Baptists Consider Pulling Kids Because Schools Won't Do It Their Way

I recently read an article about a resolution presented at the Southern Baptist Convention urging Baptist parents to pull their children from public schools in favor of home schooling or Christian schools.

Yes, I have opinion about it, but I feel it unnecessary to articulate because it is ultimately their choice on what they do with their children. My view is also rather biased, as I think the Baptists (or at least the loudest ones) can often times be considered the religious extremists of the U.S.

However, reading this got me thinking about education in general. I heard on the radio recently a story about a school district adding a class on the bible and it's effect on history. That one actually bothered me more than the Baptist article because it seemed more like a ploy to force kids to read the bible (which was the primary textbook). The individual presenting the story discussed some textbooks written specifically for a class like this that discussed the positive and negative influences of the bible on history. Instead, for this class, they chose to use a textbook written by an organization devoted to getting the bible and christian prayer in schools that only focused on the positive influences. It just seems to me there are so many ways that we can incorporate these things in a more neutral and EDUCATIONAL way. ...and why is it that the bible and Christianity are the only religious topics anyone seems to want taught in schools?

The topic of religious education isn't the only issue, however. My honest opinion is that our primary and secondary educational system needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. This isn't something that can be done in one congressional session or with one No Child Left Behind Act, it is something that will take a lot of time, a lot of thought, discussion, debate, and open-mindedness, and a lot of serious effort, but it needs to be done. I have a lot of thoughts on this that I will, as I have time, try to put into words and share here, but that is for another time, because I could easily spend all day ranting.

In short, the improvements to the new school system would include such things as:
- College prep as a standard. I recently attended a graduation at my high school, at which 2 of approximately 40 students earned college prep certificates. At this school, the classes available & required to earn this certificate are the bare minimum needed to attend a public university, so if any of those kids want to go on to college later, they may have a difficult time being admitted.
- Desegregate our schools. Yes, they are still segregated, but it is now based on socio-economic status moreso than race.

I have many more less-refined thoughts regarding funding, extra-curriculars, course content, etc. I will try to bring some installments to expand on these things as I can get to it.

Until then,
Peace,

Alphadork

Bring 'Em In - A Must-Have

Lately, I have been wanting music, music, and more music. I have received a number of CDs and still haven't listened to them all enough to be familiar, yet I keep finding more and more that I want to get. Anyway, amidst this musical frenzy, one has stood out as one of the most excellent and enjoyable CDs I have ever requested, and it isn't even from the usual collection of alternative & punk:

Bring 'Em In by Buddy Guy. Seriously, give this album some consideration. If you like the Blues, Buddy Guy, or just good music, this is an album worth buying. It has some great new music, some great familiar songs ("Ain't No Sunshine"), and some enjoyable collaborations with Tracy Chapman, John Mayer, and Carlos Santana. It's a quality album that you really will listen to over and over, and has assured me that my blues collection is something I need to grow.

Enron Execs Found Guilty

Well, it's over (for now). Lay and Skilling have been found guilty. Now I am wondering how long the appeals are going to drag out and at what point they will actually serve their sentence. I'm curious...why don't people ever take responsibility for what [bad things] they have done and just say "yeah, I did something wrong and screwed a lot of people." Instead, those who blatantly harm others deny all culpability...it's like they have a sense of entitlement that makes them think "as long as it benefits me, there's nothing wrong with it." It's unfortunate.

Did you know that Mr. Lay made a large donation to the University of Missouri around the time the Enron story broke and now he has requested that they return it to him because he needs the money for lawyers? First of all, a donation is unconditional; he gave them the money and they don't have to give it back, and they won't. The other thing I am wondering is if MU will change the name of the endowed chair they set up with the money...I mean, wouldn't it be really weird to be the professor holding the Kenneth L. Lay endowed chair. Does that mean you are a quality professor deserving extinguished tenure, or one who has done everything just to get ahead without regard for ethics? ...just something to think about.

Using Terrorism to Sell Ethanol

Ethanol ads fuel controversy

Couldn't this be considered terrorism? It's inciting unnecessary fear (and racism) to encourage people to buy ethanol. I know what they're trying to say, but they are going about it in all the wrong ways.

Here's what I'm talking about, new billboards in MO:

About the picture: The top portion ("Who would you...") is the controversial ad (the questionmarked outline contains the photo of King Fahd on the actual billboards). The remainder is explanatory info. See the enlarged picture.

From the article linked above:

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, called the billboards "offensive" and "nothing more than Arab baiting" and asked Marshall to take them down.

...

"The more legitimate target is Exxon Mobil and other major oil companies in America that are making huge windfall profits right now," Zogby said. "Make a case on sound facts and not based on bigotry."

I am incredibly embarrassed that people in my state go about things in such an offensive manner (though not surprised). On the other hand, the economics of the matter indicate that ethanol is certainly not a viable replacement for gasoline, so I guess it's OK if they shoot themselves in the foot...

Your $3/gallon Put to Good Use

The Raw Story | Democratic senator wants SEC investigation of ExxonMobil's $400m 'retirement package'

ExxonMobil has agreed to give their CEO, Lee Raymond, a $400 million retirement package, a simply outrageous amount. For comparison, David O'Reilly, CEO of Chevron has a $3.57 million long-term compensation package.

According to the Wall Street Journal, "Raymond's pay package amounted to $190,915 a day."

From the story linked above:

“These major oil companies have hooked their hose up to the pocketbooks of American citizens and are sucking money from ordinary Americans into the treasury of the giant oil companies," he said in a statement. "The result is that Exxon reported the highest profit in the history of corporate America last year. Today we read that while farmers struggle to pay the fuel bills and drivers are paying painful prices to fill their gas tanks the oil companies are rolling in cash and their retired executives are getting obscene retirement benefits.”