The quest to keep Dave Hall Plaza in downtown Dayton
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/26/2009 10:06:00 AM
I agree with Jerry Hauer that Dave Hall Plaza should remain as is in downtown Dayton. After all where else will the drug addicts go to do drugs and leave their used crack pipes, and other related paraphernalia? Where will the prostitutes go to meet with their clientele? Where will skulls full of mush go to collect their commemorative set of used Barry Bonds syringes? If we don't fight to save Dave Hall Plaza for these people - who will?
California government school spends $10G a year to teach Spanish to kids who speak Spanish
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/25/2009 12:53:00 PM
A middle school in Southern California is spending $10,000 a year to teach Advanced Placement Spanish to 35 of its 650 students -- and all but one of them are already fluent in Spanish. Thirty-four of the kids in the AP class are from Mexico or are the children of Mexican immigrants. They all grew up speaking Spanish at home. The program -- the only one of its kind in California -- has outraged some critics who say they are concerned that the AP course wastes public resources – including taxpayer dollars – to teach native Spanish speakers how to speak their native language in an American public school.
Below is a op-ed by Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association
"If you want your child to get the best education possible, it's actually more important to get him assigned to a great teacher than to a great school." This quote is from Bill Gates' January 2009 annual letter from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a group that has spent billions of dollars trying to improve education. Mr. Gates also notes that overall, only 71 percent of children graduate from high school within four years. His conclusion is that America's schools are doing a poor job.
He went on to say that most of the schools helped by his foundation fell short of their goals in trying to increase college-ready graduation rates. A few schools, however, achieved amazing results. Typically, they were charter schools in low-income areas where the administrators were able to pick their own teachers and curriculum. Most states do not require charter school teachers to be certified.
A flexible schedule and creative programs provided by adults who have a vested interest in how the child is educated is a recipe for success and the case home-schoolers have been making for decades. For the most part, government education authorities uphold the benefits of certification, but great teachers are those who can communicate to the student the subject matter in a way that explains the content, and also demonstrates a sincere desire for the child to learn and be a good person.
The major criticism against home-schooling when my family started in the early 1980s was the lack of teacher certification. The argument was that children had to be taught by a professional teacher to have a fair opportunity to learn.
The states that were the most adamant about enforcing teacher certification were Washington, California, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan. HSLDA represented many families in these states, with several cases going to state supreme courts.
In North Dakota, we had five cases that went to the state Supreme Court and were only able to win one case on a technicality. The court refused to consider evidence that the education these children were receiving, administered by their noncertified teacher parents, met the state's legitimate interest in education. The children were testing above average on standardized achievement tests. This did not sway the justices.
In the case of Michigan v. DeJonge, an HSLDA member family was prosecuted by a school district in Michigan that alleged the children were truant because the parents did not meet the state's teacher certification requirement. The state Supreme Court ruled teacher certification was not sufficiently compelling to preclude these parents from teaching their children at home.
Today, no state imposes teacher certification as the only teacher qualification for a parent to be able to teach a child at home. These victories were won primarily in the state legislatures as more than 30 states since 1985 have adopted an exemption from public school attendance for children being educated at home without teacher certification requirements.
It is gratifying to see the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provide independent confirmation that it's the teacher that's most important, not the school. Home-schooling is largely successful because the teachers - the parents - are highly motivated because they love their student. This translates into not only an outstanding education, but in many cases, a true love for learning.
Brandon Sumlin, Bus driver for Dayton Government Schools arrested
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/22/2009 09:03:00 PM
When told why he was pulled over, Sumlin became angry and started cursing at the officer, Setty said in his report.
"You are not going to give me a ticket, I am a bus driver," Sumlin said, according to the report. "I can drive better than you."
Sumlin's driver's license was broken apart in four pieces, but was taped together. Setty issued Sumlin a citation for failure to stop before a sidewalk, marked lanes and for the mutilated license, the report stated.
Sumlin then tossed the ticket out his driver's side window and started yelling at Setty and other officers who had arrived at the scene, the report stated. When advised to pick up the citation, Sumlin got out of the car and started yelling expletives at officers again, the report stated.
This wasn't the first time that Sumlin has been found guilty of a traffic violation. He was convicted in 2005 of a noise ordinance violation, and a warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear in court. In 2007 he was found guilty again under section "71.50.2.MM" for "SP 20MPH OR LES".
Question for Dayton Government Schools: Why this moron is still employed driving skulls full of mush around the streets of Dayton Ohio?
New Yorker Editor compares Obama to Martin Luther King Jr.
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/22/2009 09:01:00 PM
I don't care that he made the comparison. It does present a number of questions however: Does this mean that Obama habitually cheats on his wife like King did? We know that Obama has a history of associating and boasting about his friendship with socialists and terrorists, does he associate and have friendships with Communists like King? Obama has published two books thus far, The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father. Did he plagiarize these works as King did? If I was the Messiah Lord Barack Hussein, I'd be offended to be compared to someone like King.
Black history month and the case for homeschooling
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/20/2009 12:05:00 PM
February is black history month. You may only be dimly aware of this fact, but if you have children in school, they probably are acutely aware of it.
Indeed, black history month is one of the shrewdist ideas the American left ever concocted. That's because, although most school systems don't start teaching American history per se until around the fifth grade, black history is taught every February from first grade (if not earlier) on.
This means that before children learn about America's incomparable positive history, they have the worst aspect of our history drummed into them. Thus, school children are left with the clear impression that the central fact about America is an evil one -- slavery and its awful aftermath. By contrast, most parents probably believe, as conservatives do, that the central facts about America are overwhelmingly positive -- e.g., our status as the first and foremost constitutional democracy and our several triumphs over dark European forces.
Thanks to black history month, among other leftist distortions, most parents may have quite a different view of America a generation from now.
If my experience with the public schools is typical, there is only one remedy -- teach American history to your children and start doing this when they are very young.
Dayton Daily News is suggesting Crying George Voinovich for Commerce Secretary
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/18/2009 12:01:00 PM
Needed, one U.S. Commerce secretary, preferably Republican. Let's see. How about George Voinovich? He's not quite as conservative as Judd Gregg, the New Hampshire Republican who decided that he's too conservative for the Obama administration.
Methodist Minister blames Israel for Hamas attacks
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/12/2009 09:36:00 PM
Liberal moonbats have absolutely no clue how much joy and laughter they provide to Conservatives through their bizarre and clueless comments. A recent glowing example is that of Ohio's own sleeper cell Pranav Jani. The most recent example is from Dwight Busacca of Lebanon, Ohio. Busacca is a retired pastor in the United Methodist Church who really, really hates Israel.
It would be one thing if his letter in the Dayton Daily News contained new material, but Busacca is like a record with scores of scratches that repeats endlessly. As a 1949 graduate of Evangelical Theological Seminary I would guess that would be a 78RPM.
1) He is upset that Israel hasn't followed Resolution 242 (among others) from the anti-Semitic and terrorist-friendly United Nations. He claims that Israel took territory from Palestine in 1967 even though no such country was in existence in 1967. The land was recaptured from Egypt, Syria and Jordan. Maybe he could contact for some geography lessons from Caitlin Upton?
2) He claims that "The most powerful political group in the United States is the American Israeli Political Action Committee" and that "most members of Congress are afraid to go against it." I'm not sure I understand their hesitation seeing as how there is no such group called the American Israeli Political Action Committee. There is however an organization known as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee who have eleven lobbyists. I'm not sure where his anger towards this group comes from seeing as how both Bush and Obama have spoken before the group and even the uber-liberal New York Times describes the AIPAC as "the most important organization affecting America's relationship with Israel." As for the mix-up with the two names, facts are important right Reverend? We wouldn't want parishioners having Exodus 22:19 confused with Song of Solomon 4:1-7, right?
3) Busacca's upset that the United States as well as Israel have refused to "vote against Israel". I'm not sure exactly how Israel could, or even would, vote against themselves, but it has his Depends in a twist. The United States is the best friend and ally of Israel. He gives the impression that because the rest of the world votes against Israel, the United States should as well which is why they are supposedly angry. Without our support the anti-Semetic and terrorist-friendly neighbors of Israel would have exterminated them long ago. It seems that is what Busacca is wanting to have happen. The reason that a number of countries around the globe don't like us and Israel is for one simple reason: freedom through democracy.
4) He is upset that "Israel has been building homes for years on Palestinian lands." Again, this is a problem with not keeping up on current events. Even though it happened roughly a year before he completed his instruction at Evangelical Theological Seminary, the British Mandate of Palestine ceased to exist on 14 May 1948. Even still, the homicide bomber club doesn't have a mandate for this land, as a minister he should know this. Maybe he missed out on the discussion of Genesis 15:18-21, as well as Numbers 34:1-13, and Ezekiel 47:13-20 during seminary.
5) He complains that "Israeli bombing in Lebanon some years ago has destroyed major portions of Lebanon". Major portions? Can we be just a bit more vague? The 2006 Lebanon War which lasted from 12 July 2006 until 14 August 2006 was targeted at the terrorist group Hezbollah. The war there in 1982 lasted from 6 June until September 1982 and was targeted against the PLO. The operation was a success in that it decimated the terrorist group. Are we to conclude that because of his opposition to these two operations, a Methodist minister, albeit retired, supports two different terrorist groups?
He concludes by saying "Experts on this Israeli-Palestinian situation agree that three things must be done if there is ever to be peace". Does he identify who these supposed "experts" are? Of course not, that would only attempt to strengthen his argument supported by tinfoil. The first item he says is for "Israel's right to exist must be honored". I'm not sure how this is to be done when those he supports have repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel. Next he says that "Jerusalem must be opened to Christians, Jews and Muslims". Oh yes, the kumbaya argument that there must be coexistence. The problem again is that the beliefs of Islam are a direct opposite to that of Judaeo-Christian beliefs. I have written many times about the writings of the pedophile Mohammed and his tenants which are followed by the Islamofascists today. There can be no coexistence between Christians, Jews and Muslims when the latter wish to exterminate Christians and Jews. Finally he once again whines about the 1967 war.
After reading his many tirades, I am afraid he kept some of the research materials from his time at the Yale School on Alcoholic Studies.
We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.
Article I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
Article II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
Article III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
Article IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
Article V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.
Article VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
Article VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.
Article VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. amen and amen.
Article IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to pursue happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.
Article X: This is an English speaking country . We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!
Lastly, Article XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase "In God we trust" is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, tough!
Drug smugglers building ramps to jump border fence
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/12/2009 09:17:00 PM
The planned 670-mile fence along the US border with Mexico has proven remarkably ineffective at deterring or stopping illegal crossers to the United States, advocates and critics of the fence admit. Moreover, the fence’s construction remains in limbo in numerous areas, where legal, political and engineering obstacles have brought its implementation to a halt.
And, where the 600 miles of fencing are already up, along the borders of California, Arizona and New Mexico, "smugglers and illegal immigrants continue to breach the fencing that is up, forcing Border Patrol agents and contractors to return again and again for repairs," the Wall Street Journal noted Wednesday. "The smugglers build ramps to drive over fencing, dig tunnels under it, or use blow torches to slice through. They cut down metal posts used as vehicle barriers and replace them with dummy posts, made from cardboard."
Today marks my five year anniversary around here. I want to thank my readers whose kind and thought provoking comments make it all worthwhile. While there are indeed trolls whose mission is to inhibit the marketplace of ideas, your comments are great and much appreciated.
I want to also thank my friends and fellow bloggers in the State of Ohio Bloggers Alliance.
Math-impaired 11-year-old girl charged in Trotwood bomb threat
Posted by DarthDilbert at 2/04/2009 11:53:00 AM
Police in Trotwood say they have arrested an 11-year-old girl for calling in a bomb threat that evacuated her school. The threat was left on an answering machine at Trotwood-Madison Middle School Saturday morning. The building was evacuated Monday, Feb. 2, as soon as the message was discovered. Police say the girl apparently thought she was supposed to attend Saturday school and wanted to get out of it. She is now being held in the juvenile detention center. The girl is being charged with inducing panic and has been suspended. School officials haven't yet determined if she'll be expelled. Bomb squads were called in Monday to sweep the school, but turned up no explosives. Some suspicious wiring found in a locker turned out to be wires from a pair of headphones.
It's only be a matter of days before this mental midget is appointed class president.
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to homeschool.
