Attacking Sexuality

We all know that the Obama Administration has appointed Kevin Jennings as the “Safe Schools” czar, but none of us really know what his job entails (this is true for all the czars, right?).  This video clip was found on Breitbart.tv of a speech Mr. Jennings made at the GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) in Iowa in 2000 – How strange is it that homosexual rights activists claim that being so is biological – not a choice – when Mr. Jennings so clearly believes that heterosexuals are “recruiting” children aggressively.  He even goes so far as to claim that this is done with Romeo and Juliet, what’s next, wanting to censor heterosexual literature and replace it with solely homosexual works?

As a heterosexual woman, I must roll my eyes at this and hope we can weather the storm of contradictions and double standards being pushed by this administration.  Mr. Jennings, I think that with all that is wrong, and unjust in our education system, the sexuality of our children is not the most important thing you should be focused on — how about you instead determine a way to keep weapons and drugs off campus, an infinitely better use of your time!

Parents Extort School Board Following Son’s Suicide

In  Mentor, Ohio a family is grieving the March 27^th suicide of their 17 year old son, Eric Mohat; which has culminated as a lawsuit against the local school board.  The family holds school officials responsible for their son’s death because they did not do more to stop bullying that they feel is the cause of their son’s suicide.   Accusations that the student’s civil right to safety and the family’s constitutional rights to have their child educated in a safe environment were violated are presented in the lawsuit.

The school administrators are being cited with “indifference toward conditions” that led to the sucide of not only Eric Mohat, but to three of the boy’s classmates as well.  In Summit County, bullying related suicides are on the rise.

All is not lost for the school district, the family has issued a statement that the lawsuit will be dropped if the school system adopted a tougher stance with progressively harsher punishments for students found to be bullies.  Otherwise, the proceeds from the suit would be used for anti-bullying training for schools and a scholarship in the boy’s name.

This looks a lot like extortion from this angle.  I feel for the families that have been affected by this terrible incident, however, I am resentful that the school district is being held responsible for a person’s choice to end their own life.  Bullies are not new to the school yard, there are “mean people” everywhere, what were the school administrators to do, treat high school students like 2^nd graders and watch their every move?  Give detention or other punishment each time a teenager said or did something mean?  From what I remember from school, there wouldn’t be any kids left in class if that is the case.

Parents should look a little harder at the environment that they created for their child if kids picking on them at school was enough to induce suicide.  Where did he get the gun to commit such an act?  Did they open the lines of communication, go to the school, and talk to their child about alternative ways of handling the taunting kids from school?

I just don’t understand how parents can hold a school system responsible for an act their son committed, that they themselves did not stop.  Maybe the finger should be pointed at Mom and Dad and see how they react to news that they are equally responsible their son’s death. 

State of Florida Treaty with Seminole Tribe Makes Fiscal Sense

Thank you, Governor Crist for being diligent with the proposal of a 25 year compact with the Seminole Tribe.  In an official statement from the Governor’s office; “The compact represents $288 million for education this year alone, and those dollars are just the beginning of billions of dollars that will come to Florida’s schools during the next 25 years,” Governor Crist said. “These much-needed funds will improve the quality of life of students, teachers, and all Floridians for generations to come.”

The Florida School Board Association (FBSA), Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS), and the Florida Education Association (FEA) have now endorsed the proposal; which will propel the issue forward into possible fruition.

Dr.  Wayne Blanton, Executive Director of the FSBA comments, “With Florida school districts facing devastating classroom cuts, our board has voted to endorse the state’s Compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. We do not have a position on gambling one way or the other, but we agree with Governor Crist that the Seminole Compact is a critical source of immediate and ongoing revenue to protect the education of our children.”

This proposal has brought to light the deep division within citizens of this state regarding gambling within its borders.  The question to gamble or not gamble is what the media and extremists would have you believe this issue is about, however, the Seminole Tribe is a sovereign nation; therefore, the state’s laws are non-bearing on holdings of the tribe.  Gambling is happening in Florida, and the true issue is whether taxes should be imposed on the flow of money through the casinos and into the state coffers.

In this economic time, within a state that is hurting for funding as bad as we are here in Florida I find it completely irrelevant to argue about the morality of gambling when the same model has been employed in states such as North Carolina and Mississippi and have such a dramatically positive impact on the lively-hoods of everyday citizens.

Would a 4-day school day work?

http://http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509046,00.html

Fox News reports that several states, including Florida are considering the possibility of 4-day school weeks. As a homeschooling mother of a elementary-aged son I have found it agreeable to operate on a 4-day week, though am unclear if the results I have experienced would be attainable on a district wide level.

It is understood that this change would provide a great incentive to districts in teacher recuitment and retention. Additionally the cost savings would be seen in transporation, utility and food costs. Certian states have operated with 4-day weeks for decades, though mostly in mountian and rural states where classroom sizes are small and long-distance transportation to urban schools put unwanted burdens on rural communities.

The majority of those critical of this plan are teachers unions, and parents who are concered with addional child care costs their families will bear if this proposal is approved. However, in Florida where statutes require a 5-day school week the changes would most likely be seen in high schools rather than elementary, thus elimiating the child care issue.