1 This morning's sports' headline in the Merc News: 49ers New Bully on the Block.
2 Yeesh.
3 I thought the same thing when I watched yesterday's game.
4 But I had been reading essays about teen bullying, among other topics. Many of the students saw bullying as an extremely important issue, much to their credit.
5 I graded papers while watching the game and I kept thinking that the Niners looked like school bullies.
6 The team looks pretty well coached, but that might be because their coach is insane.
7 I just thought it interesting that the Merc saw a bit of the same thing I did.
8 Don't get me wrong. I'm happy at the turnaround of the franchise.
9 We suffered a lot of lousy years with inconceivable lousy coaches.
10 But a new stadium is bound to incite almost a Steinbrenner mentality with any sports' franchise.
11 This one just happens to be working out.
12 As a fan, I'm elated. Even with a team as almost perfect as the Niners, they can still fumble and flounder on any Sunday.
13 I like what I'm seeing, but man, that word "bully" just won't go away.
13 I must have some sort of fear of success.
14 Or I might just see that any mention of bullying is different today than it used to be. It is a really serious issue to teens, so it is almost not a good word to put into a newspaper headline.
15 Ah, just going off here on a Monday morning.
16 Moving On, Part One: You have to wonder what is happening at American Idol headquarters.
17 Every time I think that show is going to disappear, it becomes a hydra and grows two more heads.
18 The two new heads joining Mariah and the very odd Randy Jackson are rapper Nikki Minaj and country star Keith Urban.
19 Could save the franchise. They might be AmIdol bullies.
20 I'm doubting it.
21 I'm doubting it.
22 We shall see.
23 Moving on, Part the Second: You really have to wonder about Prince William's wife Kate sunbathing nude in France.
24 Watchu thinking, Chica?
25 So the young royals are suing Closer magazine, the periodical that was smart enough to snap up some pictures that would be sure to go around the world.
26 Good Lord.
27 And these are YOUNG people. She had NO idea that someone might have tweeted the news?
28 Some people don't know how to live in glass houses.
29 What a moron.
30 I guess they have the money to sue, but really?
31 The 99 percent are going to be up in arms.
32 Thank goodness there isn't bigger news.
33 Moving On, Part Three: The Chicago teacher's strike gives all of us a preview of how teachers will be painted in the next few years.
34 The propaganda is subtle, but the early messages are that teachers are greedy, and going on strike selfish. "They're not even thinking about the kids!" is going to go mainstream, which is a shame.
35 As a union rep, I can simply say that the teachers' unions care much more about class sizes, crowded classrooms, lack of essential materials, and all the rest than do
the people in charge.
36 I've watched this stuff for years. I never wanted to really be a union rep, but was approached by the union because of my years.
37 I was elected last year and am proud to represent our school, and to make sure that we put students' interests first.
38 No matter what anybody tells me, public schools have the most professional, well-trained teachers anywhere.
39 I'm not going to go on a rant here, but it is obvious that what is happening in Chicago is manipulative and controlled by a media that wants big headlines.
40 So suddenly educators working ungodly hours already are being vilified.
41 I spent sixteen hours this weekend grading papers while visiting my Dad.
42 Fortunately I could still talk with him and watch a little football.
43 I often work from darkness to darkness to keep up on all the planning, grading, and other tasks that come at me each week.
44 We haven't had a raise since 2002.
45 Our class sizes are up to a minimum of 30, but we allow three more students per class in our contract.
46 Most teachers have more.
47 So when teachers reach the point of striking, it is with pretty good reason.
48 Like most Americans, we are working far beyond forty hours a week.
49 Unions and management generally want to avoid work stoppage. It never looks good to the public, and nothing but bad ever results from it.
50 I see Chicago as media propaganda, and pretty slick propaganda too. I don't know if it is just to sell newspapers, or if something more insidious is going on, but that situation could be the beginning of the end of public education in America.
51 It is a frightening thought.
52 Moving on, Part the Fourth: Okay, so I went on a rant.
53 I'll stop now. Rants do nothing anyway, except maybe that one honest rant might give a clearer picture of what is going on, especially from a person who has been there.
54 So this villain is going to call it a day.
55 Despite all that negativity, I fully intend to go in and to teach like what hair I have left is on fire.
56 You guys have an awesome Monday and hey!
57 Fly low man.
58 Peace.
~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
The Daily News1 This morning's sports' headline in the Merc News: 49ers New Bully on the Block.2 Yeesh.3 I thought the same thing when I watched yesterday's game.4 But I had been reading essays about teen bullying, among other topics. Many of the students saw bullying as an extremely important issue, much to their credit.5 I graded papers while watching the game and I kept thinking that the Niners looked like school bullies.6 The team looks pretty well coached, but that might be because their coach is insane.7 I just thought it interesting that the Merc saw a bit of the same thing I did.8 Don't get me wrong. I'm happy at the turnaround of the franchise.9 We suffered a lot of lousy years with inconceivable lousy coaches.10 But a new stadium is bound to incite almost a Steinbrenner mentality with any sports' franchise.11 This one just happens to be working out.12 As a fan, I'm elated. Even with a team as almost perfect as the Niners, they can still fumble and flounder on any Sunday.13 I like what I'm seeing, but man, that word "bully" just won't go away.13 I must have some sort of fear of success.14 Or I might just see that any mention of bullying is different today than it used to be. It is a really serious issue to teens, so it is almost not a good word to put into a newspaper headline.15 Ah, just going off here on a Monday morning.16 Moving On, Part One: You have to wonder what is happening at American Idol headquarters.17 Every time I think that show is going to disappear, it becomes a hydra and grows two more heads.18 The two new heads joining Mariah and the very odd Randy Jackson are rapper Nikki Minaj and country star Keith Urban.19 Could save the franchise. They might be AmIdol bullies.20 I'm doubting it.21 I'm doubting it.22 We shall see.23 Moving on, Part the Second: You really have to wonder about Prince William's wife Kate sunbathing nude in France.24 Watchu thinking, Chica?25 So the young royals are suing Closer magazine, the periodical that was smart enough to snap up some pictures that would be sure to go around the world.26 Good Lord.27 And these are YOUNG people. She had NO idea that someone might have tweeted the news?28 Some people don't know how to live in glass houses.29 What a moron.30 I guess they have the money to sue, but really?31 The 99 percent are going to be up in arms.32 Thank goodness there isn't bigger news.33 Moving On, Part Three: The Chicago teacher's strike gives all of us a preview of how teachers will be painted in the next few years.34 The propaganda is subtle, but the early messages are that teachers are greedy, and going on strike selfish. "They're not even thinking about the kids!" is going to go mainstream, which is a shame.35 As a union rep, I can simply say that the teachers' unions care much more about class sizes, crowded classrooms, lack of essential materials, and all the rest than dothe people in charge.36 I've watched this stuff for years. I never wanted to really be a union rep, but was approached by the union because of my years.37 I was elected last year and am proud to represent our school, and to make sure that we put students' interests first.38 No matter what anybody tells me, public schools have the most professional, well-trained teachers anywhere.39 I'm not going to go on a rant here, but it is obvious that what is happening in Chicago is manipulative and controlled by a media that wants big headlines.40 So suddenly educators working ungodly hours already are being vilified.41 I spent sixteen hours this weekend grading papers while visiting my Dad.42 Fortunately I could still talk with him and watch a little football.43 I often work from darkness to darkness to keep up on all the planning, grading, and other tasks that come at me each week.44 We haven't had a raise since 2002.45 Our class sizes are up to a minimum of 30, but we allow three more students per class in our contract.46 Most teachers have more.47 So when teachers reach the point of striking, it is with pretty good reason.48 Like most Americans, we are working far beyond forty hours a week.49 Unions and management generally want to avoid work stoppage. It never looks good to the public, and nothing but bad ever results from it.50 I see Chicago as media propaganda, and pretty slick propaganda too. I don't know if it is just to sell newspapers, or if something more insidious is going on, but that situation could be the beginning of the end of public education in America.51 It is a frightening thought.52 Moving on, Part the Fourth: Okay, so I went on a rant.53 I'll stop now. Rants do nothing anyway, except maybe that one honest rant might give a clearer picture of what is going on, especially from a person who has been there.54 So this villain is going to call it a day.55 Despite all that negativity, I fully intend to go in and to teach like what hair I have left is on fire.56 You guys have an awesome Monday and hey!57 Fly low man.58 Peace.~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
