S.(including Hawaiian), the music was splendid. I find it interesting that much international music popular in the early 20th century has so much in common in style, including rhythm, chords and other patterns. Our gathering was a reflection of the music in that we came from our differing daily lives and joined in melody and harmony, sharing meals, humor, conversation, dancing and general merriment.

A highlight of the weekend was time spent with Jeanie McLerie, a fiddler from New Mexico. She and her husband, Ken Keppler, have collected music from the O'odham Indians in southern Arizona. Spanish travelers in the 1700's introduced them to a fiddle tradition which they adapted and preserved through the centuries. Sadly, it is now a dying tradition. We learned several of the beautiful tunes.

Most special of the weekend was the gift of an incredible ukulele, made by our friend, Kurt. As much as the craftmanship is excellent, the generosity of this friend is astonishing!

Someone said, "If music could only bring peace, I'd only be a musician." I've never considered myself that serious as a musician, but the days at New Year's Camp made me suspect some real merit in that quote, beyond wishful thinking.

2006-01-08T18:28:00.000-08:00

This being my first entry to this blog, I have some decisions to make. Shall I wax poetic, profound, professional, political? Or will I gossip, ramble on, write my dinner menu, complain? I think I'll begin with reflections on the end of 2005. The last days of the year were spent with family and friends. Much music and merriment was had. From music camp at Malibu to visits with several generations of family, it was time very well spent. I had time for reading, including Jimmy Carter's Our Endangered Values and Kurt Vonnegut's Man Without a Country. Both authors write with great wisdom about the state of the world, depressing as it is. Vonnegut wrote of his great discouragement and hopelessness. He ended, however, by saying that we should be sure to notice when we are happy. He said that when something is right in this world, we should say, "If that isn't just the nicest thing, I don't know what is." So to my family and friends, here's how you make me feel, as we enter this new year: If you aren't just the nicest people, I don't know who is!