Yeah, how dare I.

Zeke:
I do think it is the parents responsibility to teach manners. My parents did and they never worried about taking their four children out to a restaurant, into a store or over somebody's house.

Today, parents want to be their kids buddies...we're not. We are the parents. We can be buddies later when they have learned what they need to learn, move out and are on their own. They may hate us now but later they will understand and love you more than anything because you weren't their buddy and taught them the right things...ask me how I know.

The mention of school administration was brought up by Tabs. I can fill in something else that tends to have a slightly negative effect. Many administrators are very good. But, some are mostly intent on going up the ladder of success. For those, the idea is to appear successful 100% of the time. It's "when things go right, it's me - when things go wrong, it's you" with them. But, the thing that affects the educational environment is that they manage every situation to minimize the appearance of problems. Decisions and policies pass kids on who are not ready. This makes it appear that students are succeeding academically. Parents are placated rather than informed about the progress and behavior of their kids. This minimizes complaints from parents. Police aren't informed or brought in when gang activity is going on. This shows the administration has it all under control & doesn't need outside help. The sum total makes administration look competently able to manage everything, which leads to a favorable image. However, the educational environment suffers for the kids.
Having said that, Zeke, I agree with you somewhat. It pains me to see common writing errors. I make part of my living writing contract proposals. When I write things like these posts, I write simply & in a straightforward manner without much regard to perfection. I enjoy the writing talent exhibited many times here. But I don't fault somebody with less than perfect writing. After all, they may make a whole bunch of us look super bad when it comes to singing, art, mechanics, electrical expertise, jumping on a trampoline, sales or other things. If there is one thing I've learned, it's that we all can't be good at all things. We have to let others fill their niches with their talents and allow for the differences otherwise.

Then call me elitist. Intolerant, absolutely. Why tolerate boorish behaior, much less drug use? Judgemental? You bet. I thought we all stood in judgement in one form or another. If I want a slut in the house, I'll go hire one.

But, we are far, far from grammar now, aren't we? Funny how poor language performance leads to these opinions.

I work in the second largest school district in the country.

I'm "an administrator" of sorts but I have no direct contact with kids of any kind.

I support the infrastructure.

The number one problem I think is parental support of the children and then close behind that would be that the districts are just too damn big to be efficient.

Students need a personal touch but when they are 1 in a million, literally. That one student just doesn't matter as much at the top.

If the districts were smaller scale that person at the top of the district would have a much better opportunity to get personal with his position and that trend would follow all the way down to the teachers.

District size is a director correlation to class size. That's why home schooling is so good. That kid gets 100% of the parents attention as well as the teachers (one in the same mind you).

It's just too big, make it smaller and the kids will be in a better world.

If we want to talk about schools and/vs. parents as the source of the problem, it doesn't get much better than those comments.........

Wut wuz the porblem agin? :D:D

http://jm.g.free.fr/smileys/angrysoapbox.sml.gif

Yep. You took some of the words right out of my mouth.

Go Zeke!

Did I make a fool of myself (again) or are you serious?

Well, part of the problem is the "fashionable" way to talk. Watch some of the "stars" on MTV and you'll see what I mean.

Milt, My image of Long Beach was one of ritz, wealth and layed back glamour. I guess I have to get out more often. :)

I don't know that teachers are the most reliable source against home schooling...

...Oh, this is a pet peeve of mine...we don't live in a democracy. I honestly don't know why everyone calls it that. We don't - not even by design. We live in a republic - no question about it.


whew, okay.

SmileWavy

Zeke may have right after all.I read in todays news paper that the SAT test is going to change.It looks like there going to be more questions about grammar and writing skills. Milt,your a man who seems to be in tune with the times. Randy

Here's a solution: Let's use tax money to pay for private schools.

Serious.

RickM, Long Beach had the 10th highest population of residents living under the national poverty level (not adjusted for high CA cost of living) in the entire nation as of the latest US Census Bureau statistics available (2002). Long Beach is the poorest city in the state, ahead of Oakland and Fresno, two places I would not want to visit. But, just like Oakland, it has pockets of wealth.

Long Beach is 100 million in the hole as far as the city budget is concerned. They are taxing and fee charging the already poor populice at every turn to try to raise some money.

Yes, the demographics around here suck. I market my contracting services to about 1/3 of the city being careful to avoid even driving through much of the rest. I don't know what they do in the schools; I don't think I want to know anymore. I'm sure they have a problem with what language to use, much less how to use it.

My sister goes to CSULB, I lived there for about a year when I moved back to CA in 2000.

Long Beach is a wonderful City with a diverse population. It also has it's problems stemming mainly from poverty and how that effects people. I can't say that I feel safe there but I do think it is a wonderful place and I always enjoy myself when I visit.

I really wanted to buy a house there but the commute for me and my wife (her mainly) into LA is a bear from there so we choose El Segundo instead.

I always thought LB was a **** hole and CSULB 2nd class....At one time it was nifty by the sea...but that was a long long time ago.

I once overheard two 7th Grade girls talk about taking it up the a$$. Let me see now that was back in 1965....

I usually use the "Preview Reply" button before the "Submit Reply" button to proof-read my replies. I almost always make some adjustments. I also have a copy of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary on the PC and make occasional use of it.
There are some programs that will read aloud what you have written, and your ear might catch something that your eye did not. I am satisfied with "good enough" instead of "excellent".
I made several corrections on this post and am sure it is still far from perfect.

;)

Judgmental...judgment.:p

Got me!